A Peach For Big Jim is a book that is heartbreaking at times, yet it has some beautiful moments as well. I loved Big Jim, Widow Jones and Chloe, and the latter has a great character arc going from an innocent girl to maturing a bit during the novel. The characters are in general well developed and so is the storyline. I would highly recommend this book.

"The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is, that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't. Henry Ward Beecher."

Amongst my collection of favourite books there are sadly only a few where a young female is given the opportunity to narrate her story demonstrating independence in both thought and action; breaking convention and defying those around her for the greater good. Think Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird) or Mattie Ross (True Grit) or Dolores Price (She's Come Undone) or , more recently-and btw brilliantly, Marie Grosholtz (Little by Edward Carey). Yet here, in A Peach for Big Jim, Lisa Belmont has created a character who can proudly stand amongst the best.

Chloe Jane Mason lives in South Carolina at a time where, despite the abolition of slavery, one's rights were dictated by the colour of your skin. Whilst a few strove to overturn the extreme discrepancies between the rights and freedoms of individuals of different race, changes were slow and tensions were high.

Chloe has a couple of influencing voices: in her teacher, Miss Lilly, who educates her class about the 'separate but equal' doctrine of education, the underground railroad and General Robert Lee's surprising views about slavery. and Widow Jones who employs Chloe and her mother to help run her large -and empty- house. But louder and way more forceful are those of her father (Tucker Ray Mason), brother (Caleb) and just about every other white member of the community.

However, when one day 16 year-old Big Jim, son of Hattie-Mae and the victim of fable, folktale and rumour, saves Chloe from an alligator in Foxhole Swamp, she begins to form her own ideas about people and the community in which she lives. In Belmont's words; "She flies with her own wings." Tasking herself with teaching her saviour and new companion to read, a series of events and family secrets threaten to destroy all of their lives.

Belmont's book tells a gripping tale which explores what it means to be free and the struggles and sacrifices that people endure in order to get what they and others deserve. At one point Chloe reflects; "I was more entrapped than he was." as she finds herself isolated by her conviction: a daily experience for any person, past or present, trying to strike out and finding themselves a lone voice amongst many.

I highly recommend this book and am most grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for sharing an advance copy with me in return for an honest review.