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Appalachian Song
Forever within the memories of my heart.
Always remember, you are perfectly loved.
Bertie Jenkins has spent forty years serving as a midwife for her community in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Out of all the mothers she’s tended, none affects her more than the young teenager who shows up on her doorstep, injured, afraid, and expecting, one warm June day in 1943. As Bertie and her four sisters tenderly nurture Songbird back to health, the bond between the childless midwife and the motherless teen grows strong. But soon Songbird is forced to make a heartbreaking decision that will tear this little family apart.
Thirty years later, the day after his father’s funeral, Walker Wylie is stunned to learn he was adopted as an infant. The famous country singer enlists the help of adoption advocate Reese Chandler in the hopes of learning why he was abandoned by his birth parents. With the only clue he has in hand, Walker and Reese head deep into the Appalachian Mountains to track down Bertie Jenkins, the midwife who holds the secrets to Walker’s past.
For fans of historical and Southern fiction comes a poignant story of love and sacrifice set in the heart of Appalachia, from award-winning author Michelle Shocklee.
Always remember, you are perfectly loved.
Bertie Jenkins has spent forty years serving as a midwife for her community in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Out of all the mothers she’s tended, none affects her more than the young teenager who shows up on her doorstep, injured, afraid, and expecting, one warm June day in 1943. As Bertie and her four sisters tenderly nurture Songbird back to health, the bond between the childless midwife and the motherless teen grows strong. But soon Songbird is forced to make a heartbreaking decision that will tear this little family apart.
Thirty years later, the day after his father’s funeral, Walker Wylie is stunned to learn he was adopted as an infant. The famous country singer enlists the help of adoption advocate Reese Chandler in the hopes of learning why he was abandoned by his birth parents. With the only clue he has in hand, Walker and Reese head deep into the Appalachian Mountains to track down Bertie Jenkins, the midwife who holds the secrets to Walker’s past.
For fans of historical and Southern fiction comes a poignant story of love and sacrifice set in the heart of Appalachia, from award-winning author Michelle Shocklee.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2023
666 people are currently reading
5745 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Shocklee
12 books956 followersMichelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels, including APPALACHIAN SONG, a 2024 Christy Award Finalist; COUNT THE NIGHTS BY STARS, winner of the 2023 Christianity Today Book Award in Fiction; and UNDER THE TULIP TREE, a Christy Award & Selah Award finalist. As a woman of mixed heritage--her father's family is Hispanic and her mother's roots go back to Germany--she has always celebrated diversity and feels it's important to see the world through the eyes of one another. Learning from the past and changing the future is why she writes historical fiction.
With both her sons grown and happily married, Michelle and her husband make their home in Tennessee.
Click the "Influences" link in Michelle's profile to read more about why the theme of forgiveness is important, even in fiction.
With both her sons grown and happily married, Michelle and her husband make their home in Tennessee.
Click the "Influences" link in Michelle's profile to read more about why the theme of forgiveness is important, even in fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 757 reviews
November 12, 2024
This was such a beautiful and emotional story that focused on the topic of adoption. It’s filled with themes of love, faith, making hard choices, and sacrifice. Shocklee hits on some harder-hitting topics in such a beautiful and positive way. I loved how she wove in Christian elements of prayer and Scripture with wonderful reminders of God’s love, grace, and forgiveness.
Told in a dual timeline (1940s & 1970s), this is a perfect book for the fall with the atmosphere and wonderful descriptions that make you feel as if you are in the mountains. I enjoyed the unique characters and their pieces in the story, but I loved Bertie and Songbird’s friendship and bond the most.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and faith-filled stories!
𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤:
“He loves us, even when we do wrong. Instead of punishin us, he forgives us. All we have to do is ask.”
“He knew he was a sinner, just like everyone else. But he also knew the savin’ grace found in Christ Jesus makes us clean and free from sin and death. When we’re made clean, we become the adopted children of God.”
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: A brief alluded-to bedroom scene at the beginning (no details), child out of wedlock (teen parents), gunshot wounds, parental abuse, stillbirth, talks of tonics for abortion, alcoholism, death
Told in a dual timeline (1940s & 1970s), this is a perfect book for the fall with the atmosphere and wonderful descriptions that make you feel as if you are in the mountains. I enjoyed the unique characters and their pieces in the story, but I loved Bertie and Songbird’s friendship and bond the most.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and faith-filled stories!
𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤:
“He loves us, even when we do wrong. Instead of punishin us, he forgives us. All we have to do is ask.”
“He knew he was a sinner, just like everyone else. But he also knew the savin’ grace found in Christ Jesus makes us clean and free from sin and death. When we’re made clean, we become the adopted children of God.”
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: A brief alluded-to bedroom scene at the beginning (no details), child out of wedlock (teen parents), gunshot wounds, parental abuse, stillbirth, talks of tonics for abortion, alcoholism, death
September 19, 2023
4.5
Absolutely beautiful
A story of adoption and finding hope amidst dark circumstances. Seeing God’s beauty shining in your life and knowing that He chooses you.
Yes, I am crying.
Yea, you should read this.
Absolutely beautiful
A story of adoption and finding hope amidst dark circumstances. Seeing God’s beauty shining in your life and knowing that He chooses you.
Yes, I am crying.
Yea, you should read this.
March 10, 2025
4.25 stars
Appalachian Song was a heartfelt historical fiction following two timelines. One of a pregnant teenager in 1943, and thirty years later, a man looking for his birth parents. It was a beautiful story of the sacrifice and love that comes with adoption. It brought me to tears a few times and I absolutely loved it.
Appalachian Song was a heartfelt historical fiction following two timelines. One of a pregnant teenager in 1943, and thirty years later, a man looking for his birth parents. It was a beautiful story of the sacrifice and love that comes with adoption. It brought me to tears a few times and I absolutely loved it.
Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 4.25 stars
Narrator: Caroline Hewitt
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Historical Fiction
Length: 9h 48m
June 8, 2024
3.5 rounded up 4
Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee is a Christian historical fiction novel that vividly portrays life in the Appalachian Mountains during the 1930s. The story centers on Birdie, a midwife, and her sisters as they face the hardships of the Great Depression. Shocklee's research shines through as she weaves a story rich in the culture, traditions, and resilience of Appalachian life.
