From School Library Journal Grade 4-6-Nessa Clemens has lived in an orphanage in Missouri for as long as she can remember， but Mr. Carey has a strict rule that children must leave at age 14. Nessa has been promised as a bride to the Reverend McDuff， and her 14th birthday is just days away. The reverend has told her that it is God's will that she become his wife， but she is not willing to enter a loveless marriage. She runs away by stagecoach to Prairie River， KS. Once there， she faces the constant fear that someone will send her back to Missouri， causing her to keep to herself and not share in the confidences of those who would be her friends. Through it all， her faith keeps her strong as she tries to make a new life for herself. In this first book in the series， Gregory has created strong， realistic Christian characters. Nessa's world， an 1865 prairie settlement town， is rich in description and historical detail. Nessa's faith， apparent throughout the book in the prayers she writes， scripture verses， and hymn lyrics， is not overwhelming， but rather flows with the narrative. An enjoyable story with a memorable protagonist.Heather E. Miller， Homewood Public Library， ALCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information， Inc. Book Description It is the spring of 1865， and the end of the Civil War is near. As the nation is struggling to come to peace with itself， all Vanessa Clemens can think about is her birthday. She has been dreading it for weeks. On the day she turns fourteen， she must leave the orphanage that has been her home for ten years. The orphanage headmaster has made arrangements for Nessa. Either she can marry the local pastor or she can become a servant . Those are her only options. Then， on her birthday morning， Nessa hears cries flooding the sleeping Missouri town."