Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    A Trail of Crumbs: A Novel of the Great Depression
    A Song of Home: A Novel of the Swing Era
    A Cup of Dust: A Novel of the Dust Bowl
    Ebook series3 titles

    Pearl Spence Novels Series

    By Susie Finkbeiner

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this series

    "Susie Finkbeiner never fails to transport her readers through time and space, welcoming us into worlds we never want to leave."--Julie Cantrell, New York Times best-selling author of Into the Free

    Pearl Spence has finally settled into a routine in Bliss, Michigan, far from her home in Red River, Oklahoma. Like all the other kids, she goes to school each day, plays in the woods, and does her chores. But there's one big difference: Mama is still gone, and doesn't seem to have a thought for the family she's left behind.

    Escaping from her worries is another part of Pearl's new routine, whether that's running to Aunt Carrie's farm, listening to the radio with Ray, or losing herself in a book. In fact, a chair in the stacks, surrounded by books, might be her favorite place on earth--until she discovers swing dancing. The music transports Pearl to a whole other world.

    When Mama unexpectedly returns, it isn't the happy occasion Pearl had imagined. Mama is distant and Pearl can't figure out how to please her. And the horrible way she treats Daddy is more than Pearl can bear. Seems life would be better if Mama would just stay away.

    Finkbeiner's portrayal of both tragedy and everyday life in times of great change is charged with a raw beauty that will haunt readers. Fans of inspirational fiction that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you feel as if you've finally come home will love A Song of Home and the previous Pearl Spence books.

    Enjoy all the Pearl Spence Novels
    1.A Cup of Dust
    2. A Trail of Crumbs
    3. A Song of Home

    "Nobody writes like Susie Finkbeiner, nobody. Her incomparable narrative voice pulls me in, every time." - Katherine Scott Jones, author of Her Memory of Music
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKregel Publications
    Release dateOct 27, 2015
    A Trail of Crumbs: A Novel of the Great Depression
    A Song of Home: A Novel of the Swing Era
    A Cup of Dust: A Novel of the Dust Bowl

    Titles in the series (3)

    • 1

      A Cup of Dust: A Novel of the Dust Bowl
      A Cup of Dust: A Novel of the Dust Bowl

      A Cup of Dust: A Novel of the Dust Bowl

      Susie Finkbeiner
      4/5 - 18 ratings
      4/5 - 18 ratings

      "The book is suspenseful and gritty with true-to-life characters. It is about hope, family, survival and faith." - - The Historical Novel Society Where you come from isn't who you are. Ten-year-old Pearl Spence is a daydreamer, playing make-believe to escape life in Oklahoma's Dust Bowl in 1935. The Spences have their share of misfortune, but as the sheriff's family, they’ve got more than most in this dry, desolate place. They're who the town turns to when there's a crisis or a need—and during these desperate times, there are plenty of both, even if half the town stands empty as people have packed up and moved on. Pearl is proud of her loving, strong family, though she often wearies of tracking down her mentally impaired older sister or wrestling with her grandmother's unshakable belief in a God who Pearl just isn't sure she likes. Then a mysterious man bent on revenge tramps into her town of Red River. Eddie is dangerous and he seems fixated on Pearl. When he reveals why he’s really there and shares a shocking secret involving the whole town, dust won't be the only thing darkening Pearl's world. While the tone is suspenseful and often poignant, the subtle humor of Pearl's voice keeps A Cup of Dust from becoming heavyhanded. Finkbeiner deftly paints a story of a family unit coming together despite fractures of distress threatening to pull them apart. Enjoy all the Pearl Spence Novels 1.A Cup of Dust 2. A Trail of Crumbs 3. A Song of Home "If you are looking for a compelling story with a message of hope in the midst of a dark time and characters that will live on in your imagination, then you need to get A Cup of Dust." - By the Book Reviews "This is a suspenseful page-turner, intricately plotted and bursting with meticulously drawn characters who jump from the page." - RT Reviews

      "The book is suspenseful and gritty with true-to-life characters. It is about hope, family, survival and faith." - - The Historical Novel Society Where you come from isn't who you are. Ten-year-old Pearl Spence is a daydreamer, playing make-believe to escape life in Oklahoma's Dust Bowl in 1935. The Spences have their share of misfortune, but as the sheriff's family, they’ve got more than most in this dry, desolate place. They're who the town turns to when there's a crisis or a need—and during these desperate times, there are plenty of both, even if half the town stands empty as people have packed up and moved on. Pearl is proud of her loving, strong family, though she often wearies of tracking down her mentally impaired older sister or wrestling with her grandmother's unshakable belief in a God who Pearl just isn't sure she likes. Then a mysterious man bent on revenge tramps into her town of Red River. Eddie is dangerous and he seems fixated on Pearl. When he reveals why he’s really there and shares a shocking secret involving the whole town, dust won't be the only thing darkening Pearl's world. While the tone is suspenseful and often poignant, the subtle humor of Pearl's voice keeps A Cup of Dust from becoming heavyhanded. Finkbeiner deftly paints a story of a family unit coming together despite fractures of distress threatening to pull them apart. Enjoy all the Pearl Spence Novels 1.A Cup of Dust 2. A Trail of Crumbs 3. A Song of Home "If you are looking for a compelling story with a message of hope in the midst of a dark time and characters that will live on in your imagination, then you need to get A Cup of Dust." - By the Book Reviews "This is a suspenseful page-turner, intricately plotted and bursting with meticulously drawn characters who jump from the page." - RT Reviews

