I liked this book and the characters in it. I found it funny and thought provoking and endearing. I struggled with the parts on healing- as I believe healing is still for today. While I would agree there are charlatans out there looking to make a buck off healing, I don't think that's the case all the time and I hope folks don't think that way after reading this book. Overall, I liked it very much. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book and the opportunity to read it!

A Southern coming-of-age story about love, loss, forgiveness, hope, and growing up in the early 1960's.

A character driven read set during a time when racial tensions were high, Grace Mockingbird is a young woman growing up in the South, estranged from her mother and trying to find her out path. One of the bright spots in her life is her younger brother Isaac, who is something of a prodigy. But when he takes sick, the eggshell-thin walls begin to crumble even more.

A well written read, with characters that detach themselves from the page with their sorrows and contradictions. We see a lot of folks acting out of their hurt, as well as others who despite all of their pain and suffering choose to lift others up and show kindness instead. I enjoyed the complex characters.

I also found it interesting that this story was based loosely on the author's life, and her growing up years.

Overall, this was a touching coming of age tale, more character driven, and Grace is a compelling voice. I loved getting to know the characters through her eyes, and I could understand why she made the choices that she did. Heartbreaking and healing, this book definitely takes you through an emotional gambit!


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Year of Jubilee is a beautifully written,thought-provoking, coming of age story set in a 1960's small, Kentucky town called Jubilee where Grace Mockingbird and her family learn what it means to have faith, forgive and step out in courage when the events surrounding them are so very difficult to understand. It is a hard yet hopeful read with wonderfully rounded characters that I became quite invested in. It was even more endearing when I read that Cindy based one of the characters on her own brother and his pet rooster! This story will stay with me and I hope it is not Cindy's last book!


I am thankful to have had the chance to read it from Netgalley in exchange for me honest thoughts.

Wow! I am beyond impressed with Cindy Morgan's first novel. I'm longtime a fan of her music, but had no idea she was writing a novel. The storyline was right up my alley, though: a small town in Appalachia during the Civil Rights era and a young girl, Grace, who is dealing with a lot. Her social-climbing mother is a little distant, her older sister isn't very friendly to her, and her much-adored younger brother becomes quite sickly. Then there are the prejudices in the town where even the pastor of the church Grace attends thinks the white man is superior.

Grace has a good heart and makes many friends throughout this tumultuous summer, including a teacher new to her school who realizes Grace's potential and encourages her to express herself with the gift of a journal.

This book just moved me and had me tearing up at times. It is a lovely coming-of-age novel and perfect for fan of "The Help" or "The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek".

Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the ARC edition of this novel.

The Year of Jubilee by Cindy Morgan.

This was the story of Grace Mockingbird’s thirteenth year in the small town of Jubilee, Kentucky. It was set in the 1960’s in the heart of civil unrest in the south. Grace deals with the pain of having a fractured relationship with her mother, the prolonged illness of her younger brother and the disturbance of civil unrest.

This novel was written beautifully. The author tackled many difficult subjects very realistically. It was an emotional read that drew the reader in.

There were times when I didn’t like the choices Grace made or the way her mother or sister treated her. Her father, however, was exemplary in his love and affection for her. I appreciated how the author used the epilogue to tell us the end of the characters I had come to know.

If Ms. Morgan authors another book, I would definitely read it. Readers who enjoy coming of age fiction, southern fiction, or stories about the fight for civil rights would enjoy this book. I am grateful to the publisher via netgalley for the complimentary arc in return for this, my honest opinion.

I have long enjoyed Cindy Morgan’s storytelling in her beautiful songs so I guess it shouldn’t be a big surprise what a wonderful, beautifully written story with rich characters, full of depth she has crafted in The Year of Jubilee. Both child/sibling illness and civil rights are hard topic issues but both are handled realistically and with heartfelt compassion. I was immediately swept into Grace’s story. I loved the way Ms. Morgan goes into detail wrapping up the storyline for Grace and the other characters, it made the book feel complete. In spite of the hard topics tackled The Year of Jubilee is a delightful book I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

