Mothering on Perilous

** "Mothering on Perilous" by Lucy S. Furman is a story set in the Kentucky mountains about a woman who, seeking solace after a great personal loss, journeys to a settlement school. Here, she hopes to find meaning by working with the community. The story begins with the woman arriving in Joslin, Kentucky and learning of a local feud there. As she travels to the school, she's set to work, and develops relationships with the children, particularly a boy named Philip, but experiences the pain of adjusting to this new life, coupled with the sorrow of the loss that brought her there,. The book looks at themes of grief, motherhood, and the difficulties of raising kids while also dealing with their rustic history and way of life. The budding relationships between each of the children, along with her own journey, establishes a powerful story of community, dispute, and healing. **