    • 2

      A Trail of Crumbs: A Novel of the Great Depression
      A Trail of Crumbs: A Novel of the Great Depression

      A Trail of Crumbs: A Novel of the Great Depression

      Susie Finkbeiner
      5/5 - 6 ratings
      5/5 - 6 ratings

      "The writing is solid and as compelling as the first novel, and Pearl is as charming a narrator as ever. " - Historical Novel Society "I believed it would have been a sin to stay inside when God had sent us such fine weather. According to Pastor Ezra Anderson, sin was the reason we'd got in the dusty mess we were in. The way I saw it, that day was God's way of letting us know He wasn't mad at us anymore. Just maybe He'd seen fit to forgive us." Pearl Spence has been through more in her young life than most folks could handle. But through it all, her family has been by her side. They may not be perfect, but they love her and they all love each other, come what may. That's one thing Pearl no longer questions. But the end of her beautiful day signals the beginning of the end of her secure life. Now her family is fleeing their Oklahoma wasteland. Pearl isn't sure she'll ever see home or happiness again. Are there any crumbs powerful enough to guide her back to the dependable life she once knew? The strong narrative voice of Finkbeiner's young protagonist from A Cup of Dust returns in this gritty yet hopeful sequel, sure to please her many fans. Enjoy all the Pearl Spence Novels 1.A Cup of Dust 2. A Trail of Crumbs 3. A Song of Home "A Trail of Crumbs [is] a novel that elicits feelings that mere words cannot express." - By the Book Reviews

      "The writing is solid and as compelling as the first novel, and Pearl is as charming a narrator as ever. " - Historical Novel Society "I believed it would have been a sin to stay inside when God had sent us such fine weather. According to Pastor Ezra Anderson, sin was the reason we'd got in the dusty mess we were in. The way I saw it, that day was God's way of letting us know He wasn't mad at us anymore. Just maybe He'd seen fit to forgive us." Pearl Spence has been through more in her young life than most folks could handle. But through it all, her family has been by her side. They may not be perfect, but they love her and they all love each other, come what may. That's one thing Pearl no longer questions. But the end of her beautiful day signals the beginning of the end of her secure life. Now her family is fleeing their Oklahoma wasteland. Pearl isn't sure she'll ever see home or happiness again. Are there any crumbs powerful enough to guide her back to the dependable life she once knew? The strong narrative voice of Finkbeiner's young protagonist from A Cup of Dust returns in this gritty yet hopeful sequel, sure to please her many fans. Enjoy all the Pearl Spence Novels 1.A Cup of Dust 2. A Trail of Crumbs 3. A Song of Home "A Trail of Crumbs [is] a novel that elicits feelings that mere words cannot express." - By the Book Reviews

    • 3

      A Song of Home: A Novel of the Swing Era
      A Song of Home: A Novel of the Swing Era

      A Song of Home: A Novel of the Swing Era

      Susie Finkbeiner
      5/5 - 12 ratings
      5/5 - 12 ratings

      "Susie Finkbeiner never fails to transport her readers through time and space, welcoming us into worlds we never want to leave."--Julie Cantrell, New York Times best-selling author of Into the Free Pearl Spence has finally settled into a routine in Bliss, Michigan, far from her home in Red River, Oklahoma. Like all the other kids, she goes to school each day, plays in the woods, and does her chores. But there's one big difference: Mama is still gone, and doesn't seem to have a thought for the family she's left behind. Escaping from her worries is another part of Pearl's new routine, whether that's running to Aunt Carrie's farm, listening to the radio with Ray, or losing herself in a book. In fact, a chair in the stacks, surrounded by books, might be her favorite place on earth--until she discovers swing dancing. The music transports Pearl to a whole other world. When Mama unexpectedly returns, it isn't the happy occasion Pearl had imagined. Mama is distant and Pearl can't figure out how to please her. And the horrible way she treats Daddy is more than Pearl can bear. Seems life would be better if Mama would just stay away. Finkbeiner's portrayal of both tragedy and everyday life in times of great change is charged with a raw beauty that will haunt readers. Fans of inspirational fiction that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you feel as if you've finally come home will love A Song of Home and the previous Pearl Spence books. Enjoy all the Pearl Spence Novels 1.A Cup of Dust 2. A Trail of Crumbs 3. A Song of Home "Nobody writes like Susie Finkbeiner, nobody. Her incomparable narrative voice pulls me in, every time." - Katherine Scott Jones, author of Her Memory of Music

