Publisher's Synopsis
A family of strangers are thrown together in order to get out of the poorhouse in 1858. They travel to Michigan to farm a rundown piece of land the poorhouse has given them in exchange for the newly blinded Carter marrying the wheelchair-bound Fayette and adopting the four orphaned children the poorhouse has no place for. The oldest of the four, at age sixteen, Jerome stutters badly and has a stiff leg. Eight-year-old Emma, who is missing an arm already has the reputation for being a terror. The remaining two are brother and sister, ten-year-old Gordy who is deaf, and five-year-old Martha who has not spoken since the death of her parents, which left her brother deaf six months earlier. Of the six, only young Gordy knows Jesus as his Savior. They move to a town ruled by one man-a man who has no time for the physically challenged and convinces the majority of the town to follow his example. His son is the sole school teacher and his daughter and son-in-law own the only store in town. But gradually this family of misfits finds a place of belonging. This is a complete story in itself and does not need any other books in the series.