Birdie is an independent and shows strength as she navigates the challenges of farm life on the old homestead, often delivering babies under the most difficult circumstances. The sisters' deep faith shows through their decisions, providing them with the wisdom and courage needed to overcome difficulty. Their lives take a dramatic turn when they find a young girl with a gunshot wound. They nurse her back to health and later help her deliver her baby, showing their compassion and determination.
The novel also features a second timeline set in the 1970s, focusing on a man searching for his true past. This dual timeline adds depth to the story, connecting different generations and their struggles.
While the novel is slow, this is compensated by well-developed characters and a richly detailed backdrop. The novel captures the era's poverty and the early signs of political unrest.
Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee is a Christian historical fiction novel that vividly portrays life in the Appalachian Mountains during the 1930s. The story centers on Birdie, a midwife, and her sisters as they face the hardships of the Great Depression. Shocklee's research shines through as she weaves a story rich in the culture, traditions, and resilience of Appalachian life.
Birdie is an independent and shows strength as she navigates the challenges of farm life on the old homestead, often delivering babies under the most difficult circumstances. The sisters' deep faith shows through their decisions, providing them with the wisdom and courage needed to overcome difficulty. Their lives take a dramatic turn when they find a young girl with a gunshot wound. They nurse her back to health and later help her deliver her baby, showing their compassion and determination.
The novel also features a second timeline set in the 1970s, focusing on a man searching for his true past. This dual timeline adds depth to the story, connecting different generations and their struggles.
While the novel is slow, this is compensated by well-developed characters and a richly detailed backdrop. The novel captures the era's poverty and the early signs of political unrest.
September 15, 2024
A beautiful historical fiction time-slip novel, taking place in the 1940's and 1970's
1940's: A young woman, little more than a child without the best upbringing wants to show her boyfriend how much she loves him before she moves away from North Carolina to Tennessee. At 14 she's pregnant, her mother is dead, her father shoots her because of the pregnancy, and she runs away. The Appalachian Mountains are beautiful, wild and a good place to hide in the 1940's but not for a 14-year-old pregnant teen shot by her father. Midwife Bertie hears her dog making a fuss in the woods and she finds the girl. Bringing the girl inside she and her five sisters live in the cabin her father built for his family of eleven but now all are gone but the five sisters living together that nurse this young girl back to health. As time goes on, she gives birth to a healthy beautiful baby boy, but she can't stay as her father knows where she is and as she is unmarried and she's underage he'd bring her and the baby home where she's not wanted. This beautiful young, frightened girl develops a real affinity for her midwife as she becomes the mother she doesn't have. The time comes for Songbird to leave, so named for her beautiful, melodious songs she treats the baby to.
1970's: Thirty years later. A young man experiences the death of his father and learns he's adopted after that, when his mother tells him. Feeling hurt, confused and bitter. Why didn't they want him, wasn't he good enough he wonders.
As he explores his adoption records with the help of an adoption advocate, they go back to where it all started tracking down Bertie Jenkins, his mother's midwife, now long retired. So much has changed in the wild Appalachian Mountains but time has also stood still in many ways. The old cabin Bertie has lived in with her sisters still stands with no electricity as things meander along here at a slower pace. Bertie holds the keys to the questions this man who became a famous singer, Walker Wylie but will she trust this stranger enough to meander back in time to a slower pace and give him the missing pieces to his puzzling questions?
This story is so beautiful so heartbreaking yet so healing and time marches on. I just could not stop reading and shed a tear or three while reading. I really enjoy reading about the olden days of Appalachia.
Highly recommended!
1940's: A young woman, little more than a child without the best upbringing wants to show her boyfriend how much she loves him before she moves away from North Carolina to Tennessee. At 14 she's pregnant, her mother is dead, her father shoots her because of the pregnancy, and she runs away. The Appalachian Mountains are beautiful, wild and a good place to hide in the 1940's but not for a 14-year-old pregnant teen shot by her father. Midwife Bertie hears her dog making a fuss in the woods and she finds the girl. Bringing the girl inside she and her five sisters live in the cabin her father built for his family of eleven but now all are gone but the five sisters living together that nurse this young girl back to health. As time goes on, she gives birth to a healthy beautiful baby boy, but she can't stay as her father knows where she is and as she is unmarried and she's underage he'd bring her and the baby home where she's not wanted. This beautiful young, frightened girl develops a real affinity for her midwife as she becomes the mother she doesn't have. The time comes for Songbird to leave, so named for her beautiful, melodious songs she treats the baby to.
1970's: Thirty years later. A young man experiences the death of his father and learns he's adopted after that, when his mother tells him. Feeling hurt, confused and bitter. Why didn't they want him, wasn't he good enough he wonders.
As he explores his adoption records with the help of an adoption advocate, they go back to where it all started tracking down Bertie Jenkins, his mother's midwife, now long retired. So much has changed in the wild Appalachian Mountains but time has also stood still in many ways. The old cabin Bertie has lived in with her sisters still stands with no electricity as things meander along here at a slower pace. Bertie holds the keys to the questions this man who became a famous singer, Walker Wylie but will she trust this stranger enough to meander back in time to a slower pace and give him the missing pieces to his puzzling questions?
This story is so beautiful so heartbreaking yet so healing and time marches on. I just could not stop reading and shed a tear or three while reading. I really enjoy reading about the olden days of Appalachia.
Highly recommended!
October 22, 2023
4.5 stars
“Livin’ life ain’t about seein’ and doin’. It’s about lovin’ and takin’ care of those who’ve been put in your path.“
Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee grabbed my attention from the title, had me eager to read it since I knew it was set in the Smoky Mountains, and drew me in completely the moment I met midwife Bertie Jenkins and her sisters in 1943. Also cementing my interest in the book? The fact that I share a birthday with Songbird’s little boy – seeing the date on the note that starts the 1973 part of the timeline made me deeply invested in the outcome.
