Take Reuben Helmuth. As the prosperous bishop's son in Sugarcreek, he was sure he wouldn't have to work too hard to please a maid; he was such a good catch. But the girl he decides to propose to has fallen for his best friend, as he discovers at midwinter, and everyone seems to know about it but him. Reuben can't face the loss of his pride so he goes off to live with his grandparents in Huckleberry Hill, initially just for a visit. Spring comes and he's still there, kind and content, making himself very useful since his granddad is eighty. Of course, this gives his grandma Anna time to plan a little surprise.

Fern King is the daughter of a simple pig farmer so even though she gets on fine with Reuben, who lives with her neighbours, she knows he'd never stoop to fancy her. She's willing to help elderly Anna, picking a list of unwed girls and assembling a knitting group in the house. They all need to knit, and may as well chat while they do it. This will also give the girls a chance to look over Reuben. The group includes Sadie Yoder, whose dad is a wealthy minister. My, how the knitting needles get sharpened!

As always we get to look at a simpler lifestyle. Fern enjoys planting tomato seedlings, and other than her best church dress has two dresses to her name. The ladies dispute whether being a good cook or a good knitter is best for a wife. The community is shown as holding a chickenpox party to infect all the children, rather than get them vaccinated. Spain has been vaccinating for twenty years, Ireland more recently so this attitude does seem outdated and potentially harmful. At the same time, one farmer heats his home's water and underfloor heating with solar panels, while we see an Amish girl outside the town cleaning offices for a living. Jennifer Beckstrand keeps her series fresh and shows some very human, identifiable sides of her characters. RETURN TO HUCKLEBERRY HILL can be read as a standalone or part of the series.

Book Summary