Exploring Family Struggles in ‘Heart of the Green Leaf’

Heart of the Green Leaf by Carla Harrison is a touching young adult novel. It is about resilient courage in the face of family struggles and the power of loyalty. 

REVIEW

Meet Maralee Truett, a 14-year-old North Carolina farm girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders. The novel takes place in the summer of 1964. Her father suffers from PTSD after service in World War II. But he is not alone. Her mother has depressive tendencies due to past heartbreaks. Sturgeon, her brother, is itching to join the Vietnam war effort adding to family tension. 

Maralee’s peace-loving personality feels caught in the crossfire and she builds up a wall of resilience as she struggles to keep her feelings inside. Her loyal spirit just wants to help on the farm however she can and keep the peace at the same time. Maralee also has a hidden talent for working with animals. A cute boy named Jack starts paying her attention and her animal talent catches the eye of the local doctor. Jack wants to pursue a relationship, and the doctor offers her a dream position assisting him with his animal patients. Can Maralee have the courage to spread her wings a little away from family responsibilities or does loyalty to her family cast too strong a grip?

AN APPEALING CHARACTER

I admire Maralee’s commitment to her family and animal friends in the novel. She tirelessly works with her father in the tobacco fields even though the plants give her a painful rash now and again. When her father has PTSD episodes and memories of the war cloud his judgment, her heart goes out to him. Although she is scared and a little embarrassed at times, she wishes he did not have to go through these struggles and wants to alleviate his pain. Maralee also does most of the housework and chores without complaint when her mother experiences depression — sometimes for days. 

Maralee also has fun with Sturgeon playing their favorite childhood game. She does this to get her brother’s mind off the tension at home and possibly going to Vietnam. She has a blast with her brother.  They enjoy rare laughter and competitive teamwork. It takes the siblings’ mind off the hard things for a few days.

Maralee’s kind heart extends to her animal friends too. She rescues the runt of a litter of piglets and names it Dink. She trains Dink to follow human commands, and the pig is so smart it wins first prize at the local fair and she gets to show it at the state competition. Maralee also nurses a kitten back to health when Jack brings it to her. She then offers to give the kitten, named Berry, a home when Jack is unable to care for her. 

Throughout the novel I found myself hoping Maralee will have her own happy ending and pursue her dreams because she has so selflessly put others above herself. Does Maralee get what she dreams? Read the full story to discover the answers. 

Curious to know more? Click here for the trailer.

GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment by September 9 for a chance to win Heart of the Green Leaf. U.S. addresses only.

GUEST BLOGGER

Thanks to Kate Lundeen for another fine review!

Kate Lundeen is a frequent book reviewer. She last shared her thoughts about A Year Without Home.  She writes, “The Lord’s hand of watchful care and protection blessed my life from my start as a tiny premature infant. Doctors diagnosed me with cerebral palsy from birth complications which mainly affected my legs and motor skills. 

“I also have a learning disability that does not allow me to write down or process thoughts as fast as other people.  I obtained an Associate in Arts degree from a North Carolina community college after five years of hard work! I enveloped a love for writing in college. Now I pen articles for my local church newsletter and write book reviews. I enjoy my current job as a part-time library assistant in a Christian library in Matthews, NC. I have a servant’s heart and a willing attitude to grow in old skills and develop new ones along whatever path the Lord chooses to take me.”