If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss

If the Creek Don’t Rise is a glimpse into the remote Appalachian culture.  The dialogue and the character development, pull you in and make  you feel like you are a part of it.

The main character is Sadie Blue.  Sadie is pregnant, and has been married for 15 days to Roy Tupkin.  Everyone in town knows that Roy is bad news and now with the beatings that are occurring regularly, Sadie knows it too.

The story is told through the eyes of several characters, Sadie tying them all together.   Most of the characters know what is happening to Sadie, but they dob’t want to get in her business.  They are hoping that she will decide for herself to leave Roy and then they will be there to help her.

There are several interesting characters.  A fresh voice comes from Kate Shaw - a new teacher that has just come to town.  The town goes through teachers quickly and no one expects her to stay.

On the whole, I enjoyed this book.  I thought the writing was excellent and the character development really made the book shine.  Growing up with physical violence in my own childhood, made this book hit a little too close for comfort.  I almost stopped reading it, but I’m glad I kept with it.  I loved the ending.

I received an ARC of the book.