Memaw Reads

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: Ebook

Historical Setting: 1830s Ohio & Gold Rush California

At the Edge of the Orchard is a bit on the dark side. The story follows Sadie and James Goodenough and their children, who live in the Black Swamp of Ohio in 1838. James is passionate about growing apples, but cultivating them in the muddy swampland is a constant struggle. He buys his seeds from Johnny Appleseed, while James prefers sweet apples and Sadie favors the sour varieties she uses to make applejack, which becomes her escape from the hardships of her life.

One of the greatest challenges the family faces is swamp fever, which has already taken several of their children. As the troubles in Sadie and James’s marriage grow, the story eventually shifts to their son Robert, who leaves the family and sets out on his own during the California Gold Rush. His love apple trees follows him west, eventually leading him to become a tree agent who collects seeds and sapling to send to England.

The author did an excellent job with the research and writing. I found the story very interesting and learned quite a bit about the challenges of early settlers, apple cultivation, and the westward movement. Overall, I though it was a good book.