The Scribe's Portion

"The Moonlight School" by Suzanne Woods Fisher If you're looking for a light-hearted historical novel and have an interest in education, this one is for you. Prior to reading this, I had never heard of the moonlight schools or her creator, Cora Wilson. The story of the moonlight schools (adult literacy program) intrigued me but Cora Wilson herself intrigued me even more.  For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, I'll briefly summarize the background of the novel. Most adults living in the Appalachians in the early 1900s were either illiterate or semi-illiterate. Cora Wilson was the superintendent of education of Kentucky (and the first woman too!). She was motivated to start the Moonlight Schools after learning about an 80-year-old woman who taught herself to read and write, smashing the belief that adults had passed the threshold for learning. They were called Moonlight Schools because the literacy classes took place during moonlit nights after the kids...

  "Pearl in the Sand"  10th Anniversary Edition by Tessa Afshar I am so overcome with emotion I don't even know how to begin describing what this novel means to me. As someone who has struggled for many years to forgive myself for sins I regret and am ashamed of and the struggle to feel God's redemptive, unconditional love for me, this story hit home for me. I could relate to Rahab on many levels. Her feelings of unworthiness due to her past is something I've struggled with too. This novel awakened in me deep wounds that I realized haven't quite healed yet. But the scene with the pearl earring was a much needed beautiful reminder of the love of God...my eyes teared up when I read it. This book reminds me a lot of Francine River's Redeeming Love, it has had the same powerful impact on me-I will forever cherish their message. 5 HUGE stars for this beautiful novel!! I recieved a copy of this book from Moody in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expre...