{Review} OUR ORBIT by Anesa Miller

ISBN #: 978-1496187543

Page Count: 294

Copyright: July 3, 2014

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Description:

(Taken from back cover)

As a series of misfortunes scatters the Winslow children to different homes, nine-year-old Miriam finds herself in foster care. A college-educated couple, Rick and Deanne Fletcher, are happy to welcome her. But Miriam has never worn new clothes, was not permitted to cut her hair, and believes that children must repent their sins with dramatic displays of remorse, or harm will come to their loved ones. Now she must adapt to a secular lifestyle while struggling not to lose her connection to the past.

The Fletchers quickly come to love their "new little girl" with her cheerful energy and unusual ideas. Then they encounter the rest of Miriam’s family: Uncle Dan believes he was the subject of an invasive experiment. Sister Rachelle, just released from juvenile detention, harbors many painful secrets. Brother Josh is outraged that the Fletchers disrespect Christian teachings. When his plan to remove Miriam from their home fails, Josh reacts with growing hostility to interference in the Winslow way of life.

Richly detailed with small-town ethos, Anesa Miller's new novel, Our Orbit, captures the tension between modernity and tradition in the Appalachian corner of bellwether Ohio. Among the conflicts of her finely drawn and compelling characters, we glimpse the spirit that binds us in our common humanity—all of this in a literary novel that reads at the pace of a thriller.

Charlene's Review:

Young Miriam has never known the world outside her family’s strict religious beliefs. When her mother is killed and her father is taken away to prison, she is sent to live with a foster family. As she blossoms under their care, her remaining family struggles to survive. As Miriam is pulled into a new life, her foster family finds that her roots may be stronger than their influence.

Our Orbit is an intense look into family structure and the ties that bind, whether good or bad. Rich in character development and written with deep emotion, I was quickly absorbed. A study in social and economic structures, as well as religion, Ms. Miller tackled some tough issues with heart-rending grace.


*A physical copy of this novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.