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Uncommon Faith
Change is coming to the mid-nineteenth-century town of Millbrook, Massachusetts, whether folks are ready for it or not. Old traditions and values are being questioned, especially by an outspoken young woman named Faith Common. She defies expectations that women be obedient and limit their education to domestic duties such as sewing. Faith is determined to find her own truth about her abilities as well as the abilities of any human being, man or woman, black or white. With her uncommon faith in each person, she is a powerful catalyst for change. In this stirring historical novel, many citizens of Millbrook make their voices heard. Each tells of personal triumphs and tragedies, and of the controversies surrounding the rights of individuals, women, slaves, and freed slaves. Their stories shape their New England town in the years 1837 and 1838.
263 pages, Hardcover
First published November 28, 2003
3 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Trudy Krisher
13 books29 followersTrudy Krisher has a reputation as a talented writer who does not hesitate to explore sensitive issues. She grew up in the South like her heroines Maggie, in Spite Fences, and Pert, in Kinship. Born in Macon, Georgia in 1946, she was raised in South Florida.
Trudy graduated from the College of William and Mary with a B.A. in English and received her Masters degree from The College of New Jersey. She has three grown children: Laura, Kathy, and Mark. Trudy Krisher lives in Dayton, Ohio, where she is a Professor at Sinclair Community College.
Trudy has won many awards for her writing. They include Best Book for Young Adults selections of the American Library Association; International Reading Association Award; The Jefferson Cup Honor Book of the Virginia Library Association; Parents’ Choice Honor Book; Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award; Amelia Bloomer Project Recommendation; Bank Street Children’s Book of the Year; and Capitol Choice Book.
Trudy graduated from the College of William and Mary with a B.A. in English and received her Masters degree from The College of New Jersey. She has three grown children: Laura, Kathy, and Mark. Trudy Krisher lives in Dayton, Ohio, where she is a Professor at Sinclair Community College.
Trudy has won many awards for her writing. They include Best Book for Young Adults selections of the American Library Association; International Reading Association Award; The Jefferson Cup Honor Book of the Virginia Library Association; Parents’ Choice Honor Book; Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award; Amelia Bloomer Project Recommendation; Bank Street Children’s Book of the Year; and Capitol Choice Book.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 15, 2019
I received a Mobi.file of this book through a recent giveaway the author had on LibraryThing and the following is my honest opinion.
Faith Common is a young woman who was born before her time, as her behavior in the small New England town of Millbrook, Massachusettes; essentially epitomizes the behavior of many suffragettes who would come on the scene 70 years later and women rights movement which would come decades later. She’s a Helen Reddy type of woman for her day who wanted to be more than a mere subservient housewife being limited to performing domestic like cooking, sewing and raising her family’s children.
Like the women of Reddy’s song, I Am Woman, Faith wanted to be all she could be, and not have her abilities being limited by the society’s norms of her day, including education. Naturally, her sheer outspokenness did not go unnoticed as the many residents of her town did not hold back in speaking their minds regarding her outlandish behavior.
Yet, her frankness and sheer bluntness caused her to become a potent vehicle for possible change in her quaint small town, especially where it concerned hullabaloos regardless the rights of everyone besides the [prominent] male residents, specifically the rights of all slaves and of course women. The vignettes of some of the residents of Faith’s town relates the transformations taking place in her town because of her repeated vocalizations of what she truly believed in.
For giving her readers of poignant, moving historical story that change is possible even though it’s due to a single individual, and that everyone is entitled to be whoever they’d like to be, I’ve given the author, Trudy Krisher, the 5 STARS she’s earned for her endeavor here.
Faith Common is a young woman who was born before her time, as her behavior in the small New England town of Millbrook, Massachusettes; essentially epitomizes the behavior of many suffragettes who would come on the scene 70 years later and women rights movement which would come decades later. She’s a Helen Reddy type of woman for her day who wanted to be more than a mere subservient housewife being limited to performing domestic like cooking, sewing and raising her family’s children.
Like the women of Reddy’s song, I Am Woman, Faith wanted to be all she could be, and not have her abilities being limited by the society’s norms of her day, including education. Naturally, her sheer outspokenness did not go unnoticed as the many residents of her town did not hold back in speaking their minds regarding her outlandish behavior.
Yet, her frankness and sheer bluntness caused her to become a potent vehicle for possible change in her quaint small town, especially where it concerned hullabaloos regardless the rights of everyone besides the [prominent] male residents, specifically the rights of all slaves and of course women. The vignettes of some of the residents of Faith’s town relates the transformations taking place in her town because of her repeated vocalizations of what she truly believed in.
