Under the Tulip Tree

By: Michelle Shocklee

Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman

Sixteen-year-old Lorena Leland’s dreams of a rich and fulfilling life as a writer are dashed when the stock market crashes in 1929. Seven years into the Great Depression, Rena’s banker father has retreated into the bottle, her sister is married to a lazy charlatan and gambler, and Rena is an unemployed newspaper reporter. Eager for any writing job, Rena accepts a position interviewing former slaves for the Federal Writers’ Project. There, she meets Frankie Washington, a 101-year-old woman whose honest yet tragic past captivates Rena.

As Frankie recounts her life as a slave, Rena is horrified to learn of all the older woman has endured―especially because Rena’s ancestors owned slaves. While Frankie’s story challenges Rena’s preconceptions about slavery, it also connects the two women whose lives are otherwise separated by age, race, and circumstances. But will this bond of respect, admiration, and friendship be broken by a revelation neither woman sees coming?

©2020 Michelle Shocklee (P)2020 Tyndale House Publishers

Moving Story

I love the evolution of the main character. The authenticity of the story was beautiful.

So good!

Best historical fiction of the summer by far! Great insight to a dark time in American history.

A Must read!

A tragic yet uplifting wonderful story of a women’s life of a life born in slavery and surviving and thriving as freedom arrives in many forms. History and the stories of each person is important as this well written book demonstrates.

Love!!

Exceptionally written and I love the narrator. Such a heartfelt book. I’m so glad I listened to this one instead of reading it.

Perfection

The heart of grace in the 2 main characters and how in their meeting that grace spread to the others. Beautiful characters!