Holding Her Head High: 12 Single Mothers Who Championed Their Children and Changed History (Hardcover)

by Janine Turner (Author)
Key Phrases: wartime single mother, tribulations into triumphs, define your own destiny, Aunt Clara, Eliza Jane, Aunt Martha (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Life lessons from single mothers throughout history form the inspiration for single mothers today.

Single moms are not just a product of our modern culture. There have been single mothers throughout history, women who have raised not only their children but also nations with a higher vision for life. Holding Her Head High recounts stories of twelve such women from the third to the twenty-first centuries, women who found ways to twist their fates to represent God's destiny for their lives.

These uniquely powerful, brave women, within the scope of their own world and times, are like the ninety-nine percent of single mothers today who never intended to carry that distinction. They are abandoned, widowed, or divorced, all carrying wounds, yet they also all found ways to exhibit courage, kindness, dignity, and faith to heal themselves by healing others.

Actress Janine Turner, herself a single mother, describes the social implications for women and children from the Roman Empire through the Middle Ages to Pioneer days, including a single mother of slavery. Stories from women like Rachel Lavein Fawcett, abandoned single mother of Alexander Hamilton; Abagail Adams, a wartime widow; Harriet Jacobs, an unwed mother of slavery whose autobiography was published the year the Civil War began; and widowed Belva Lockwood, the first woman to officially run for President, all carrying wounds but all offering insight, wisdom, and encouragement. Lessons include:

• Listen for God's higher calling
• Hold your head high
• Dare to dream
• Champion your children
• Heal with humor
• Don't Give Up Before the Miracle

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078522324X
• ISBN-13: 978-0785223245
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #503,099 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Inspiration for Mothers (Single or Married), March 23, 2008

By	Z. Shute "Z" (Northern VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I first started reading this book, I thought I would be more interested in the author's historical account of each single mother's story. However, as I closed the book, I took away so much more than history. This book is a wonderful inspiration for all mothers--single or married. I think our society focuses on married mothers and pushes the single mom under the table. Finally, someone had the strength to speak out for single moms and inspire all moms with these historical accounts of fascinating single moms throughout history.

It would be a lovely gift for friends and moms for mother's day, too.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique perspective, Bob Schaller, March 9, 2008

By	Robert Schaller (Wyoming) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Janine Turner does a nice job writing about a topic that either affects you directly, or someone in your family and circle of friends. As a single father, I related to the stories in here, and appreciated the way Ms. Turner seamlessly wove in stories about her own life to parallel or contradict what she was writing about. Collating so many different perspectives is a challenge as an author -- I have 40 published works, and am a single parent in Texas via Wyoming -- so I appreciate how the book was written. This format makes it difficult to develop a narrative, but the author did just that by reaching far back into history to widen the perspective of the book while the common thread remained the narrowed focus of single parenting. I just thought it was a nice, smooth read, and it's so awesome for those of us who adored Mary Margaret O'Connell to see this single mom developing as a person, spreading her literary wings, and continuing to expand her horizons. She should be applaued for continuing her intellectual exploration of the world, and her place in it. What a great role model for her daughter.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Encouragement, March 11, 2008

By	Elise Pistor (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What a wonderful collection of inspirational stories that will encourage and motivate anyone, not just single mothers. These are amazing stories of perseverance, submission, godliness, selflessness, and hope. The rich and fascinating historical descriptions set the stage for each of these stories of women who faced obstacles and challenges that most of us wouldn't dream of. I was especially drawn to the noteworthy women who trusted in God with a conviction and determination to honor Him with their lives and to trust Him with their children. I'm reminded of Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". I applaud their determination to fight for what they believed in and to champion their children, the dream of every mother. My favorite....Abigail Adams!