For giving her readers of poignant, moving historical story that change is possible even though it’s due to a single individual, and that everyone is entitled to be whoever they’d like to be, I’ve given the author, Trudy Krisher, the 5 STARS she’s earned for her endeavor here.
September 13, 2007
This was a really good read.
The story takes place in a small town in America during one year in the 1830's. The story is about events, both large and small, that happen during that year. The story is told through short chapters that are in the voice of alternating town members. About 10 town members tell the story, and for about the first 30 pages it's hard to keep everyone straight, but you quickly figure out who everyone is.
The title comes from one of the residents of the town, a teenager named Faith Common, who is uncommon because she questions the beliefs that were held at the time about slavery, the conflicting religions in the town, and also how much a woman is capable of. At times I was frustrated by how little women were thought of back then. Trust me, I hated Geometry in high school, but I was shocked to read that men literally thought that women's brains weren't capable of learning it. That they were too flighty and emotional to think logically. This is the sort of thing that Faith questions, and her questioning leads to a revolt among the women in the town.
All in all, really well written, interesting subject matter, and it made me cry at the end, which isn't always the sign of a good book, but usually is.
The story takes place in a small town in America during one year in the 1830's. The story is about events, both large and small, that happen during that year. The story is told through short chapters that are in the voice of alternating town members. About 10 town members tell the story, and for about the first 30 pages it's hard to keep everyone straight, but you quickly figure out who everyone is.
The title comes from one of the residents of the town, a teenager named Faith Common, who is uncommon because she questions the beliefs that were held at the time about slavery, the conflicting religions in the town, and also how much a woman is capable of. At times I was frustrated by how little women were thought of back then. Trust me, I hated Geometry in high school, but I was shocked to read that men literally thought that women's brains weren't capable of learning it. That they were too flighty and emotional to think logically. This is the sort of thing that Faith questions, and her questioning leads to a revolt among the women in the town.
All in all, really well written, interesting subject matter, and it made me cry at the end, which isn't always the sign of a good book, but usually is.
January 1, 2018
Uncommon Faith was a very interesting book about a small town in the 19th century. One thing that made the book such an interesting read was that the book was told in many different alternating points of view. In the town, some ladies are beginning to feel underrepresented, especially the out spoken Faith Common. The different narrators often tell of the unconventional actions Faith takes. Some people think Faith is a crazy person, while others admire the teenager. I would recommend this book to a friend.
February 12, 2009
Uncommon Faith was a good book. The only thing about it is that when you read the inside cover it sounds a lot different than what it really is. Also there are so many different points of views and people in this book, it gets confusing! Over all though I thought this was a very good book!
June 21, 2020
Will book talk this at middle school. Brings many areas of the time period together.
July 8, 2022
Easy read with an enlightening message with a reminder of how difficult life once was for young girls.
August 8, 2024
Touching connections between family members and friends as they try to solve their community problems together, strong female characters, too.
I admired how the women tried to solve these problems of education, personal rights, and slavery as they carried on daily with their family members. They are surrounded by males judging them and they are breaking free to learn on their own.
The whole story is full of issues the females face along with comparing their struggles to the slaves they are trying to protect and keep safe. Many of these issues, like female rights and voting, are now coming to us. Females owning property and businesses are often judged by males, even today. This power struggle is getting old and we need to set aside our differences about whether one is male or female. It should not matter. This is addressed inside this book where males are given more freedom and more rights to education. The women were property like the slaves and these were important issues that needed to be addressed. Bullies always seem to be around and they try to keep things their way via violence. The power struggles are so overrated and take the characters to the frontline of trying to break these cycles and let all be free to make their own choices.
I loved how the ladies made these garments, quilts, and other items and moved their business. They took charge and got their items to a location where they were valued. Even today, crafting our own items is not valued enough. It is a dying art that needs more space and value in our lives. Handmade is often the best. Recycling their fabric into other items often was needed because they could not afford anything else. The value of a good shirt with buttons is addressed and how it may take many hours to complete it. The toll on their eyes and fingers to make these lovely pieces is something people need to think about even today. Because they are a labor of love.
The simple life is apparent in the story and how their religion had a bearing on their behaviors, decisions, and their choices in life. Education plays a big role in the story where these teachers are often judged harshly. Where students did not have many choices and attending class was often a privilege.
