Romeo & Juliet In The American South
A Chance For Kallie Mae by Ann H Gabhart is the most charming Christian historical novel that I absolutely loved. I savoured it, never wanting it to end.
The story is grounded in facts as there is an under-lying theme of education, with the moonlight schools system set up in 1911, so that adults who had missed out on schooling, could take evening classes. “Funny, us wanting school so bad and them having it and not wanting anything to do with it.” Children often long to get out of school, whereas, adults know the value of education. The moonlight schools changed lives, opening pathways to further education.
Within the novel, there is a motherless family, as she died giving birth to Emmie, six years before the book opens. There is a beautiful bond between Emmie and her older sister, Kallie, who has nursed her since she was born.
Emmie has a large red birthmark on her face. In their ignorance, both adults and children shun her, fearing she has the mark of the devil. When life starts falling apart, Emmie believes the lies she has been told, and she labels herself as a ‘bad girl.’ It takes a cleansing fire to fix hearts, turning enemies to friends.
There is a Romeo & Juliet theme, as an age-old feud has kept a couple apart. Their love has never died. Their family loyalties are tested as they pray for love to find a way. “We need to pray for a way to make peace.” When there seems no way, the Lord can make a way. “The Lord ain’t limited like us. He can do anything.”
Prayer is important. Prayer links us to God. “We can pray about this and the Lord will give us an answer… His answer will be right on time.” God always answers prayer – Yes. No. Wait. Or something else. We can trust God’s answers, and His timing is always perfect.
Sometimes in life there seems no way out. That’s when God does His best work. “Don’t you be worryin’. Just keep prayin’. The Lord can sometimes work things out that us ‘n down here can’t.” God can make a way when there seems no way.
When we know God, we can know peace. “Peace… can be hard to find if ‘n a body don’t lean heavy on the Lord.” When we press into God, we can receive a peace that transcends circumstances.
We see the purity of hearts of a set of six-year-old female twins and Emmie. They see each other’s hearts. For them, there is no feud until their elders wade in.
We witness the importance of traditional natural healing. A community leans on aunt Sudie who possesses the knowledge to use herbs for healing.
All the characters were well drawn, warm and welcoming. Despite the feud, the reader can feel the love.
A Chance For Kallie Mae was a beautiful, heartfelt novel and I am sad that it is ended.
I received a free copy via Baker Publishing. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
