Banished

The first book in The Long Road Home trilogy, a unique and gripping Amish romance set in the South at the turn of the century. It was the early 1900swhen Obadiah (Oba) and Merriweathers (Mays) parents died tragically, leaving them orphansat ten and eleven years old. When none of their nearby relations volunteer to take them in, they are set ona train to Arkansas to go live on their Amish aunt and uncles cotton farm. Once there, it didnt take long to discover they would be treated cruelly, no matter what they did. May, always anxious to be a godly young lady, took on more and more responsibility, trying desperately to keep the peace and convince her older brother not to run away. But when they became teenagers and Oba received one especially cruel beating, he disappeared, leaving May to shoulder even more responsibility while navigating the dangerous and lonely world shed been placed in. When she encounters Clinton, a young black man, on the road one day, she sees a kindness in his eyes that shes been thirsting for. He is immediately drawn to her, too, but quickly reminds her that he is black and she is white. In that time and place, there is no chance of starting a friendship. But still, they find themselves meeting discretely, spending more time together than is proper, finding joy and solace in each others company. When things go from bad to unbearable at the farm, May realizes she must escape from her aunt and uncle. If only she knew where Oba had gone! Can she turn to Clinton for help? Where is God when she needs Him most?