WHEN THE JESSAMINE GROWS

Tiffany Morgan narrates this novel set during the Civil War in rural North Carolina. Fifteen-year-old Henry McBride steals off to enlist, and his mother, Joetta, sends his father, Ennis, off to bring him home. Joetta's refusal to support either side makes her a target in her community, especially after she performs a daring act of kindness. Morgan's measured cadence brings the rural South to life. She is at her strongest when conveying emotional speeches and conversations: Joetta's pleas for understanding, her father-in-law's tirades in support of the Confederacy, community members' outrage at her purported treason, and young men's desperation to either join the war or escape it. Each character rings true, no matter what side they are on. L.M.G. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2024]