SMART Paperback

"SMART" is a heartwarming and poignant middle-grade historical fiction novel by Kimberly Newton Fusco. Set during the Great Depression, the story centers on Charlie Anne, a young girl left with a rigid cousin and a farm full of chores after her father goes north for work. Her only solace comes from the river, which holds memories of her late mother. When her neighbor, Old Mr. Jolly, brings home a new wife and a young African American girl named Phoebe, Charlie Anne finds an unexpected friendship. Despite the challenges of the times and rising hatred in their town, Charlie Anne and Phoebe learn from each other and forge a bond that teaches them the power of love and how hearts can always expand, even in the face of adversity.