The Smoky Mountains have long held a special place in my heart, and Shocklee beautifully captures the essence of the people who call it home, the lilt of their speech, and the poetry of their labor. Bertie Jenkins & her four spinster sisters are now part of the fabric of the Smokies to me, even though they are ‘merely’ fictional characters painted to life with an author’s talented words. Rubie & Bertie were my personal faves, but even the sister who took me longest to warm up to had me crying sweet tears before all was said and done. Into this cabin of sisters comes Songbird, a fourteen-year-old girl who stumbles into their lives, running from her father who shot her when he learned she was pregnant by her first love – a soldier now fighting overseas. (Yeah, Songbird’s father is a real piece of work.) Shocklee draws these six women so endearingly that I just wanted to hug each and every one of them. The quiet wisdom from the sisters and the way that Songbird comes to life under their care is truly special. (I also loved the cameo from one of Shocklee’s previous novels!)
The 1973 timeline follows a young man who is left reeling by the unexpected news that he was adopted thirty years ago, his only clue is a note with a birth date and the name of midwife Bertie Jenkins in Sevier County, Tennessee. Walker Wylie enlists the help of another Eastern Tennessee midwife, Reese Chandler to find out as much as they can about his adoption and his birth parents. I found both of these characters to be compelling and layered, and I enjoyed being on the journey for answers with them. The author gives us a front row seat to that journey, and while we suspect the way things might play out there’s enough doubt that keeps us turning the pages and some surprises I wasn’t anticipating. There’s a dash of light romance in this timeline, too, which of course always makes my heart happy. (Just as an aside – it pains me to categorize this as a historical dual timeline novel when this latter timeline takes place just four years before I was born LOL)
Bottom Line: Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee is a tender story of love, loss, adoption, faith, family, and grace. The parallels between a physical adoption and our spiritual adoptions were beautifully rendered, touching my heart with the cadence of redemption and pointing me straight to Jesus in a gentle melody of layers. Songbird, Bertie, Walker, and Reese are memorable characters who will linger with me for quite some time, and I confess that I’ll be looking over my shoulder for them the next time I’m in their – and my – beloved Smoky Mountains. A perfect choice for fans of Sandra Robbins’ Smoky Mountain Dreams trilogy, Karen Barnett’s When Stone Wings Fly, Laurie Alice Eakes’ The Midwives series, or Cindy K. Sproles and Pepper Basham’s historical fiction!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
“Livin’ life ain’t about seein’ and doin’. It’s about lovin’ and takin’ care of those who’ve been put in your path.“
Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee grabbed my attention from the title, had me eager to read it since I knew it was set in the Smoky Mountains, and drew me in completely the moment I met midwife Bertie Jenkins and her sisters in 1943. Also cementing my interest in the book? The fact that I share a birthday with Songbird’s little boy – seeing the date on the note that starts the 1973 part of the timeline made me deeply invested in the outcome.
The Smoky Mountains have long held a special place in my heart, and Shocklee beautifully captures the essence of the people who call it home, the lilt of their speech, and the poetry of their labor. Bertie Jenkins & her four spinster sisters are now part of the fabric of the Smokies to me, even though they are ‘merely’ fictional characters painted to life with an author’s talented words. Rubie & Bertie were my personal faves, but even the sister who took me longest to warm up to had me crying sweet tears before all was said and done. Into this cabin of sisters comes Songbird, a fourteen-year-old girl who stumbles into their lives, running from her father who shot her when he learned she was pregnant by her first love – a soldier now fighting overseas. (Yeah, Songbird’s father is a real piece of work.) Shocklee draws these six women so endearingly that I just wanted to hug each and every one of them. The quiet wisdom from the sisters and the way that Songbird comes to life under their care is truly special. (I also loved the cameo from one of Shocklee’s previous novels!)
The 1973 timeline follows a young man who is left reeling by the unexpected news that he was adopted thirty years ago, his only clue is a note with a birth date and the name of midwife Bertie Jenkins in Sevier County, Tennessee. Walker Wylie enlists the help of another Eastern Tennessee midwife, Reese Chandler to find out as much as they can about his adoption and his birth parents. I found both of these characters to be compelling and layered, and I enjoyed being on the journey for answers with them. The author gives us a front row seat to that journey, and while we suspect the way things might play out there’s enough doubt that keeps us turning the pages and some surprises I wasn’t anticipating. There’s a dash of light romance in this timeline, too, which of course always makes my heart happy. (Just as an aside – it pains me to categorize this as a historical dual timeline novel when this latter timeline takes place just four years before I was born LOL)
Bottom Line: Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee is a tender story of love, loss, adoption, faith, family, and grace. The parallels between a physical adoption and our spiritual adoptions were beautifully rendered, touching my heart with the cadence of redemption and pointing me straight to Jesus in a gentle melody of layers. Songbird, Bertie, Walker, and Reese are memorable characters who will linger with me for quite some time, and I confess that I’ll be looking over my shoulder for them the next time I’m in their – and my – beloved Smoky Mountains. A perfect choice for fans of Sandra Robbins’ Smoky Mountain Dreams trilogy, Karen Barnett’s When Stone Wings Fly, Laurie Alice Eakes’ The Midwives series, or Cindy K. Sproles and Pepper Basham’s historical fiction!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
October 13, 2024
This book is beautifully depicted in the Appalachian mountains. The story is a reminder of how God puts people in our lives for a reason. He knows our plans. We are not only so cared for, even better we are adopted into his family. When our family disappoints us he never will. An exquisite story of found family, found love, and best of all a reminder of Gods love for us.
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May 20, 2024Not enough stars in the sky for this book. Southern fiction with a Christian message, this novel has stirs deep emotions within its readers. Michelle Shocklee's writing brings home a lesson of the heart. For people like me, who met a biological parent after growing up, we can say that the author gets it right.
I'm grateful for the family members I found in adulthood. It's been one of God's richest blessings.
I'm grateful for the family members I found in adulthood. It's been one of God's richest blessings.
