A tale of two families in Depression era America.

Silly, A teenager from the “wrong side of the tracks” fate becomes intertwined with a middle aged farming couple in rural Michigan.
Silly, whose name is derived from solstice (when she was born) is abandoned by her parents.
Edna is the first to assist Silly, with her husband, Vernon dead set against taking in Silly.
The charm of the story is the gradual transformation of both Vernon and Silly as they become an unlikely family.
The Depression was a hard time, and the book does not shy away from its grimmer aspects.
A heartfelt tale that is ultimately uplifting.

The story takes place in Michigan during the Great Depression. It is carefully written, but as a trigger warning, it does contain child-trafficking.

In a tiny Michigan town in 1934 a 13 year old girl is left homeless when her house burns down, her dad leaves town, and her mother takes her brothers on the train. She finds herself living with her 4H teacher, Edna. Edna's husband kicks Silly out of the house on numerous occasions but she finds her way back . Silly is resourceful and willing to work. A great look at the Great Depression, about hard work, about love and caring, and neighbors helping each other. A memorable coming of age story.

Charlotte Whitney’s A Tiny Piece of Blue is a deeply moving novel set in rural Michigan during the Great Depression. Spanning 336 pages, it follows the heart-wrenching yet inspiring journey of Silstice Trayson, a 13-year-old girl left to fend for herself after abandonment. The book masterfully captures both heartbreak and hope as it delves into complex issues such as child trafficking, poverty, and human resilience. The character development is remarkable, making this novel both gripping and heartwarming. Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing, it offers a gripping blend of historical fiction and the strength of human spirit in the face of adversity.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this ARC copy.

Even though Charlotte Whitney's new novel, A Tiny Piece of Blue, is most definitely historical fiction, the reader is also treated to a mystery.

We find ourselves in rural Michigan in 1934 in the midst of the Great Depression and FDR's New Deal. Not only is the survival of family farms a prevalent topic, but child trafficking during this time is also hinted at as a plot thread.

The story follows main character, Silstice, a thirteen year old girl, who is basically orphaned after her family's housefire. Her family didn't perish in the devastation, the parents simply no longer wanted the six children afterwards and they were basically just scattered to wind. Times were tough, indeed; but, in their parents' case especially, some people were just vicious and inhumane.

We see several character transformations in the story, most notably that of Vernon after he is widowed. He ends up taking in (very begrudgingly in the beginning) Silstice at first, then some of her siblings. We are also treated to the fact that his wife, Edna, who passed unexpectantly and suddenly was probably indeed an angel on earth.

If you enjoy historical fiction and especially the trials and tribulations faced by families battling for survival during our country's Great Depression, look for Charlotte Whitney's new saga being released Feb. 18, 2025. Thank you, NetGalley and She Writes Press, for this enlightening tale of perseverance and belonging.

In her newest novel, A Tiny Piece of Blue, Charlotte Whitney returns to rural Michigan. The time is 1934, the middle of the Great Depression, and farming communities are struggling. Thirteen-year-old Silstice Trayson, “skinny” and neglected, shows up on the doorstep of Edna and Vernon Goetz when a house fire separates her family and her mother tells her to “fend for yourself.” Vernon wants nothing to do with “Silly Girl,” but, hardworking and determined to survive, Silstice manages to convince the grudging Vernon that she will earn her keep. Contrary to Vernon, Edna Goetz welcomes Silstice with open arms as if she was a long-lost daughter, taking her into her 4-H group, anxious to teach Silstice everything she knows about being “a good farm wife.” A woman of strong faith, Edna is quick to see the good in others and believes in helping her neighbors wherever she can.

The novel unfolds through the voices of Silstice, Edna and Vernon who are good story tellers; it’s as if you are sitting at a kitchen table having a long conversation with them. The book goes back and forth as Silstice, Edna and Vernon narrate their own personal versions of events, weaving together the mystery of a missing valuable stamp, a threat of blackmail, and an epidemic of kidnapping. The tension between Vernon and Silstice and Edna and Vernon are constant themes running throughout the book. While Silstice worries she will be left homeless and Vernon worries about making a living from the farm, Edna tries to keep the peace among them, even as she has her own secret.

