Passing by Samaria [Paperback]

Sharon Ewell Foster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 1999

When the discovery of a schoolmate's lynched body puts her own life in jeopardy, Alena is sent by her parents from her beloved Mississippi home. With thousands of other African-Americans, Alena begins making her way north to the Promised Land of turn-of-the-century Chicago. On the way she meets two men who will dramatically impact her life: James, a young African-American believer determined to establish a newspaper in Chicago, and Pearl, a man with questionable intentions. A stirring novel by an exciting new writer, Passing by Samaria beautifully shows readers the path to truth, purpose, reconciliation, and joy.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-Alena Waterbridge is sent to her aunt's home in Chicago after her childhood friend is lynched in the woods of her Mississippi home. Alena, innocent yet outspoken, feels that justice must be done and that being part of the Great Migration north is unmerited punishment. However, this story takes place in 1919, a time when racism and bigotry ruled the day. After her arrival, she covers up her bitterness, pain, and fear with anger toward everyone with whom she comes into contact. While taking in the sights of Chicago's South Side, she is admired from a distance by Major James Pittman, who is a World War I hero, a leader in the community, and an aspiring newsman. When the inequalities of this segregated world come to a head, the city experiences a riot. In between all the violence and mayhem, Alena begins to shed the armor that she had so carefully donned. Her faith in God rescues her from the weariness and hurt that she had so eagerly embraced. Seeking to make peace with her parents, Alena returns to Mississippi before marrying Pittman, and realizes the meaning of forgiveness and mercy. In this debut novel, Foster succeeds in showing readers that faith, hope, and love are still beliefs that people trust to weather the torrential storms that invade their lives. Her style compares with Bebe Moore Campbell's in Your Blues Ain't Like Mine (Putnam, 1992). This inspirational novel with believable characters and attention to detail will speak to readers throughout every page.
Connie Freeman, Ivy Tech State College, Fort Wayne, IN
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Growing up in Mississippi, Alena had been sheltered by parents who didn't want her to know how cruel the post-World War I world was to black people. But finding the lynched body of her best friend J.C., who had just returned from the war in Europe, changes Alena and destroys her faith in God. A gifted writer, Alena wants to tell the world what happened, but her parents, knowing that she would be the next one hanging from a tree if she did, send her to live with an aunt in Chicago. As Alena struggles to comprehend how a loving God could let this nightmare happen, two men come into her life: one with the power to save her, the other with the power to destroy her. In this first novel, Foster's poetic telling is soft enough to capture and sharp enough to cut as she evokes the strength of faith needed to survive when all seems lost. This unique addition to the Christian fiction genre is highly recommended for all collections.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 382 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (December 31, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576736156
• ISBN-13: 978-1576736159
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #568,564 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice inspiration story, October 4, 2000

By 

Dera R Williams (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Passing by Samaria (Paperback)

This was a nicely written book that many Christians and non practing will find inspirational. The power of God is exorted throughout the book. Forgiveness, faith, redemption is weaved throughout. I admit some parts were very hard to read and take in because of the issues of lynching, segregations, and racism. But this was 1919 and these things did in fact exist.

Alena's parents kept her from the ugliness of the Jim Crow south. She was happy living her everyday life until that day she found out just how cruel the world could be. Shipped off to Chicago to her aunt against her will caused her to rebel. She felt as if she was being treated like she was the culprit. She even wants to give up writing, something that she loves. Along her way to finding herself she meets a pullman porter that tries to sweep her off her feet, a young white sister and brother fighting for civil rights, and the man, a journalist, that she eventually fall in love with. But she does have to go back to Mississippi and make peace with her parents and the horror there.

Miss Foster lets us look into the hearts and minds of the evildoers. As I said it is kind of hard to take. I would recommend this book to young women of all colors as a book to read for inspirational romance as well as religious conviction.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it!, February 13, 2000

By 

Lissa Tyler (Durham, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Passing by Samaria (Paperback)

I loved Passing by Samaria.

I found the book to becomparable to the the classic, "To Kill A Mockingbird." Thecharacters and the action are so intense I found my heart pounding half the time, and my eyes watering the other half of the time.

Foster's use of imagery and dialogue represent a time in African American History most have forgotten about, and others are embarrassed to remember. I applaud Foster's ability to encourage forgiveness in her readers, and in looking forward to a day when we can all be brothers' and sisters' under one GOD.

I look forward to future novels written by Ms. Foster. Because she has definitely earned a life-long fan and admirer in me.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars God don't let me pass by Samaria unaware, February 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Passing by Samaria (Paperback)

This book addressed a facet of the history of our great nation that is so heinous that I had trouble believing anyone could write about it and not have hate, resentment, and other vengeful thoughts bleed thru. It was a time when "man's inhumanity to man" was tolerated and even condoned in our country and our lives. It was a time of racial hatred and wearing white sheets over heads for disguise. It was a time of unholy acts by ungodly people. I wept for the pain portrayed. There was joy here too and I thank God for His presence in this writing. Sharon Ewell Foster, in her first book, covered this period of history in full honesty and with such grace and aplomb I was astonished. She used the storyline to show how bad things happen to good people and how if no one protests it could happen to any one of us too. She showed how love and forgiveness and restoration could take place within the all encompassing embrace of a Holy God who wants no person to fall short of His glory and redemption. She showed how in the basest of human tragedies God can bring His love to bear on lives and situations and people can come out whole, renewed and changed in mind and spirit. I loved it and have recommended it to everyone I know. I am also requesting a sequel as the characters were so compelling to me that I want to know where they went and what they did after the conclusion of this story. Alena and James, Jonathan and Dinah, Aunt Patrice and Deac and even Pearl, not to mention Alena's family and the other people back home in Mississippi. Keep writing Sharon, as fast as you can. :-) Jenifer