November 3, 2023
Appalachian Song едва ли би оставила равнодушни читателите си. Каквото и мнение да поддържа , всеки би преминал през вихрушката от емоции в нея. А темите не са една и две.
Съвсем неотдавна с дъщеря ми обсъждахме темата за родителството, избора да имаш дете и последиците от осиновяването. И двете имахме преки наблюдения в кръга ни на близки и роднини. В разговор с други хора ни прави впечатление клишираното иделизиране на ситуации. Сякаш всички искат да реагират като по учебник на такива екстремни ситуации като решението да дадеш детето си за осиновяване или да осиновиш дете. Без задълбоченост в плюсовете и минусите на възможностите е много лесно да се критикува, да се упреква или да се вика браво и ура. Винаги съм била на мнение, че да се осинови дете е огромен риск и се изисква кураж, голямо сърце и , донякъде, готовност да се срещнеш с неподозирани трудности. Но мога да изкажа уважение към онези, които са отворили дома и живота си за дете, което идва от някъде. Дори когато това дете носи неизвестно ДНК-А, характер и особености.
В Appalachian Song е представена драмата на една майка, решила да даде детето си за осиновяване и така обрекла себе си на живот в постоянна вина и ежедневна мисъл за изгубеното мъниче. В тази ситуация е замесена съдбата на детето, което расте и в един момент научава, че не е кръвен син на родителите си.И на осиновителите, които са отдали всички дни да отгледат детето без да има съмнение в любовта им на родители. Въпросите следват целия сюжет. Разглеждат всеки ъгъл, всеки деликатен елемент и всякакъв нюанс на дилемите на героите.
Трябва ли осиновителите да съобщят на детето, че е осиновено? В кой момент от израстването му? Ако предпочитат да запазят това за себе си, от какво се боят? От реакцията на детето? Или се срамуват? Дали всяко осиновено дете би направило опит да потърси биологичните си родители? Дали би го водил гняв? Или любопитсто? Или зовът на кръвта? А как живее майката, дала правото на непознати хора да отгледат нейното дете?
Но над всичко това най - силно въздейства въпросът на едно дете:
" Трябва да ми кажеш защо майка ми не ме искаше."
Има няколко книги, които през тази година чаках с огромно нетърпение. Имаше и други, които открих съвсем неочаквано, следвайки надежния си усет за заглавия. Appalachian Song ще бъде една от любимите ми книги на 2023 - та!
Съвсем неотдавна с дъщеря ми обсъждахме темата за родителството, избора да имаш дете и последиците от осиновяването. И двете имахме преки наблюдения в кръга ни на близки и роднини. В разговор с други хора ни прави впечатление клишираното иделизиране на ситуации. Сякаш всички искат да реагират като по учебник на такива екстремни ситуации като решението да дадеш детето си за осиновяване или да осиновиш дете. Без задълбоченост в плюсовете и минусите на възможностите е много лесно да се критикува, да се упреква или да се вика браво и ура. Винаги съм била на мнение, че да се осинови дете е огромен риск и се изисква кураж, голямо сърце и , донякъде, готовност да се срещнеш с неподозирани трудности. Но мога да изкажа уважение към онези, които са отворили дома и живота си за дете, което идва от някъде. Дори когато това дете носи неизвестно ДНК-А, характер и особености.
В Appalachian Song е представена драмата на една майка, решила да даде детето си за осиновяване и така обрекла себе си на живот в постоянна вина и ежедневна мисъл за изгубеното мъниче. В тази ситуация е замесена съдбата на детето, което расте и в един момент научава, че не е кръвен син на родителите си.И на осиновителите, които са отдали всички дни да отгледат детето без да има съмнение в любовта им на родители. Въпросите следват целия сюжет. Разглеждат всеки ъгъл, всеки деликатен елемент и всякакъв нюанс на дилемите на героите.
Трябва ли осиновителите да съобщят на детето, че е осиновено? В кой момент от израстването му? Ако предпочитат да запазят това за себе си, от какво се боят? От реакцията на детето? Или се срамуват? Дали всяко осиновено дете би направило опит да потърси биологичните си родители? Дали би го водил гняв? Или любопитсто? Или зовът на кръвта? А как живее майката, дала правото на непознати хора да отгледат нейното дете?
Но над всичко това най - силно въздейства въпросът на едно дете:
" Трябва да ми кажеш защо майка ми не ме искаше."
Има няколко книги, които през тази година чаках с огромно нетърпение. Имаше и други, които открих съвсем неочаквано, следвайки надежния си усет за заглавия. Appalachian Song ще бъде една от любимите ми книги на 2023 - та!
March 10, 2025
I enjoyed this historical fiction novel with its dual timelines—one set in the 1940s and the other in the 1970s. The two stories intertwine when Walker discovers he was adopted and embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about his birth mother and why she gave him up. His search leads him to Bertie, the midwife who delivered him 30 years earlier.
The rich Appalachian culture is a powerful story component, bringing the setting and characters to life. The element of faith woven throughout adds depth and meaning, making this a heartfelt and engaging read.
The rich Appalachian culture is a powerful story component, bringing the setting and characters to life. The element of faith woven throughout adds depth and meaning, making this a heartfelt and engaging read.
Audiobook source: Hoopla
Narrator: Caroline Hewitt
Length: 9h 48m
January 5, 2025
Ugh this book 😭♥️ Appalachian Song is beautifully written - I was hooked on the characters immediately and teared up over the majority of the second half. The gospel message is fantastic and the pro-life themes are perfect. Already one of my favorite books of 2025 and it’s the first one I’ve read 😂♥️
December 25, 2023
What a beautiful story of lost love and the story of adoption. Also of true friendship. This is a dual timeline. I preferred the past timeline and the story of songbird. A mother sacrifice. This book made many top book of the year and I can see why. This book came highly recommended which in turn I highly recommend!! A definite book for my collection!!
