Customer Reviews

Together is All We Need (Shenandoah Sisters #4)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Shenandoah Sisters Series continues with TOGETHER IS ALL WE NEED. In this collection of books two young girls, Katie and Mayme, have found themselves alone and left to run Katie's family plantation. Along the way, the two forge an unlikely friendship that transcends racial lines and defies the social mores of the time. The story opens when a new uncle, Burchard Clairborne, comes to town. Uncle Burchard is Katie's father's brother, and he feels he is next in line to inherit the family plantation. Initially, Katie and Mayme continue their attempts to maintain the secret they share, the fact that they live alone. But Uncle Burchard's persistence and overall lack of sensitivity, eventually leads to the uncovering of the very thing they have worked so hard to hide. He begins an aggressive mission to take over the plantation and make it profitable for him and along the way he decides that everyone living there with the exception of his niece must find a new home. The girls become the talk of the town and experience first hand the disdain of the neighbors for both their deception and their unconventional inter-racial friendship. Things look bleak until yet another uncle, Ward Daniels, appears with some shocking news, just in the nick of time. From there, the unlikely "family" works to reunite with Katie's Uncle Templeton and build a new life together.

TOGETHER IS ALL WE NEED continues to meet expectations for fans of the Shenandoah Girls Series. There is drama, controversy, and difficulties but ultimately the love shared among the primary characters helps them survive. Michael Phillips does a great job capturing the spirit of the time period by providing well rounded characters that are much more complex than the archetypal post-civil war personas quite often presented in literature. In this book the characters, particularly the former slaves, overtly struggle to reconcile their previous notions of their societal role with the racial equality they share on this "color blind" plantation. The dynamic characters, subtle spiritual messages and well-paced plot make this a fulfilling and enjoyable page turner.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

TOGETHER IS ALL WE NEED, by Michael Phillips, would be a great read for young, teenaged girls. The story line is very simple and straightforward and obviously written for the less than mature audience. It is the fourth book in THE SHENANDOAH SISTERS series and should be read as the fourth book. When read out of sequence, it is sorely lacking in character development. Within the first chapter, I realized that I had definitely missed something and then discovered that, as I suspected, it was one of a series. I could tell though, that the story line was a continuation of a very interesting scenerio, an uncommon tale of tragedy, heroism, and redemption.

Katie and Mayme have discovered that they are unlikely cousins. They are both teenagers and are forced, for the sake of their own survival, and with the help of a few friends, to take on the responsibility and hard work of adults; maintaining and running a productive cotton farm. Their current situation must be kept a secret and those in the community must be led to believe that everything is as it should be on their farm. Eventually, their secret is discovered by the brother of Katie's father, her Uncle Burchard. When he learns the truth, he sets out to take the farm from them. But God is faithful and provides for their needs by another unexpected turn of events.

TOGETHER IS ALL WE NEED successfully demonstrates that love knows no boundaries and is not affected by the prejudices of man. The girl's faith in God and love for each other pays off in the end in a big way. If you have a young teenage girl, or know one, you would do well to recommend this series to them or give as a gift.

-- reviewed by Ginny Sutton for Christian Bookshelf

Katie and Mary Ann are still running Rosewood --until a most unlikely and extremely greedy relative appears in town with intentions of taking over and removing everyone except Katie. He shows total disregard to human kindness or reason. He has the law and the deed. Their little extended family is finished. All have been run off and Katie will leave soon. Until.....

Their story appears in papers all over the nation and a "stranger" figures it is past time he comes to check on some unfinished business. Can he make it there in time? A real knuckle cracker book!

One little stray has found her way back home, but they have picked up others in the meantime. Relationships are stronger than ever but so is greed. One relative even lands in jail trying to make old wrongs right again. He had tried to run fast, but his shadow ran the same speed as him.

This book certainly has its' share of surprises- who is an uncle, who is a papa and who really can be trusted whether they are blood kin or not? In fact, just who IS family anyhow?

Taking place just after the end of slavery, this book is excellent in its' explanation of the way Blacks felt. Memories and scars from years of slavery were not going to vanish with the signing of a declaration. Historically and spiritually, this book is extremely relevant.

Thanks Michael Phillips.

I was a little let down in this last book in the Shenandoah Sisters series. Uncle Ward's ride to the rescue was cut a little too close to feel real and much of the book was about the troubles of Templeton. There was less focus in this book on the girls who live in the house and more on the uncles. I was also uncomfortable with Mayme relating events she and Katie never witnessed, a plot device not used in previous books. However, the book is still very readable and if you've read the rest of the series, you don't want to miss this book. Katie and Mayme are growing up and it shows. I'm a bit sad that there are no more in the series. I will miss reading about the cousins and the rest of their family.

I picked up this book thinking that it was a stand alone novel. I didn't realize that it was part of a series or I wouldn't have read it.
Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the other books. Although I felt like this book pretty much explained everything that had happened in the other books (over and over and over).
I am shocked that this book is the end of the series, seeing as I felt like this book ended without a real conclusion. I finished it wondering what would happen with the main characters instead of feeling like the story was finished.

This is a series of 4 books and they are very good. This teaches us how we should look at one another-beyond the color of skin. Very easy reading and highly recommended.

This 4/set Series by Michael Phillips is wonderful. Interesting,Exciting,Encouraging and we learned how to do many things from these stories.

Awesome series! I love Michael Phillips books about this time period in American history. The book has some outstanding and well developed characters. You feel as though you know them personally.

The books in this series have a wonderful multicultural and biracial theme. The characters are morally and ethically attentive. I like this series for young secondary female students--very empowering.

Do read the series in order. You will enjoy the sequencing of the events in the lives of these brave sisters who encounter tremendous odds during the American slavery system and post Civil war era.

I have the entire series and several other books written by this author. Michael Phillips is a great author and he writes wonderful books. Michael Phillips write wonderful books and he is a great author.

I ENJOYED ALL 4 OF THESE I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THOSE DAYS EVEN IF IT WAS FICTION WAS THE BOOKS FICTION? I JUST WISH THERE WERE MORE
THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL STORY

I highly recommend this collection of Shenandoah Sisters books 1-4. Michael Phillips is a excellent writer. The book came in excellent condition from the place that I order it from, will order from them again. Price was good, I like how you can look at the image or inside of the book on some of them.
As I said this is a good book I am glad to be able to say that in the review.