Fiction Addict

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher:  Touchstone

Publication Date:  January 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

Verna is born into a difficult life in rural eastern Pennsylvania’s coal towns in the late 1800s: her father is a dreamer who can’t hold down a job, and her mother just manages to survive and raise her children.  The family is considered by most to be “poor white trash.”  By the age of 14, Verna is pulled from school so she can work at a neighboring farm to support the family.  The farmer rapes her and she gets pregnant.  Verna and her mother are relieved that a local midwife gives her some natural herbs that induce an abortion, which is illegal during the time.  Eventually, through a series of unfortunate events, Verna loses her job and is forced to move to the city to find a new job.  With just a seventh grade education, Verna ends up working in diners, as a housekeeper, and even in a factory.  Along the way, Verna meets a few boyfriends and gives birth to a baby boy, who she leaves in her mother’s care so she can continue working.  Eventually, Verna becomes a caretaker for an elderly woman.  When the elderly woman dies, Verna is at her wits’ end until the lady’s son offers her money to go to nursing school.

Verna is bright despite her lack of education and makes a good name for herself in nursing school.  She and her roommate review their daily lessons and quiz each other on nursing techniques.  They graduate and find jobs working at a local mental hospital.  Dismayed by the horrible conditions and bad pay, they look for better opportunities.  Verna’s friend finds a job first, working for an African-American general practitioner named Dr. Crampton.  For the time, a white woman working for an African-American is unheard-of.  Verna doesn’t think it’s a big deal, and after a while helps her roommate take care of female patients recovering from “surgery” in their apartment.  She gets a share of the income, and it’s more money than she’s ever seen in her life.  She comes to find out that the “surgical” patients are actually undergoing abortions and are waiting for the fetus to pass and the subsequent post exam.  Eventually Dr. Crampton meets Verna, is impressed by her, and offers her a job too.  They are able to expand the business (discreetly), and Verna creates a whole new life for herself with this newfound wealth.  Dr. Cranston’s political contacts keep things safe- for a while.

This is a moving, raw story of an ambitious young woman looking to better herself.  She finds an illegal job that serves people, and she doesn’t see anything wrong with it.  Verna learns how hypocritical people are when they publicly denounce abortions but they, or someone they know, end up seeing Dr. Cranston.  The story is well-told and captures the reader’s attention immediately.  Verna’s no-nonsense perspective makes the reader want to read more.  It is obvious that Jackson Taylor did a lot of research when writing The Blue Orchard, as the cities and people come to life with historical relevance.

Even though this is a wonderful read, it is not for those who cannot stomach abortion in any form.  While it is not graphic, per se, it does describe the procedures and the subsequent effects on the body.  There is mention of body functions that some people may find distasteful.

While the book in general does not use a lot of profanity, it IS used in places for effect.  In addition, the terms used to describe African-Americans are common to the period, so they may be offensive to today’s reader.  Overall, if one reads the book objectively, it is a fascinating and historical journey to be enjoyed.

Review copy provided by Touchstone.