September 29, 2023
4.5 star
Do you love Southern fiction? I do! If you do too, I definitely recommend Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee. This is a Christian, dual-timeline, historical fiction book that I just could not put down. The book begins with the Jenkins family in the 1940s - 5 unmarried sisters who live on their late parents' homestead. Bertie Jenkins is a midwife who serves her community in rural Appalachia. The Jenkins sisters' lives are turned upside down when a young, pregnant teenager is found on their property with a gunshot wound. What happens next starts a series of events that will both steal your heart and shock you.
The other timeline follows Walker Wylie, famous singer, in the 1970s. His father has just passed away and he has been told the shocking news that he was adopted as an infant. His world is rocked as he wrestles with his identity. He meets a friend, Reese, who quickly sets him on the path to finding out about his past and helping him to move forward.
Appalachian Song stole my heart! It was especially emotional for me as I am due with my third baby and day now, and there is *a lot* of birth content, especially with midwifery care - which I LOVE. This story also highlights the incredible sacrifice of adoption and the amazing miracles that can happen. It will definitely pull at your heartstrings! I also loved the setting and found myself so wistful for a trip to the mountains! 🌄 Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own! ❤️ This one releases on October 3!
Content warnings: death during childbirth, birth trauma, stillbirth
Do you love Southern fiction? I do! If you do too, I definitely recommend Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee. This is a Christian, dual-timeline, historical fiction book that I just could not put down. The book begins with the Jenkins family in the 1940s - 5 unmarried sisters who live on their late parents' homestead. Bertie Jenkins is a midwife who serves her community in rural Appalachia. The Jenkins sisters' lives are turned upside down when a young, pregnant teenager is found on their property with a gunshot wound. What happens next starts a series of events that will both steal your heart and shock you.
The other timeline follows Walker Wylie, famous singer, in the 1970s. His father has just passed away and he has been told the shocking news that he was adopted as an infant. His world is rocked as he wrestles with his identity. He meets a friend, Reese, who quickly sets him on the path to finding out about his past and helping him to move forward.
Appalachian Song stole my heart! It was especially emotional for me as I am due with my third baby and day now, and there is *a lot* of birth content, especially with midwifery care - which I LOVE. This story also highlights the incredible sacrifice of adoption and the amazing miracles that can happen. It will definitely pull at your heartstrings! I also loved the setting and found myself so wistful for a trip to the mountains! 🌄 Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own! ❤️ This one releases on October 3!
Content warnings: death during childbirth, birth trauma, stillbirth
October 23, 2024
“Lord,” Bertie whispered… “I can’t see into the future and how this is gonna work out, but I trust you. Give me grace to trust you more.”
“Even though I’m adopted, I never had to go through anything like what you’re dealing with. It’s reminded me that every adoption story is different.” – Reese
🤎 MY THOUGHTS: Oh, my stars! And let me just go ahead and say that Appalachian Song deserves all the stars! This was my first book by Michelle Shocklee, and it will not be my last. Shocklee is a gifted storyteller and in Appalachian Song she unveiled a story of love and sacrifice so tenderly and so beautifully that it captured my heart and all my emotions.
Being adopted, there were many aspects of this story that mirrored my own and many times when I wept with those who wept and rejoiced with those who rejoiced.
I adored the relationship between Bertie and Songbird and the gospel truths Bertie shared with the young mother. And though there were moments when my heart broke for Walker, I loved how his hard road to the answers he sought revealed to him the answers he most needed: that he was known and loved by the One who knew him before he was formed in his mother’s womb; and that all his days were written before they came to be and part of God’s perfect plan for his life.
If there was ever a book to cozy up with this fall, this is it!
🤎 READ IF YOU LIKE:
✨ Christian Historical Fiction
✨ Dual timelines and multiple POVs
✨ Stories set in the heart of Appalachia
✨ Clean romance
✨ A beautifully presented gospel message
⚠️ CONTENT CONSIDERATIONS: Stillbirth, death during childbirth, and birth trauma.
“Even though I’m adopted, I never had to go through anything like what you’re dealing with. It’s reminded me that every adoption story is different.” – Reese
🤎 MY THOUGHTS: Oh, my stars! And let me just go ahead and say that Appalachian Song deserves all the stars! This was my first book by Michelle Shocklee, and it will not be my last. Shocklee is a gifted storyteller and in Appalachian Song she unveiled a story of love and sacrifice so tenderly and so beautifully that it captured my heart and all my emotions.
Being adopted, there were many aspects of this story that mirrored my own and many times when I wept with those who wept and rejoiced with those who rejoiced.
I adored the relationship between Bertie and Songbird and the gospel truths Bertie shared with the young mother. And though there were moments when my heart broke for Walker, I loved how his hard road to the answers he sought revealed to him the answers he most needed: that he was known and loved by the One who knew him before he was formed in his mother’s womb; and that all his days were written before they came to be and part of God’s perfect plan for his life.
If there was ever a book to cozy up with this fall, this is it!
🤎 READ IF YOU LIKE:
✨ Christian Historical Fiction
✨ Dual timelines and multiple POVs
✨ Stories set in the heart of Appalachia
✨ Clean romance
✨ A beautifully presented gospel message
⚠️ CONTENT CONSIDERATIONS: Stillbirth, death during childbirth, and birth trauma.
November 23, 2024
I really enjoyed this story. The cover absolutely drew me in. I thoroughly fell in love with the Jenkins sisters. Their homestead came to life in the story when they took in Songbird into their home as she was injured and pregnant. You could feel their love (at least most of the sisters) pour into Songbird. They tended to her so wonderfully through her pregnancy.
We also meet Walker, and angry country singing celebrity who has recently learned that he's adopted! He enlists the help of Reese to help him find his birth parents. Little does he know what lays before him as he and Reese start to uncover his origins.
This story is heart wrenching and beautiful all at the same time. The author has an incredible gift of bringing the Appalachian folks and area to life through her stories. You can appreciate how hard life is, but also how tough these people are.
We also meet Walker, and angry country singing celebrity who has recently learned that he's adopted! He enlists the help of Reese to help him find his birth parents. Little does he know what lays before him as he and Reese start to uncover his origins.
This story is heart wrenching and beautiful all at the same time. The author has an incredible gift of bringing the Appalachian folks and area to life through her stories. You can appreciate how hard life is, but also how tough these people are.
