By the Light of the Soul: A Novel

"By the Light of the Soul: A Novel" by Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman is a story set in the early 1900s, focusing on Maria Edgham during a tough time in her young life. As the book opens, Maria's thoughts drift during a prayer meeting; she's a sweet kid, but she is very aware of the adults around her, including a sad mom and a boy she likes. She is worried about her family's problems, mostly her mother's sickness and her father might start to like Miss Slome, a schoolteacher. The story speaks to the ups and downs of families when they are tested, especially when there is loss involved. It's a story of a girl's heart as she wonders where she fits in, what's important, and how to make sense of tough changes.