Calling Me Home - Julie Kibler

Summary

Shakerville, Kentucky, 1939. A world where black maids and handymen are trusted to 

raise white children and tend to white houses, but from which they are banished after dark.

Sixteen-year old Isabelle Mcalister, born into wealth and privilege, finds her ordered life turned upside down when she becomes attracted to Robert, the ambitious  black son of her family’s housekeeper. Before long Isabelle and Robert are crossing extraordinary, dangerous boundaries and falling deeply in love.

Many years later, eightly-nine year old Isabelle will travel from her home in Arlington Texas, to Ohio for funeral. With Isabelle is her hairstylist and friend, Dorrie Curtis – a black single mother with her own problems. Along  the way, Isabelle will finally reveal to Dorrie the truth of her painful past a tale of forbidden love, the consequences of which will resound for decades.

Published by:PAN BOOKS - Fiction
Year: Paperback 2013
Pages 325
ISBN: 978-1-4472-1256-0

Conclusion

My Oh My Oh My.  Well if this is Julie Kibler's first novel then I cannot wait to see what she has published next.  This was a truly gripping story from the first to the last page.  Throughout their journey you are trying to guess whose funeral they would be attending in Ohio as Isabelle reveals the truth behind her story of long ago. The story is so well written that you think you know but with a surprise twist to the tale left right until the end.  I have been telling anyone who stands still long enough just how good this book has been even before I had finished it. 

I would definitely recommend anyone who enjoyed books such as 'The Colour Purple or 'The Help'  to read this book you will definitely not be disappointed.  I could see this story being made into a film and I would be one of the first in the queue to go and see it.