November 24, 2023
1943 & 1973 Tennessee
A lovely novel about adoption.
A lovely novel about adoption.
August 4, 2023
Another great story by Michelle Shocklee. APPALACHIAN SONG is a historical dual-timeline about the sacrifices of true love—especially parental love.
The book begins in the mid-1940s when five self-reliant spinster sisters discover an unwed teen, pregnant and bleeding out from a gunshot wound to the shoulder in the forest of the Appalachian Mountains. Bertie Jenkins, a well-seasoned midwife, “doctors” her and takes to the young girl, but the other sisters initially are not so sure, especially when the shooter is the girl’s father. But young “Songbird” with her sweet nature, weaves her way into all their hearts, especially Bertie.
We slip into the 1970s where Walker Wylie, a famous country singer, has just buried his beloved father and now learns from his mother that he is adopted. The only clue to his biological parents is a yellowed-with-age slip of paper with Bertie’s name and date of birth. Which isn’t his birth date. Not much to go on.
With the help of the beautiful Reese Chandler, a midwife—and also an adoptee—Walker embarks on the complicated journey to find his parents.
APPALACHIAN SONG is a beautifully written story, with an almost melodic rhythm to the plot and characters. Shocklee was able to demonstrate how each adoption has its own unique story filled with pain, love, and sacrifice. Ultimately each person hits the rocky road to discovering their identity.
The symbolism of our adoption into God’s family is gracefully integrated.
I always love a well-done dual timeline with different character narrations. Shocklee has written another winner! Highly recommend.
An ARC was provided by the publisher for my honest review.
The book begins in the mid-1940s when five self-reliant spinster sisters discover an unwed teen, pregnant and bleeding out from a gunshot wound to the shoulder in the forest of the Appalachian Mountains. Bertie Jenkins, a well-seasoned midwife, “doctors” her and takes to the young girl, but the other sisters initially are not so sure, especially when the shooter is the girl’s father. But young “Songbird” with her sweet nature, weaves her way into all their hearts, especially Bertie.
We slip into the 1970s where Walker Wylie, a famous country singer, has just buried his beloved father and now learns from his mother that he is adopted. The only clue to his biological parents is a yellowed-with-age slip of paper with Bertie’s name and date of birth. Which isn’t his birth date. Not much to go on.
With the help of the beautiful Reese Chandler, a midwife—and also an adoptee—Walker embarks on the complicated journey to find his parents.
APPALACHIAN SONG is a beautifully written story, with an almost melodic rhythm to the plot and characters. Shocklee was able to demonstrate how each adoption has its own unique story filled with pain, love, and sacrifice. Ultimately each person hits the rocky road to discovering their identity.
The symbolism of our adoption into God’s family is gracefully integrated.
I always love a well-done dual timeline with different character narrations. Shocklee has written another winner! Highly recommend.
An ARC was provided by the publisher for my honest review.
August 30, 2023
A heartfelt dual timeline story set in Appalachia, full of faith, hope and grace. The spinster Jenkins sisters live in their parent's old cabin tucked away in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, but when a wounded pregnant teenager stumbles into their yard, their tender care for her makes a lasting impact.
This well told tale had me riveted to the page as it flipped between 1943 and 1973, revealing what happened to young Songbird and her child. There are some real spiritual gems tucked into this redemptive story along the way, with scriptures and a simple gospel discussion, which fit neatly into the plot. Issues surrounding adoption are explored both from the child's and parent's viewpoint. It had me in tears at times. The profession of midwifery is nicely presented, as it helped so many people in that area especially. I loved Bertie and her sisters, and the grace they showed Songbird. It is interesting that the author used a real family as a spark for her story.
Recommend to readers who enjoy a faith filled historical tale with some romance. 4.5 stars
(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
This well told tale had me riveted to the page as it flipped between 1943 and 1973, revealing what happened to young Songbird and her child. There are some real spiritual gems tucked into this redemptive story along the way, with scriptures and a simple gospel discussion, which fit neatly into the plot. Issues surrounding adoption are explored both from the child's and parent's viewpoint. It had me in tears at times. The profession of midwifery is nicely presented, as it helped so many people in that area especially. I loved Bertie and her sisters, and the grace they showed Songbird. It is interesting that the author used a real family as a spark for her story.
Recommend to readers who enjoy a faith filled historical tale with some romance. 4.5 stars
(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
March 28, 2024
This book was incredible. I loved the story, the writing, and the characters. In this book we see people step into the past in order to step back into their present and future, and while heart-wrenching at times so much grace, beauty and love is found in choosing to embrace their own stories and the truth. So good!
November 19, 2024
Michelle Shocklee is a new to me author, but she did not disappoint. Her novel Appalachian Song is a gorgeous story about adoption and belonging, and the redemptive power of God’s love and forgiveness. It kept me guessing until the end with its dual timeline, twists and turns, and the homey feeling one can find only in the setting of the backwoods of the Great Smokey Mountains. To be honest, although this book had been on my radar, I just happened for pick it up at the library on a whim as I was headed out the door. Simply a beautiful story that will certainly swell your heart with emotion and bring a tear to your eye.
July 23, 2024
This was a really beautiful and tender story! It featured some unique settings and characters, like the Appalachian setting and a powerhouse crew of 5 elderly sisters. It painted an endearing and respectful picture of “mountain people” and their unusual ways. I loved reading about the genuine & resilient faith of the characters and the multiple clear presentations of the Gospel in various ways.
Approach with a modicum of caution because there are discussions of miscarriage & abortions, and a still-birth scene. I also sometimes felt confused by the frequent switching of POVs.
Overall loved it and I’m looking forward to reading more by this author!
“God had been faithful. Through the silent, lonely years when it seemed he wasn't listening. Through the pain and sadness, wondering why things had to happen the way they did. He was there, all along, preparing this day. Reminding each of them he was a good, good Father, adopting everyone who believes in Christ into his family where all would be loved and cherished for eternity.”