Though A Tiny Piece of Blue takes place almost 100 years ago, the characters and their everyday challenges are convincing and easy to identify with. Twists and turns in the story keep the reader engaged and make a fast read. Charlotte Whiteney has meticulously captured a difficult era in our history, while exploring the roles of women and men, how economic hardship strains relationships, and how people persist and change through hard times.

This was such a wonderful book. Beautiful people, strong writing, and a terrific story, heartbreaking yet heartwarming.

Plot summary: Silly (yes, spelled right) is a 13-year old in the 1930's depression-era Michigan back country. Her family and home falls apart, and she is taken under the wing of a local 4H leader. She and her sister, Alberta, try to make it through this tough time while evil people work against them.

The novel is told over through the first-person voices of Silly, as well as Vernon and Edna Goetz, the 4H leaders.

The story unfolds delicately and slowly, with so much beauty interwoven throughout. Each of the main characters undergoes a gradual but big change as the story moves, finding the courage to do things that need to be done and become a better version of themselves. The character development is mostly nuanced, providing depth and complexity. There are also many suspenseful parts of the story, creating a compelling read.

An added delight was that Edna wrote poetry, and some of her entries were her very amateur poems. In the latter half of the book, that turned into some of her favorite passages from religious texts of all stripes, which were all inspiring verses that led into the next chapter.

It did have a bit of a YA feel, with some of the more complex elements feeling a drop watered down. Also, trigger warning for child abuse, although indirect. l'm going to give this a 4.5 stars rounded up, because it totally pulled me in and I cried a few times. Highly recommended if you like historical fiction and heartwarming stories.

Thank you to NetGalley, Charlottle Whitney, and She Writes Press for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

I loved this book. From the opening scene in the bedroom with the sisters coming in, to the very end, this book captured my attention and NEVER let go.
I liked the different perspectives of the characters and how they rotated and kept the story alive.

I loved the characters and how complex, yet simple they all were. Silly wanted acceptance and a roof over her head. Alberta had big dreams, but really just wanted to be secure. Vernon, wanted things his way and his way only, yet knew right from wrong.

There was some villians in the book and that made the story even richer.

I hope that the author writes more, because she definitely has a way with words.

THis book is for everyone who loves a good story.

I couldn't put this book down! It tugged at my heartstrings from beginning to end. The author made me feel like I was in the same room as the characters as the story played out. The book was heartbreaking and yet loving at the same time. It showed the struggles of the depression that my generation thankfully has not had to experience.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher and author for the ARC of this book for my honest review. I highly recommend it to anyhow who enjoys a great historic novel. I loved this author and look forward to reading more of her books.

I liked this book, however I did epect more of a mystery/thriller focusing on the child trafficking than we got. It was still a good book and I liked the character of Silly. Vernon however, irked me so bad. He reminded me of my emotionally abusive grandpa that raised me. So his parts were hard to read. I would get angry. So this book did make me feel.
I would recommend but tell people it's not a thriller.

I was asked to review this, and I decided I would check out the first chapter and then put it in my tbr pile as I had many others to read and review. Instead, I was up most of the night reading it because I could not for the life of me put it down. The characters, the writing, is flawless. The reality of being a homeless child and during the Depression showed some hard truths. The people that went to church every Sunday but then were okay with a teenage girl living outside in the winter with no food and no shelter had me so angry. But probably because it was so truthful even now. This story was wonderful from beginning to end. Heartwarming without being sappy.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this wonderful book. What a marvelous and why isn't she on everyone's lips?

This book overflows with heartwarming relationships and pieces of wisdom woven seamlessly throughout the narrative. Each character feels vividly alive, with the protagonist, Silstice—or “Silly”—being particularly memorable. Silly’s journey is one of resilience, and the depth of her emotions and experiences truly pulls you into the story, making you feel every high and low as though you’re right there with her.

Set against the harsh backdrop of the Great Depression, the story begins with Silly’s world turned upside down after her parents abandon her following a house fire. She finds a lifeline in her 4-H teacher, Edna, who, along with her gruff husband, offers her a temporary home. Edna’s kindness shines through, but when Edna passes away, Silly faces the daunting task of finding a way to stay. Her determination and courage are inspiring

There are so many heartwarming relationships and words of wisdom sprinkled throughout this story. The characters are all richly crafted, especially the protagonist, Silstice (Silly), and most of them are very likeable. The writing is such that you can put yourself right in the story and feel every emotion and every hardship that Silly goes through.

