Willow’s Secrets – Sally Avery Bermanzohn | Reviewed by: Mark Heisey, The US Review of Books

Willow leads a simple life with her mother, Rose, and her grandpa. Born in the late 1860s, Willow and her neighbors work together on their farms, helping each other and sharing a barn and well. Although older, Molly, the neighbor’s daughter, is Willow’s best friend. In 1874, the nearby town of Pine Hill decides to build a new schoolhouse as the old one was burned down during the Civil War. Willow is unsure about going to school, and when she finds out that Molly can’t go because she is “colored,” Willow decides it is not for her. Also, Willow has a secret. Her birth mother is not Rose, but a Chickasaw woman named Spring who was killed by the KKK when they found out she was seeing a white man. However, Grandpa insists Willow go to school and volunteers as an assistant to protect her from those who believe that she doesn’t belong. As Willow gets older, she learns more about her mixed-race past and connects with lost relatives. She’ll do all this while trying to keep the farm going and raising a family.

Anyone familiar with the Little House on the Prairie series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder will have a basic understanding of the setting and themes of this book. Bermanzohn’s main character was born around the same time as Wilder. Both works deal with the hard work it took to maintain a farm during the era and the commitments and community effort necessary from all those living and benefiting from the farm. In addition, both works deal with their main character as they grow into womanhood and begin raising a family of their own. Also, they are similar in tone. Both works deal with the hardships and trauma that arise in life, but both primarily avoid terrible losses and overt violence. The books differ, though, in that Willow in Bermanzohn’s work has a multi-ethnic background that she must learn about and deal with its repercussions which arise in a racist South. In contrast, Wilder’s books are more monocultural and take place in the upper midwestern region of the country. However, each novel can be read by middle-grade readers and still appeal to adults interested in the period or the experiences the characters go through.

Bemanzohn’s book is well-written and paced. Willow is an engaging character, and her young personality really comes through. Also, the relationship with the neighboring family is well-constructed and adds meaning to the work. The examination of racism and how the two families deal with it to continue living their lives and advancing their families’ situations is poignant and appropriate for a middle-grade audience. Equally engaging is Bermanzohn’s description of life on the farm and the various duties required from family members of different ages. As Willow gets married and has children, which is a big transition period for anyone, her character seems to lose some of its uniqueness, and the reader isn’t given as much detail into her thoughts or how she is dealing with these major events in her life. Still, readers who love books from this same period and those who have adored Wilder’s works will find an interesting and engaging read in Willow’s story.

Source: https://www.theusreview.com/reviews-1/Willows-Secrets-by-Sally-Avery-Bermanzohn.html#.YpD3DKhByUk