Approach with a modicum of caution because there are discussions of miscarriage & abortions, and a still-birth scene. I also sometimes felt confused by the frequent switching of POVs.
Overall loved it and I’m looking forward to reading more by this author!
“God had been faithful. Through the silent, lonely years when it seemed he wasn't listening. Through the pain and sadness, wondering why things had to happen the way they did. He was there, all along, preparing this day. Reminding each of them he was a good, good Father, adopting everyone who believes in Christ into his family where all would be loved and cherished for eternity.”
January 20, 2025
This was my first Michelle Shocklee book, so I didn’t really know what to expect going into this book. I found her writing style to be relatively easy to read and really enjoyable! The plot was unique as well.
There were so many characters that I really loved! Bertie Jenkins was an inspiring midwife in the 70’s who lived with her sisters, but stood up for what was right and had an open and loving heart. Songbird was a young teenager with a baby to protect and no where to go. Walker Wiles is a man who finds out he is adopted and is looking for himself again. Reese is a midwife and adoption advocate who was an understanding friend for Walker along the way.
I thought the way this story unfolded was really interesting. Seeing the past unfold as Walker is learning his story. The beginning of the story really pulled me in and there was a lot of suspense about how this story plays out. I did feel that the ending was a little bit dragged out in some ways and rushed in others. I still really enjoyed this book and am so glad I picked it up!
The way that Michelle wove the metaphor of adoption into God’s family into this story was rather beautiful. It definitely had me contemplating how I view my adoption into God’s family.
I will definitely be picking up more Michelle Shocklee books soon! I definitely recommend this story if you enjoy spiritual encouragement, adoption, and dual-time story lines.
Content Guide:
Language: None
Spice: Level 1
TW: Intimacy before marriage (non-descriptive fade-to-black), chemical abortion attempt, gunshot, abusive husband/father, child loss (stillbirth), on page childbirth (non-graphic)
There were so many characters that I really loved! Bertie Jenkins was an inspiring midwife in the 70’s who lived with her sisters, but stood up for what was right and had an open and loving heart. Songbird was a young teenager with a baby to protect and no where to go. Walker Wiles is a man who finds out he is adopted and is looking for himself again. Reese is a midwife and adoption advocate who was an understanding friend for Walker along the way.
I thought the way this story unfolded was really interesting. Seeing the past unfold as Walker is learning his story. The beginning of the story really pulled me in and there was a lot of suspense about how this story plays out. I did feel that the ending was a little bit dragged out in some ways and rushed in others. I still really enjoyed this book and am so glad I picked it up!
The way that Michelle wove the metaphor of adoption into God’s family into this story was rather beautiful. It definitely had me contemplating how I view my adoption into God’s family.
I will definitely be picking up more Michelle Shocklee books soon! I definitely recommend this story if you enjoy spiritual encouragement, adoption, and dual-time story lines.
Content Guide:
Language: None
Spice: Level 1
TW: Intimacy before marriage (non-descriptive fade-to-black), chemical abortion attempt, gunshot, abusive husband/father, child loss (stillbirth), on page childbirth (non-graphic)
January 26, 2024
WOW! I knew within the first 20% that this book was something special, and I was not wrong. There is so much heart and heartache in these pages. I couldn't put this book down. I really don't know what else to say other than to give it a try.
Also, this is one of the very few books I have read that is set during the 70s. This is a split-time novel with half of the book in the 40s. I liked the different eras shown.
5 Stars
Content: child out of wedlock (teen parents), gunshot wounds, mentions of infertility and abortion, deaths
Also, this is one of the very few books I have read that is set during the 70s. This is a split-time novel with half of the book in the 40s. I liked the different eras shown.
5 Stars
Content: child out of wedlock (teen parents), gunshot wounds, mentions of infertility and abortion, deaths
March 26, 2024
Amazing! Such a wonderful novel about adoption, found family, faith, and healing. I loved the pro life themes alongside the themes of God’s good and perfect plans!
Content warnings: miscarriage, child loss, hemorrhage and maternal death, fade to black teenage pregnancy, some domestic violence
Content warnings: miscarriage, child loss, hemorrhage and maternal death, fade to black teenage pregnancy, some domestic violence
June 1, 2025
This is a beautiful tribute to the history of the Appalachian Mountains and the many incredible mountain women who lived and loved among her hollows and hills for generations.
This is a story of strong, fierce, loving, godly women. It is a story of sacrifice, love, and adoption. It’s a story of motherhood and the amazing gift of children.
But Appalachian Song is ultimately a story of the Savior who loves, sacrificed for, and adopts us all.
❤️
This is a story of strong, fierce, loving, godly women. It is a story of sacrifice, love, and adoption. It’s a story of motherhood and the amazing gift of children.
But Appalachian Song is ultimately a story of the Savior who loves, sacrificed for, and adopts us all.
❤️
June 20, 2024
A touching tale of adoption and the Father’s love, set in the Appalachian’s!
August 13, 2024
Oh my, was this a wonderful book. I’m glad I didn’t stop when the beginning involved an underage indiscretion. It seemed a bit shocking, but nothing is "shown", and what happens because of this moment is intrinsic to the rest of the book.
There are two stories. One is set in the 1940s, near Gatlinburg, TN, during the Second World War. It is of a fourteen-year-old called Song Bird. That’s the name she uses to protect herself and the older single women (sisters) who took her in. She was pregnant and needed help. Fortunately one of the sisters was a midwife.
The other story is set in the 1960s. A young midwife in the Appalachian Mountains was asked to help a famous singer find his roots. He just found out he was adopted and wanted information on his birth. The singer was frustrated and angry that he was never told of his origins, and also frustrated with the process he must endure in Tennessee where adoptions are sealed.
Ms. Shocklee deals with faith issues in this story so beautifully. Sin is dealt with, the Lord's forgiveness is clearly presented, and Christ is glorified in an honest and forthright manner. Loved it.
But mostly I loved that it was set in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. This is virtually in my backyard. The setting is south of current day Dollywood, in an area near Cades Cove outside Gatlinburg.
