I thought this was going to be a a bit of a cheesy romance with the Underground Railroad as a bit of background, but it was better than that! There were some coincidences that seemed a bit too neat, but not a lot of them. I wasn't too convinced by one of the main plot points, which seemed out of character, but in general I enjoyed the story. I see that Judith Redline Coopey has written several other novels on completely different topics, but all with what sound like strong female characters. I wouldn't mind reading them. ( )

A sweeping saga of historical fiction, Judith Coopey’s “Redfield Farm” chronicles the life of Ann Redfield, a Quaker from rural Pennsylvania. Beginning when she was nine, in 1837, she realized that her older brother Jesse was aiding slaves on their trip to freedom along the Underground Railroad. She made a decision to help too, and her commitment to the cause of abolitionism proved her steadfastness and her compassion. She developed a special bond with one slave in particular, Josiah, and over the years she helped more than 150 slaves while also serving as a mainstay for her own siblings and her father. She experienced heartache, tragedy, and loss, along with joy, but through it all she remained resolute, leaving an enduring legacy.

Told in episodic sequences, this story speaks to the love and care of familial bonds and to the ultimate simplicity of life. Coopey crafts a moving and poignant narrative rich in themes of friendship, loyalty, and sacrifice, and the straightforwardness of Ann’s story makes the reading flow quickly. The history that “Redfield Farm” encompasses is far-reaching and informative, from the Quaker lifestyle to the Underground Railroad to the Civil War and beyond. There are a few noticeable errors in the text, but these do not detract from the story itself. Fans of “Little House on the Prairie” and “Little Women” will relish this quietly evocative tale. ( )

Although I almost stopped reading this after a few pages because the formatting was so bad, I kept going because the subject matter was interesting. I'm glad I did. The author tells a story about a tragic time in U.S. history. I knew little or nothing about the Quaker involvement in the underground railroad movement of blacks into safety in the North prior to and during the Civil War. Coopey's account of the Redfield family's involvement in this endeavor sheds light on the terrible dangers some Quaker families were willing to suffer in this humanitarian cause. I thought the author spent too much time on the heroine's dislike and distraction over a less fortunate neighbor, but she managed to tie it all together before the ending. I found this novel to be well researched but, as with so many books, it might benefit from another edit.

I am new to reading on the Kindle and I hope this example of poor formatting is not the normal. I really miss turning the pages of a book! ( )