I love coming across a great writer by accident. Great word flow. Excellent. ( )

GodPretty in the Tobacco Field is a story about the people and the lives they lead in the hills of Kentucky. A very bleak existence. There seems to be no GodPretty or good things in their lives. Working the tobacco fields is a grueling, difficult life. Additionally, people live their lives holding secrets about who is related to who only adding to the heartache of the people's lives. The book deserves a solid four stars for being able to set a scene, have a beginning, middle and end. ( )

This coming-of-age atmospheric novel provides an unflinching but memorable look at rural Appalachian Kentucky. It is the summer of 1969, RubyLyn Bishop is fifteen years old and is dreaming of future away from Nameless, Kentucky. Away from her overly strict unbending uncle who has her future laid out for her in the family tobacco fields, away so she can pursue an artistic career, away so she can pursue her feelings for nineteen year old Rainey, an African American field hand. Written with authority, compassion and insight the beautifully drawn characters are too often constrained by the prejudices and superstitions of the time and period. I enjoyed the spunkiness and grit of RubyLyn as she pushed the boundaries of a woman’s place. While there is no hiding from poverty’s cruelty, there are moments where a kindness or glimpse of humanity allows for a hope for a brighter future. Keep some tissues handy as this may be a tear jerker for you.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ( )

GODPRETTY IN THE TOBACCO FIELD BY KIM MICHELE RICHARDSON is set in 1969 Nameless Kentucky. A time where blacks and whites do not mix or even think about mixed relationships. Tobacco is the crop of choice and little girls dream of leaving the pain and poverty.

I was literally transported back, being a ghost in the corner & watching RubyLyn grow up with her uncle Gunnar, God fearing tobacco owner & hardass. RubyLyn wants more to her life than hardship,pain & working the fields.

The sights,sounds & the reality of the sixties come to life in Richardson's writing. You cant help but become involved with RubyLyn and her wants, & needs of a sixteen year old girl. You cant help but wish RubyLyn comes out good in the end. And you HAVE to read the entire book because of the excellent writing the author has put into the book and into RubyLyn

I recieved this book free from goodreads in exchange for an open and honest review. ( )

It is 1969, but in No name, Kentucky you could never tell. Home of tobacco farms, poverty and crime. They even have a day form the negroes to shop, the only day they are allowed in the town stores to shop. Racial tensions are still tense. RubyLyn, our 15 ur, old narrator lives with her Uncle Gunner, he took her in after the death of her parents, deaths she can't quite remember. Her Uncle is a god fearing man, a strict though not abusive disciplinarian. He is determined to keep jerk on the straight and narrow, to make sure her godpretty says inside. RubyLyn wants only to escape this town, and find a better life.

Our young narrator is a hard working woman with many dreams. We meet characters from many different walks of life, Rose, a lady who brings things to the farms, things she sells, things she makes, she sneaks Rubylyn books, so no wonder she is a favorite of mine. But things will come to a head, decisions will need to be made and eventually a resolution. There is family, friendship, love, and many secrets along the way.

This is a very good coming of age story, listening to Rubylyn and how she sees her life. Sad people fighting poverty, heavy drinkers whom are the worst and many characters that will tug on your heart. How things change for Ruby and what she goes through along the way is the kind of thing that makes a very good story.

ARC from Netgalley and Kensington. ( )