This writer does a lovely job of making the reader feel these struggles and think deeply about them. Her examples are wonderful and thought-provoking.
I admired how the women tried to solve these problems of education, personal rights, and slavery as they carried on daily with their family members. They are surrounded by males judging them and they are breaking free to learn on their own.
The whole story is full of issues the females face along with comparing their struggles to the slaves they are trying to protect and keep safe. Many of these issues, like female rights and voting, are now coming to us. Females owning property and businesses are often judged by males, even today. This power struggle is getting old and we need to set aside our differences about whether one is male or female. It should not matter. This is addressed inside this book where males are given more freedom and more rights to education. The women were property like the slaves and these were important issues that needed to be addressed. Bullies always seem to be around and they try to keep things their way via violence. The power struggles are so overrated and take the characters to the frontline of trying to break these cycles and let all be free to make their own choices.
I loved how the ladies made these garments, quilts, and other items and moved their business. They took charge and got their items to a location where they were valued. Even today, crafting our own items is not valued enough. It is a dying art that needs more space and value in our lives. Handmade is often the best. Recycling their fabric into other items often was needed because they could not afford anything else. The value of a good shirt with buttons is addressed and how it may take many hours to complete it. The toll on their eyes and fingers to make these lovely pieces is something people need to think about even today. Because they are a labor of love.
The simple life is apparent in the story and how their religion had a bearing on their behaviors, decisions, and their choices in life. Education plays a big role in the story where these teachers are often judged harshly. Where students did not have many choices and attending class was often a privilege.
This writer does a lovely job of making the reader feel these struggles and think deeply about them. Her examples are wonderful and thought-provoking.
October 17, 2019
Don’t skip the “Families of Millbrook” tree at the opening to Trudy Krisher’s Uncommon Faith. You’ll need it to keep track of the multitude of names that populate this complex story. But not for long.
Krisher’s masterful touch provides each of her rotating first-person narration with a distinctive and memorable voice. Their individual stories are woven together in much the same way as her Dorcas Circle members stitch their needlework – and the community – into a beautiful whole.
Sensitive topics as timely now as they are in Krisher’s 1830s Millbrook are given poignant personalities. And putting a face to their struggles highlights their colorful neighbors’ conflicting – and evolving – ideas concerning slavery, abolition, poverty, and women’s rights. Faith Common, the preacher’s daughter who both embodies and eventually learns to exemplify “uncommon faith,” is a young lady worth knowing. For all her youth, she is a driving force behind Millbrook’s social conscience. Each of us could benefit from her brave example, just like the citizens of Millbrook do.
Krisher’s masterful touch provides each of her rotating first-person narration with a distinctive and memorable voice. Their individual stories are woven together in much the same way as her Dorcas Circle members stitch their needlework – and the community – into a beautiful whole.
Sensitive topics as timely now as they are in Krisher’s 1830s Millbrook are given poignant personalities. And putting a face to their struggles highlights their colorful neighbors’ conflicting – and evolving – ideas concerning slavery, abolition, poverty, and women’s rights. Faith Common, the preacher’s daughter who both embodies and eventually learns to exemplify “uncommon faith,” is a young lady worth knowing. For all her youth, she is a driving force behind Millbrook’s social conscience. Each of us could benefit from her brave example, just like the citizens of Millbrook do.
July 11, 2012
Do you know who you are? Do you have certain things you believe in? In the mid 19th centure teen of Millbrook-traditions and values are being questioned. 15 yr old red-haired Faith Common is at the center of most of the questioning. "Quakers believe what the Bible says" in Glatioans. That God makes no distiction between Jew & Greek, slave or free, male or femal. So gilrs can learn math, have values inside & outside the home, individual should be allowed choices. From many of the towns people voices, the reader discovers a town's uncommon faith
December 20, 2014
I liked this book. I liked the life questions and subliminal spirituality in this book. My two favorite characters were Biddy Bostick--she's a riot. But then I love proud spinster characters. I also liked poor Celia Tanner. I could at times relate to her too. Very much enjoyed over fairly busy 4 days.
October 16, 2015
this was a entertaining historical fiction, I enjoyed the characters but did not enjoy the writing style. it was snippets of each characters perspective which is a new and different type of book for me but....there were to many characters to keep straight!
October 27, 2007
Unusual story about an outspoken young woman who has ideas about religion different from everyone else in her town.
April 12, 2009
Girl in 1830's struggles with "things everyone 'knows' that just aren't true." Whole novel done through many people's perspectives.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews