Note: This book was provided to me gratis by Mind Buck Media in exhange for a review.

The Great Depression. The Stovall family lives hand to mouth. This first time novel by Kathy Watson follows Barney and Lula Stovall and their eventual seven children from Mississippi to Montana and California in search of the elusive life of security and promise. Told from the point of view of each four members of this family, each well developed character has a story to tell. Here is my book review Orphans of the Living by Kathy Watson.

Personal History

Watson tells the story of her own impoverished mother and grandmother, and the difficult life they led in post depression era 1930’s. Surviving the death of her first husband, Lula is left with two young boys. She knows she can never love another man, but when Barney Stovall asks for her hand in marriage she consents, while still grieving the loss of her first husband. Kathy Watson’s real grandmother Lula will spend the rest of her life, either having babies or caring for babies, all while Barney jumps from job to job searching for a better life.

Lula agrees to leave her two boys Glen and Ray with her uncle, when Barney insists they can’t afford to take the entire family to California. He promises her they will send for the boys when they can. Lula falls into a depression as the years go by and she never hears from the boys.

The Last Straw

When Lula finds herself pregnant again, she attempts to abort the baby, only to nearly die herself. The baby is a little girl, Nora Mae. Lula’s deep depression and lack of interest in the new baby will color the child’s entire life, giving her a lifelong desire to just be seen.

Nora Mae

Little Nora Mae will grow up to be author Watson’s mother, despite her difficult and unloving childhood. Her siblings will serve more as parents than either of her parents, and Nora Mae will rebel and look for love elsewhere.

Book Review Orphans of the Living

Unfortunately this kind of family dysfunction was not unheard of during the early years of the 20th century. Families where poor, divided, overworked and underfed. Most American’s would find a similar family story in their own history if they searched. It’s a good reminder for us today, even despite difficult current times, we are still generally better off than our ancestors. We give gratitude to them for forging a path through poverty, racism, and inequality to help next generations achieve a better life.

****Four stars for Orphans for the Living by Kathy Watson. See last week’s READING ROUND UP YEAR END REVIEW 2025. Thanks for reading my book review Orphans of the Living by Kathy Watson.

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