What Momma Left Behind

by Cindy K Sproles

Worie Dressar is 17 years old when influenza and typhoid ravage her Appalachian Mountain community in 1877, leaving behind a growing number of orphaned children with no way to care for themselves. Worie's mother has been secretly feeding a number of these little ones on Sourwood Mountain. But when she dies suddenly, Worie is left to figure out why and how she was caring for them.

Plagued with two good-for-nothing brothers--one greedy and the other a drunkard--Worie fights to save her home and the orphaned children now in her begrudging care. Along the way, she will discover the beauty of unconditional love and the power of forgiveness as she cares for all of Momma's children.

Storyteller and popular speaker Cindy K. Sproles pens a tender novel full of sacrifice, heartache, and courage in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

• ISBN10: 0800737040
• ISBN13: 9780800737047
• Publish Date: 2 July 2020 (first published 2 June 2020)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Imprint: Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 256
• Language: English

Reviews

[phyllish]

A profound picture of grace and trust

My rating is 4.5 stars

I was a little in awe of the way the author maintained the voice of Worie in her speech and her thoughts throughout the story! Narrated in the first person, the entire story was told with an Appalachian accent. I have not often seen this done – it certainly worked here. Though I was dyin’ to add ‘g’s to words as I began to read, as I continued, the cadence and the music of the language began to feel natural and appropriate.

Worie was fascinating. She was selfish in many ways – always thinking about how things affected her more than others. Yet she also had a heart filled with compassion for the children who came to her in need. She never hesitated to embrace them, and never considered how she would afford to feed them. She struggled with grief and anger over her mother’s death, feeling inadequate despite the sacrifices she had made. She was courageous and became like a mother bear when the children were threatened!

The plight of the children in the face of the epidemic was tragic. They showed such courage and love for one another. I just wanted to wrap each one up in a great big hug!!

It was a tragedy to see the evil man her younger brother had become, filled with greed and selfishness! His actions were despicable. Her older brother underwent a transformation as well, though he went from being a drunkard to a man who cared for his family. I really liked Justice!

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Worie changed through learning the truth and reading the Word. Despite having her world shaken, or perhaps because of it, she learned to trust others and more importantly, to trust God. And as she got a better glimpse of herself, she was able to surrender her imperfections to the Lord so He could make her new.

Amid dark situations with trouble after trouble, author Cindy K. Sproles has written a poignant tale filled with glimmers of faith and hope and lots of love.

Read my full review at Among the Reads


I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.