CHARLIE'S SONG

A girl in a struggling Appalachian family is overjoyed by a visit from her musician uncle in Koehler’s middle-grade novel.

It’s the 1930s, and 10-year-old Dahlia Harrell and her loved ones in the town of Lothian Mill have had a hard time in recent years. The family’s house burned down, and since then, they’ve been scraping by as tenant farmers. Dahlia is frustrated that others have more than she does; her family can’t afford a radio, for instance. At school, Dahlia’s classmate Rosie Blevins seems to have everything, but she’s still trying to steal Dahlia’s friend Ruby away from her. Then Dahlia’s brother,Charlie, is diagnosed with scarlet fever. Things look up, however, when her beloved uncle Ennis, a traveling musician, shows up with banjo in hand. He never sticks around long, but Dahlia is always happy to see him. Ennis impresses the town with his songs at the Harvest Festival, but then an unexpected problem arises: Ennis is suspected of stealing from Rosie’s father’s hardware store and ends up in jail. Dahlia and her family bring him his banjo to cheer him up, but his situation looks bleak. Charlie’s convinced of Ennis’ guilt, but Dahlia isn’t; she’s sure there must be another explanation. Over the course of this novel, Koehler offers a story that shows particular skill at describing how family ties can hold everything together during the toughest of times: “There was food and laughter and warmth. The warmth of the wood-burning stove in the kitchen, the warmth of the fireplace in the parlor, and the warmth of family gathered close.” The novel also offers a generous message about inequality and forgiveness. Dahlia’s story focuses in large part on things that worry people of her age, but it’s also a moving tale about how family crises can force young people to wrestle with adult problems. It’s a concise novel, but the author’s strong storytelling skills make it a potent one as Dahlia searches for solace in an unpredictable environment.

A powerful tale of a headstrong and compassionate youngster.