This is a quiet novel, and it took a while to grab me. I rate it highly for its ability to bring life to an era and location that I know little about. Anita Diamant captured the feeling of this bleak little town to the point that I could almost imagine the physical layout of the village.

There is no main character, but rather a focus on six or so strong personalities with about six additional secondary figures. Themes of family, poverty, race and class are illustrated with restraint. Read this and be transported back in time.