Jonas and Olivia by Victoria Minks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The young girl Olivia creates a tolerable world in the midst of unwanted circumstances when her father dies. She is placed in the startlingly, bleak home of Jonas, a former friend of her father’s. Her strong character, deep faith in God, and her relationship with Ishmael, a worker in Jonas’ home keep her from sinking into total despair. Jonas wants nothing to do with her and at times can be cruel. As a hermit, he is even unaware a civil war is occurring. The depth of emotions amidst these characters drew me into their struggles. These very mismatched individuals make this quite a moving story.