I love reading historical fiction, and I love it even more when the author writes about a period or event of which I know nothing. Hale does just that with her book set in Texas during the Great Depression. Sadie and her family had to leave the life they loved in Missouri so that her dad could try to find work. They settled in Aransas Pass, Texas, under the shadow of a sea wall that protected the area from Gulf Coast flooding. In addition to the poverty that Sadie and her family experienced, Sadie also struggled with typicall teenage problems: mean girls at school, keeping promises to a best friend, wanting to look nice, boys, and conflicting emotions about her family.

But what really made this book stand out for me was Sadie’s desire to find out who she really was on the inside. Sadie’s mama always said, “Who you are on the inside always shows.” But other people kept seeing things inside Sadie that she didn’t even know were there. Sadie wasn’t content to take their word for it; she was determined to discover these things for herself. This was an excellent book that stayed with me long after I read the last page.