A beautiful coming-of-age story set in the South during the Civil Rights movement. This story is all about standing up for what's right, bravery, consequences of lies, and family. Grace's family is still trying to heal from trauma while her little brother is suddenly diagnosed with cancer. Through this ordeal, the family discovers who their real friends are. While this story is told through the teenager daughter's point of view, it deals with heavy issues and does not sugar coat things. I highly recommend this book.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Cindy Morgan has won thirteen Dove awards, including Songwriter of the Year. She has written two adult non-fiction books, and one children's picture book. The Year of Jubilee is her debut adult fiction novel, but it reads like the work of a seasoned author. This coming-of-age story is told through the eyes of thirteen-year-old Grace Mockingbird who is growing up in the small town of Jubilee, Kentucky in 1963. Her story focuses on challenges to the relationships within her family and among different parts of her community. Those having grown up in the south during the civil rights movement will identify with the struggles, as unfortunately will some who still see or live with disparities. Morgan deals with the theme of the purpose of suffering within both of these storylines, doing so with great wisdom and empathy. Her character development for both primary and secondary characters is skillfully accomplished resulting in strong emotional reactions on the part of the reader.

Even though we are only a third of the way through the year, I believe The Year of Jubilee will be one of my top five book at year's end. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

When I saw that Cindy Morgan had written a fictional book, I had to read it. This book is set in the early 1960's with the civil rights movement as a backdrop in a southern Kentucky town. It is a coming of age story of a young fourteen year old girl who has a dysfunctional family, and a little precious brother who is very sick

The author has a beautiful prose that is so easy to read and absolutely lovely. I'm not gonna lie though, it was a hard book for me to read. The story matter was heavy. I bawled my eyes out crying. The author really brought the emotion into the story. I felt as if I was there, during that time, going through her struggles with her. So, that shows how amazing the author is..

I recommend this book to anyone who loves southern women's fiction and coming of age stories. But keep the tissues near by.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

1963 was an eventful year for 13-year-old Grace Mockingbird. Her younger brother becomes critically ill, and his only hope seems to be a young faith healer. She contacts this faith healer without her parent’s knowledge, scraping together the fee for the healing on her own. Meanwhile, civil rights protests are shaking things up in her small Kentucky town. It is a year of changes-a turning point year. It is an exceptional year for Jubilee.

This an engrossing read for teenagers and adults.

I don't know that I connected the dots between Cindy Morgan the author and Cindy Morgan the singer/songwriter when I requested this book, but it was neat to do so as I started reading!

Morgan writes incredibly well (fitting, given her 9-to-5 [as it were!] job), and this book was a thoughtful, powerful, moving read. She takes a long, hard look at a long, hard era--vestiges of which we still see today--and brings it to life in a new and unique way, including notably featuring a teen MC. It thankfully doesn't read as YA fiction, though YA readers would still gain a good deal from reading it; it is firmly set in adult fiction, dealing with tough topics and offering no easy answers--but pointing to Christ in all things.

Of course, as a reader from the North who also wasn't alive in the 60s, lol, it's easy to make inferences on things I don't really know and can't accurately speak to. It sometimes felt like both conservatives and liberals were painted with a broad brush, and I did have to remind myself there are good, God-fearing people on both sides of the political aisle. lol! And that was one good takeaway (of many) from this read. It's all too easy to let a political stance try and encroach on gospel truth, and I think all readers could use this as a kickstarter for conversation both about the '60s and present day.

Fans of T.I. Lowe's Under the Magnolias and Kimberly Brock's The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare will especially enjoy this read. Readers of Kathryn Stockett's The Help will, I think, find this a refreshing alternative.

4/5 stars.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

First of all thank you Tyndale House Publishers, Netgalley and, of course, Cindy Morgan for the ARC of 'The Year of Jubilee'.

Now my honest review of this book:
I loved it. It was beautiful and painful. I cried two times while I was reading this book and that's a shock because I don't cry over books, but with this...it was necessary to cry.
Grace, in so many aspects, can be an example to follow. She was trying to stay strong, to believe, to have courage and that's is very brave.
The story was very realistic, a lot of people can feel the emotions that this book tries to give you, maybe because they lived these same situations or only because they are captured by the reality of this book.
I loved the fact that not all the people in these pages have a happy ending. Someone is still broken and that's ok, life is hard and we need God.
Another aspect that I love was the way Grace and the other people of Jubilee live the faith in God. It represents that we are humans and having faith is a journey. So relatable.
Also this book talks about the social revolution of African Americans in the 60s situated in the Unites States. I am very ignorant about this topic so it was really important to know a little about this and I cannot imagine the life that these innocent people had to live.

