Pamela McRae had lived through the devastating 1889 flood in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The thirty foot wall of water had taken everything from Pam except her determination.
Her home and all of its belongings had been washed away. Her brother had gone to help a neighbor just as the flood waters hit and he has not been found. Her groom-to-be had gone missing right after the waters hit the town and within a year of the flood, her father had walked away, leaving Pam with the responsibility of a non-responsive mother.
Now, fifty years later, a young reporter appears at her door to interview her about the events immediately after the flood that changed so many lives. His questions bring back the people and the pain, but he also helps her to remember how strong many of her neighbors were, how they helped each other.
Ms. Coopey explained that she wanted to write a book that showed how people react to a major tragedy, whether it be war, hurricane, fire, or flood. Some people run away, as Pam’s father did or, like Pam’s mother, they withdraw into their own private world. Some become obsessed with revenge and some take the opportunity to disappear and start a new life.
Most people are like Pam and her loyal friend Katya. They, along with other citizens of the town, showed their strength of character by going on with life. They rebuilt homes, opened businesses, and helped each other get back to something close to normalcy. These are the people that we fall in love with.
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| The "Ls" Book Group. Judith Coopey, seated |
A love of history, especially Pennsylvanian history, drives this author’s writings. Her previous work, Redfield Farm is about the Underground Railroad in Bedford County. This is the book that has brought her to national recognition.
If you read for character development, plot twists, or for a personal touch of history, you will enjoy a Judith Coopey book.
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