THIS QUIET SKY A Novella

Gail Shalan beautifully delivers this novella--a prequel to Bischof's Cadence of Grace series. In 1885 in Virginia, 16-year-old Sarah Miller, who is poor at algebra, enters the one-room schoolhouse for the first time. Shalan captures the sweet-tempered, shy Sarah, who must share a desk with Tucker O'Shay, who is confident and a bit cocky, particularly when he's chosen to tutor Sarah in math. Listeners soon learn that Tucker is suffering from terminal cancer. Shalan is also exceptional as their teacher, Mr. Davis, who is a realistic combination of tough and kind. In the epilogue, a 34-year-old Sarah explains why she lives alone, treasuring her memories of Tucker. The bittersweet story conveys a lovely message of hope. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2015]