A Sky for Us Alone

by Kristin Russell

"A stirring, powerful, and heart-wrenching story of coming of age, falling in love, and trying to lead a life of dignity." -Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of The Serpent King

In Strickland County-a forgotten stretch of land in Southern Appalachia-there isn't a lot of anything to go around. But when eighteen-year-old Harlowe Compton's brother is killed by the Praters-the family who controls everything, from the mines to the law to the opioid trade-he wonders if the future will ever hold more than loss.

Until he meets Tennessee Moore. Even as she struggles with the worst of the cards she's been dealt, Tennessee makes Harlowe believe that they can dare to forge their own path. But as Harlowe searches for the answers behind his brother's death, his town's decay, and his family's dysfunction, he discovers truths about the people he loves-and himself-that are darker than he ever expected.

Now, Harlowe realizes, there's no turning back.

• ISBN10: 0062697048
• ISBN13: 9780062697042
• Publish Date: 8 January 2019
• Publish Status: Temporarily Withdrawn
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 3.5 Stars

I have complicated feelings about this one. It was dark and gritty and there are a lot of sad parts with murder, addiction, and a community seemingly at the mercy of a demented man, who is poisoning their land. But there were these lovely bright spots, like the Draughns, Omie, Tennessee, Nuna, and even Red, and I was absorbed in Harlowe finding the answers to all his questions regarding his brother's murder. Given the darkness that surrounded a majority of this book, I was grateful that the ending was hopeful. I just wanted a little bit more there. I spent way too much time worrying about Harlowe, Tennessee, and Omie to have it end like that. I feel like it I had gotten that jump ahead or just a little bit extra at the end, I would have given this 4-stars.

Overall: A compelling read incorporating the Appalachian setting with mystery, romance, and story of survival.