      "Susie Finkbeiner never fails to transport her readers through time and space, welcoming us into worlds we never want to leave."--Julie Cantrell, New York Times best-selling author of Into the Free Pearl Spence has finally settled into a routine in Bliss, Michigan, far from her home in Red River, Oklahoma. Like all the other kids, she goes to school each day, plays in the woods, and does her chores. But there's one big difference: Mama is still gone, and doesn't seem to have a thought for the family she's left behind. Escaping from her worries is another part of Pearl's new routine, whether that's running to Aunt Carrie's farm, listening to the radio with Ray, or losing herself in a book. In fact, a chair in the stacks, surrounded by books, might be her favorite place on earth--until she discovers swing dancing. The music transports Pearl to a whole other world. When Mama unexpectedly returns, it isn't the happy occasion Pearl had imagined. Mama is distant and Pearl can't figure out how to please her. And the horrible way she treats Daddy is more than Pearl can bear. Seems life would be better if Mama would just stay away. Finkbeiner's portrayal of both tragedy and everyday life in times of great change is charged with a raw beauty that will haunt readers. Fans of inspirational fiction that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you feel as if you've finally come home will love A Song of Home and the previous Pearl Spence books. Enjoy all the Pearl Spence Novels 1.A Cup of Dust 2. A Trail of Crumbs 3. A Song of Home "Nobody writes like Susie Finkbeiner, nobody. Her incomparable narrative voice pulls me in, every time." - Katherine Scott Jones, author of Her Memory of Music

    Read more from Susie Finkbeiner

    Related to Pearl Spence Novels

    Related ebooks

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      ‘Too Much’: Featured Nonfiction from Rachel Vorona Cote

      Feb 25, 2020

      In Too Much: How Victorian Constraints Still Bind Women Today, Cote examines how the "unspoken rules" that govern the expression of women’s emotional and physical desires date back to the 19th century. The post ‘Too Much’: Featured Nonfiction from Rachel Vorona Cote appeared first on The Millions.

      6 min read

    • Article

      Kathryn Hughes

      Nov 4, 2021

      ‘The Memory Box is my fifth book, which began life with a simple image of an old lady celebrating her 100th birthday in the care home where she lives. However, instead of being surrounded by friends and family, she’s in the company of strangers who h

      1 min read

    • Article

      Key Chain

      Feb 19, 2019

      Key Chain
      10 min read

    • Article

      “Get Moving, Mother!”

      Mar 25, 2023

      “Get Moving, Mother!”
      5 min read

    • Article

      Life In Wartime: Women Dominate A Quartet Of World War II Novels

      Aug 25, 2021

      The 4 best recent novels set during World War II show the ingenuity of women who put everything on the line to defeat the Nazis.

      4 min read

    • Article

      Sunflowers in Skagway

      Jan 1, 2023

      Sunflowers in Skagway
      4 min read

    • Article

      Help Wanted

      Mar 25, 2023

      Help Wanted
      6 min read

    • Article

      TWO DECADES OF HELL EVIL STEPDAD made me HIS WIFE

      Jul 2, 2020

      Acute little girl with bright red hair and a cheeky smile, Rosalynn McGinnis had big dreams. The 10-year-old wanted to grow up and be a veterinarian and teach violin. Rosalynn’s father wasn’t in the picture. But one day, handing out flyers with the n

      3 min read

    • Article

      Your Page

      Mar 2, 2022

      I want to thank Maggie MacKellar for her article Dog Days in the February issue of Country Style. I had tears welling in my eyes when I read those beautiful words. It’s just how I feel for my ageing Shih tzu, who knows all my secrets and who has my h

      4 min read

    • Article

      Underwater and Underrated

      Dec 30, 2019

      Underwater and Underrated
      10 min read

    • Article

      Top 10 Books

      Jun 16, 2023

      Top 10 Books
      1 min read

    • Article

      In The Novel ‘Emily’s House,’ The Dickinsons’ Irish Maid Speaks Her Mind

      Oct 27, 2021

      Amy Belding Brown’s historic novel “Emily’s House” sheds light on Emily Dickinson and her family, through the observations of their Irish maid.

      3 min read

    • Article

      All By Myself

      Apr 28, 2020

      All By Myself
      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Pearl Spence Novels

    4.5/5

    43 ratings1 review

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Enjoyed this book and continued saga of the characters. However; I do believe the first book was the best.