This book is about small town life, and a lady who made a difference. Ella Bishop is the perfect example of devoted daughter and friend, she takes care of her senile mother, she raises her cousin's (who stole her own fiancee) daughter after her parents die, and she teaches school for an extremely long time, influencing the lives of many students, not without heartache, of course, but she remains strong through it all. This was amore solemn book, I thought, it wasn't as upbeat and lively as 'The Cutters', but it was a good book, nonetheless. Miss Bishop is an upstanding citizen, who is never afraid and always willing to help, and we should learn from her example.