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Settled in the hills of rural West Virginia in the 1940’s, just a few years after the Great Depression, was the picture-perfect family of seven. At least, it appeared that way to their tight-knit community. The 40-acre farm was nestled in a valley with a red barn, some chickens, and a milk cow named Blondie, along with two well-kept gardens. Summertime found the children playing in the stream of water, which was close enough to the house for them to be able to hear their mother’s voice calling them.

Suicide! Then seven months later, once again, the children had to deal with the loss of their beloved mother, who had held her family together.

Now what? Five children left on their own from ages 6 – 17. Who would take care of them? Would they have to move? Would they be able to stay together? Scared, and once again dealing with significant loss, this is how the story goes, through the eyes of the 8-year-old.