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reviewsbyerin
Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Where Trees Touch the Sky by Karen Barnett hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
This split-time novel brings the majestic redwood trees to life in a way that fully captured my imagination. I've never visited Redwood National Park, but I almost feel as if I have through the pages of this story.
In the 1920s, Marion Baker is a young organizer with the Save the Redwoods League. Her connection to the area and passion for preservation drive her to protect the forest from an encroaching timber baron. But when the timber baron's son steals her heart, she faces a choice about which love she must follow.
In the other half of the story, it's the 1970s and Marion's great-niece June Turner is ready to follow the family legacy and become a park ranger. A childhood bout with polio has limited her mobility, but June is determined to overcome any weakness and inspire a new generation to appreciate the giant redwoods.
I really enjoyed this novel. Both storylines were very well-written and engaging, and the pacing was perfect between the two. The story is very character-driven, which I loved, though there is some exciting action in the last quarter of the book as things come to their climax. The author does a great job weaving in faith, the challenges faced by the disabled, and other true-to-life historical tidbits that remain relevant today. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good split-time novel or who loves the national parks. Be warned: You'll want to plan a trip to California after reading this!
I received my copy of the book from JustRead Tours. All thoughts in this review are my own.
I received my copy of the book from JustRead Tours. All thoughts in this review are my own.
About the Book
Title: Where Trees Touch the Sky
Series: National Parks
Author: Karen Barnett
Publisher: Kregel
Release Date: August 13, 2024
Genre: Christian Fiction, Dual Timeline
Some secrets have shadows as long as the redwoods are tall.
In the early 1920s, the accelerating destruction of the California redwoods is more than nature-loving Marion Baker can bear. Throwing herself headlong into the work of the Save the Redwoods League, she is shocked to learn that Frank Duncan, a man she's grown to love, is the son of one of the area's worst timber barons. Though devastated by the betrayal, she realizes this could also be an opportunity--if only she can convince him to help preserve her favorite grove from his father's greedy grasp. Is her love strong enough to persuade him to save these precious trees? Or will Marion choose to sacrifice her beliefs to keep Frank by her side?
Nearly fifty years later, in 1972, polio survivor June Turner is deeply proud of the legacy her great aunt Marion has left as a redwood warrior. And despite her disability, June is determined to prove herself capable as a ranger at the recently established Redwood National Park, even if it means taking to the trails with her crutch in hand. What better way to carry on the family tradition of preserving GodÂ’s magnificent creation?
When aspiring film student Adam Garner approaches June to help make a documentary about Marion's life, she swiftly grabs the opportunity to spread her aunt's worthy reputation. That is, until they unearth a secret that might shatter the family legacy. In the scramble for answers, June may lose not only her family pride but also her own dreams.
Karen Barnett's beautifully crafted split-time novel, set against the majestic backdrop of a beloved national park, immerses the reader in history that feels as fresh as if it happened yesterday.
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