This story takes place during the Great Depression. Silly was only 13 years old when her parents abandoned her after their home burned down. Her 4-H teacher, Edna, showed her many kindnesses when she allowed her to stay with her and her crotchety husband for awhile. But when Edna died, Silstice once again needed to be very persistent and persuasive in order to continue living there.

This is a story of resilience and a stark look at what living through the Great Depression was like. It is sad at times, funny at times and gripping from start to finish. I give my highest praise to this 5-star book. Thank you, NetGalley and She Writes Press for the opportunity to read this amazing book.

An excellent read! The writing is well done and flows easily. Nicely balanced between environmental & personal details, inner dialogue and dialogue. The character development is wonderfully done, not just the main characters but the supporting ones as well.
This book is a great example of remembering the struggle of the Great Depression and how it affected everyone, bringing out the worst or the best in people. It was a heartwarming story set in misfortunate times with the reminder that kindness & hope changes lives in so many different ways.
Have already recommended and will continue to.
Thanks for the read!

I love historical novels, however, this book put me right into the setting. I was heartbroken and filled with love all at the same time. This story show the good and bad sides of family life and the graciousness of strangers. I loved the perspective of the characters. This was such a nice afternoon read.

During the depression, Silstice was turned out by her parents. Thankfully, she was taken in by the 4-H leader. What follows is a remarkable story about the power of love, loss, and how lives can be changed by even the smallest kindness.

I loved this book so much. Curmudgeonly Mr. G turned out to be my favorite character with his skimpy ways and his big heart. All of the characters were both humorous and lovable, with the exception of the back-stabbing librarian. :)

I highly recommend this book for an uplifting tale about the bonds of family, whether blood relation or not.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book

I received a copy of the book "A Tiny Piece of Blue" from Netgalley. The book takes place in the Depression in Rural Michigan. it is seen through the eyes of three characters. Silstice "or Silly" Edna, and Vernon. Silstice comes from a very poor family. The Trayson's are considered "trashy" by the townspeople.When the father leaves the Trayson children are are kicked out of their home and moved all over. Silly is taken in by the kind woman Edna. Vernon does NOT want the girl there and protests loudly. he is furious when one of his valuable stamps is missing from his stamp collection. As the book goes on Silstice is still at the home of Vernon and Edna. Vernon is a curmudgeon who has made life difficult for his wife and the unwelcome boarder. As the book goes on Silstice becomes a very good farmhand hoping this will change Vernon's mind about staying there. When a tragic death occurs Vernon has to try and change his ways to keep the farm going.
Silly talks Vernon is also taking in her sister Alberta to help run the farm. They are also dealing with some evil characters in the story who are causing problems to the Trayson girls and Vernon and other siblings of the Traysons. there is a child abduction ring where kids are coming up missing which adds to the drama of this book. I liked this story very much. I found myself rooting for a happy ending for the characters. Well written book. I would give this book a 4.5.

This is a fantastic book! It made me emotional, and pulled on my heartstrings. It had so many good themes and the writing was great! I loved the characters and the character development. I think this is a great read


Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Another 5 star from me!
I loved loved this book. So wonderful that I just finished it.
Kind of a weird name for a girl but I loved her instantly. Just a girl trying to make it in this ol world and loving the changes in her that ppl like Edna and Vernon offers her.
There were places that I wanted to cry and times I wanted to smile. Edna is /was a wonderful character.
I truly wanted to smack her real mom that is. Such a selfish woman! I couldn't believe it.
I applauded the girls for the amazing strength they had and Vernon too. My heart went out to him and the girls.
I did NOT like Doris the librarian. She was a bitter old woman that liked to stay nasty and greedy. That's all I'll say.
This book is an adventure in itself. A lite bit of everything to keep u turning the pages and to leave you thinking about these awesome characters long after the book is finished.
I didn't want this story to end. It will touch your heart deeply as it has done mine.
I love that this story offers hope and eventually love.
I highly recommend it.
My thanks for a wonderful story. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.