History: Inspiration for the sisters in the book was based on five real mountain sisters, all of whom lived in the cabin their father built throughout their lives. Their cabin is also still there set in the National Forest. They refused to give up their home to the government once the whole area was declared a national park in 1940. Eventually they were given a little $4,700 for the property, with an agreement allowing them to live out their days there. The last sister passed in 1964.
Wonderful book I highly recommend.
(Oh, and the narrator, Caroline Hewitt, is one I will have to put in my favorites list. She even pronounced "Appalachia" correctly (Apple-at-cha), something I mispronounced all my life until moving here.)
There are two stories. One is set in the 1940s, near Gatlinburg, TN, during the Second World War. It is of a fourteen-year-old called Song Bird. That’s the name she uses to protect herself and the older single women (sisters) who took her in. She was pregnant and needed help. Fortunately one of the sisters was a midwife.
The other story is set in the 1960s. A young midwife in the Appalachian Mountains was asked to help a famous singer find his roots. He just found out he was adopted and wanted information on his birth. The singer was frustrated and angry that he was never told of his origins, and also frustrated with the process he must endure in Tennessee where adoptions are sealed.
Ms. Shocklee deals with faith issues in this story so beautifully. Sin is dealt with, the Lord's forgiveness is clearly presented, and Christ is glorified in an honest and forthright manner. Loved it.
But mostly I loved that it was set in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. This is virtually in my backyard. The setting is south of current day Dollywood, in an area near Cades Cove outside Gatlinburg.
History: Inspiration for the sisters in the book was based on five real mountain sisters, all of whom lived in the cabin their father built throughout their lives. Their cabin is also still there set in the National Forest. They refused to give up their home to the government once the whole area was declared a national park in 1940. Eventually they were given a little $4,700 for the property, with an agreement allowing them to live out their days there. The last sister passed in 1964.
Wonderful book I highly recommend.
(Oh, and the narrator, Caroline Hewitt, is one I will have to put in my favorites list. She even pronounced "Appalachia" correctly (Apple-at-cha), something I mispronounced all my life until moving here.)
January 12, 2025
After seeing this book come highly recommended, I’m so glad I read it! This book is rich in theology and gospel themes. There’s a big focus on adoption and God’s perfect plan and His working through difficult circumstances. The characters grow and change and learn the truth of the gospel through these pages. The plot is gripping and shocking at some moments. Have your tissues ready because you’re bound to at least read up at some point in the book!
My gentle drawbacks would be it felt somewhat unrealistic at some points—mainly the celebrity side. And I just wished things could have turned out different for Songbird. It really broke my heart, but I also understand why the author wrote her story the way she did.
Overall, I highly recommend! There is so much truth in these pages—it’s a message we could all stand to read in this broken world.
My gentle drawbacks would be it felt somewhat unrealistic at some points—mainly the celebrity side. And I just wished things could have turned out different for Songbird. It really broke my heart, but I also understand why the author wrote her story the way she did.
Overall, I highly recommend! There is so much truth in these pages—it’s a message we could all stand to read in this broken world.
September 19, 2023
I was so excited when I came across this book! I’ve discovered, over the years, that I love books set in the Appalachian Mountains, and combining that with an intriguing dual-timeline mystery sounded like the perfect book for me.
And I was right—I got sucked in from pretty-much page one. I remember telling Mom that I found myself invested in both timelines; I couldn’t decide which one I was more excited about! The characters were dynamic, relatable people, and the situations they found themselves in were the kinds of things I could sympathize with.
About half or two-thirds of the way through the book, though, I noticed my excitement for the story waning. The story became somewhat predictable, and although I enjoyed seeing how things turned out for the characters, I wasn’t as invested in the second half as in the first. That was disappointing.
There was so much to love in this book, though! As I mentioned, the characters and setting were well-formulated (although I did have a bit of trouble keeping all of Bertie’s sisters separate—two of them, especially, ended up blurring in my mind), and the plot was also well-formulated. I absolutely loved the scene where several characters were introduced to farm work, and their responses to it…even if some parts of that didn’t feel realistic to me, as a farm girl, it was still hilarious and so much fun! I also loved the adoption aspect of the story and the growth process for the characters. The peep into hippie communities in the 1970s was fun (and, thankfully, clean!). And I loved the midwifery aspect of the book!
This was a good book. Not one of my top favorites, but an enjoyable story. If you’re looking for a sweet, satisfying read with a strong faith element, this could be the perfect book for you.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.
And I was right—I got sucked in from pretty-much page one. I remember telling Mom that I found myself invested in both timelines; I couldn’t decide which one I was more excited about! The characters were dynamic, relatable people, and the situations they found themselves in were the kinds of things I could sympathize with.
About half or two-thirds of the way through the book, though, I noticed my excitement for the story waning. The story became somewhat predictable, and although I enjoyed seeing how things turned out for the characters, I wasn’t as invested in the second half as in the first. That was disappointing.
There was so much to love in this book, though! As I mentioned, the characters and setting were well-formulated (although I did have a bit of trouble keeping all of Bertie’s sisters separate—two of them, especially, ended up blurring in my mind), and the plot was also well-formulated. I absolutely loved the scene where several characters were introduced to farm work, and their responses to it…even if some parts of that didn’t feel realistic to me, as a farm girl, it was still hilarious and so much fun! I also loved the adoption aspect of the story and the growth process for the characters. The peep into hippie communities in the 1970s was fun (and, thankfully, clean!). And I loved the midwifery aspect of the book!
This was a good book. Not one of my top favorites, but an enjoyable story. If you’re looking for a sweet, satisfying read with a strong faith element, this could be the perfect book for you.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.
December 18, 2023
This book was absolutely one of my favorite reads of the year. As a gal from the Appalachian Mountains of NC who moved to the western flats of Tennessee and regularly drives through places mentioned in this book I absolutely loved the setting, the accent, all of it was so beautifully familiar and precious. What a heartbreaking and heartwarming story of adoption, sacrifice, love, and selflessness all wrapped up in the amazing power of adoption and the gospel of the God of Heaven who adopts us as His children. Highly recommend this one.
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