The Stone Steps

Carverton, Kentucky, is one of many small communities in the mountains of Appalachia that have endured for centuries, undisturbed by progress. Nestled along the west bank of the Red Bird River, it's a pleasant, neighborly place where everyone knows everyone, and if they don't, they soon will. As 1960 approaches, the residents of Carverton realize that ignoring the ever-changing world around them is no longer an option. New challenges unfold throughout the community, while twelve-year-old Wilhelmina Louise Carver, called Willa Lou, takes interest in her own heritage. She listens to stories and experiences of her elders, pursuing hints of a mystery. But when a tragic accident leaves her looking for comfort in her grief, she stumbles upon a well-kept secret. This novel, set in small-town Kentucky in the middle of the twentieth century, tells the story of a young girl coming of age in the midst of tragedy.