{"product_id":"this-opening-sky","title":"This Opening Sky","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical fiction at its finest! A sweet and sensitive, accessible middle grade novel in verse, following an unlikely friendship in the aftermath of the American Civil War.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAurelia, the daughter of a once-flourishing plantation, must till the land herself to keep herself alive. Libby, a freed slave, is working her way north to live a better life. Together they form an unlikely bond of friendship and help each other find common ground and reach their goals through unexpected ways. Smart and relatable, this novel in verse cuts to the heart of young emotions, while illuminating what love and division look like through a child's eyes. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExcerpts from the This Opening Sky: \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAurelia\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eMy hands are no longer the hands of a young lady. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI drop my hoe and unwrap my bandaged fingers.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThey are torn, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eblistered and bleeding. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNails, once perfectly manicured, now dirty and broken.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe hands of a field worker.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLibby\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eI must find someone who will barter \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003esome eggs \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eor a loaf of bread \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eor a piece of meat for a day's work.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrouble is, most plantations are either abandoned \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e or already have too many mouths to feed. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r","brand":"Kelly Hollman, Charlotte Sherman","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44459186454764,"sku":"9781638192152","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0684\/1791\/3068\/files\/9781638192152.jpg?v=1709490294","url":"https:\/\/intl.allstora.com\/products\/this-opening-sky","provider":"Allstora","version":"1.0","type":"link"}