This is the first historical fiction I have read that deals with the flooding of Johnstown on May 31st, 1889. This is a very dramatic and tragic aspect of the book and one of the reasons I liked the book so much was just the fact that it really moved me.

But, I'm getting ahead in the story. We are first introduced to the characters in the dual stories, Elizabeth Haberlin a rich young woman who spends the summers by the beautiful lake above the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. She spends the summers rubbing shoulders with the Carnegies, Mellons, and Fricks and she seems at first to be just another rich spoiled girl. But, as the story progresses do we learn more and more about her she is actually a very bright, although sheltered girl. And, a disastrous event will change her whole life...

In the present story do we meet Lee Parker, who on her 18th birthday finally learns more about her real mother. She was adopted as a baby and she loves her adopted mother, but she has a need to find out more about where she came from. In her papers is there a photo of her mother, standing in a pile of rubble from a disaster, besides Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross. She got curious and decides to find out more about this...

I really liked this book, the class differences that are a large part when it comes to both stories. At first, I found Elizabeth Haberlin a bit hard to connect to, but after a while did she start to grow on me and towards the end did I find myself really liking her. Contrary did I find Lee Parker to be right from the very start a fabulous character, easy to connect with. I also liked how the Jewish lifestyle was a big part of both stories. All and all is this a great book! ( )

What a wonderful wonderful ending to both protagonists in the end of the book. Now I can understand, after having read the epilogue, why the older protagonist was written in first-person. This book is such a well juxtaposed rendition of both historical fiction and a modern setting including , even barely touching , on the rights of women, the accomplishments of determined women like Clara Barton, and a tragedy based on class indifference. ( )

What a wonderful wonderful ending to both protagonists in the end of the book. Now I can understand, after having read the epilogue, why the older protagonist was written in first-person. This book is such a well juxtaposed rendition of both historical fiction and a modern setting including , even barely touching , on the rights of women, the accomplishments of determined women like Clara Barton, and a tragedy based on class indifference. ( )

This novel tell the fictional story of a young girl seeking her biological mother. She uncovers a photo of a woman who may be a relation standing alongside Clara Barton in the aftermath of the 1889 Johnstown Flood. It was good and compelling, I enjoyed it. ( )

A present day fictional story of an 18 year old California girl seeking the identity of her birth mother. The only clue an old photo of her "great great great grandmother along side Clara Barton" tied into the the horrific tragedy of 1889 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Definitely a page turner! Interesting tie in story with a true events tragedy. Had me googling to find out more of the Johnstown Flood, the South Fork Fish & Game Club and its members and of course, Clara Barton and her incredible life story and contribution to the American Red Cross! Excellent ( )