Overall I really love this book. 5 ⭐ for sure.
I hightly recommended this book to everyone who want a strong read and to everyone who lose a relative and try to believe. Yes, God sees you. [Remember: 2 Kings 20:5]

I enjoyed Cindy Morgan's music, so when I learned she had written a fiction novel, I requested a copy to review. I was hooked from the start. The wide range of topics covered in this book amazed me.

The story was told from the perspective of Gracie, a fourteen-year-old girl with whom I identified. This coming-of-age story is emotionally charged and action-packed. It gives readers a front-row ticket to historical events as they unfold in a little American community in Kentucky in 1963.

Readers may sense Gracie's sorrow in 1963 as she tries to understand her brother Isaac's illness and the civil rights movement. She caught glimpses of it on TV and in Miss Adams' life, where she is helping the cause.

Through her characters, the author demonstrates how to love your neighbor and when to stop punishing yourself for past mistakes and instead march on to freedom. One character says to the other, "To forgive is to release a prisoner only to find out it was you."

"We don't always have a choice about what happens to us, but we always have a choice about how we respond," teacher, Miss Adams says to Gracie.

The KKK, segregation, loss, family strife, coming-of-age, a very ill family member, faith healers, and racism are among the topics that may be upsetting to some readers given the historical period.
This is a deep, thought-provoking novel that pulls at your heartstrings, makes you feel the agony of the past, and then makes you look around with a sorrowful, yet hopeful heart, at what's happening in the world today.
I valued the natural spiritual thread that runs through genuine characters who confront these challenges as best they can.
This is not an easy book to read because it deals with difficult issues, but it is a gripping story that leaves the reader with a lot to think about. This is an engrossing novel that I couldn't put down. It would be an excellent choice for your book group.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

What a great coming of age story. I really wasn’t sure what to expect of this but I ended up loving it.

Set in the 60's (LOVE) Grace experiences more in one summer than most of us ever would. Her family becomes a target after her Father makes a stand. Her brother ends up in hospital and her Aunt comes to stay.

I adored the Southern references and felt so drawn into Grace's life. Grace feels misunderstood and you can’t help but root for her.

Coming of age story set in a small Kentucky town during the sixties has Grace dealing with past hurts and present issues. It will be hard for readers not to have empathy for Grace as she struggles with her dysfunctional family. Grace's relationship with her father was special and Aunt June her rock. Racial tensions, KKK and truly despicable characters make this hard to read at times. Love Rojo! Recommended.

I read this courtesy of Tyndale House and Netgalley. This novel was more than I expected. Grace was so relatable and had great character building. I felt like I connected with her and her family. I loved this novel!

An unexpected book, I am not sure what I expected, but I got so much more..
Grace's life looks like it will move forward as expected, her mother is never happy with her, her brother is her best friend and summer is going to be hot. What really happens is a world away from the what she thought.
Set in the 60's Grace experiences more in one summer than most of us. With Civil Rights in the forefront of the country's news, her family becomes a target because of a stand her father's takes. Her brother ends up in the hospital and her Aunt comes to stay.
Told is true southern fashion, Morgan does a beautiful job of drawing you into Grace's life when you think that her biggest problem is her mother and her don't get along. You cheer on Grace as you think she is misunderstood. Then the story unfolds and you are left with a wonderful story you will want to share.

What a lovely book. I loved the way this author writes & captivates the audience with the characters and their stories. She did a remarkable job at making character feel like a “real” person.

This book zoomed in on two major life events for the young girl Gracie. I wish she would have picked one: either the civil rights movement or her brother’s sickness. I felt like they were both so extreme, and she tried to tell them both well, but it left me wanting more of both. So this book is a great set up for a series, if you ask me!

I don’t read many books with a child - well, more like teenager - as the storyteller/main character. That was a different approach, since I really wouldn’t call this a YA novel.

Either way, this book was very sweet & very well written IMO. It’s a Christian book & wasn’t cheesy at all. It was well done!

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I so enjoyed this book and look forward to more by this author. Gracie is a young teen growing up in 1963. The book is told by her. I was thinking it might be more of a young adult book but it was not at all. Reading about those difficult times and the tragedies her family endured really made you think. I highly recommend this book.

This book has great characters. Grace is very relatable! I could feel what she was feeling. And I love Isaac. It's not exactly a lighthearted book, as it deals with a lot of tough issues, but it's a really good story.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book. All opinions are entirely my own.