Publication Date: September 30, 2025
A debut historical fiction for fans of Kristin Hannah and John Steinbeck, Orphans of the Living follows the Stovall family’s early 20th-century quest for home and redemption as they confront racism, poverty, and inequality across the American South and West.
In the shadow of the Great Depression and Jim Crow south of the 1930s, an impoverished white family escapes—with the help of Black sharecroppers—from a vengeful Mississippi plantation overseer intent on lynching them. Arriving in California to start a new life, Barney and Lula Stovall are haunted by the past, the children they’ve left behind, and the daughter they cannot love or protect.
Orphans of the Living follows the peripatetic life of the Stovall family, woven from four parallel stories: Barney and Lula Stovall, and two of their nine children, Glen and Nora Mae.
Their California sojourn—from their hardscrabble dairy farm, to the brig at the San Francisco Presidio, to the building of the Golden Gate Bridge—lead them on paths toward each other and forgiveness. But redemption doesn’t come to them all.
As white sharecroppers during the Great Depression, the Stovall family must navigate numerous circumstances simply to survive.
The title refers to children who have parents and families, but end up in orphanages, unlike those who have lost their loved ones. The haunting image on the front cover conveys a message of struggle contained within the pages.
Barney Stovall’s dreams take him across the United States as he tries to eke out a living for his wife, Lula, and their ever-expanding brood of children. With Lula’s two eldest sons left behind in Montana, seven children need to be fed, dressed, and cared for.
The racial undertones in Mississippi following the 1930s still featured a significant amount of distrust. That may be why Lula had such a reaction to accepting help from the plantation workers. Eventually, Barney’s actions force him to take his family and run, leading them to start over in California.
The author focuses specifically on highlighting Lula and Barney as they wrestle with failed dreams and the consequences of their decisions. Meanwhile, we also get insight into Glen, one of the boys left behind, and the youngest child, Nora Mae.
Glen’s ability to recognize inequality—both racial and social—gives him a unique perspective. It also comes in handy when he interacts with Nora Mae, the unwanted last child who suffers an unspeakable occurrence that destroys her innocence.
It all comes together in a story raw with emotion and human suffering. The characters are compelling, brought to life in a time period known for wreaking havoc on those too weak for survival.
Orphans of the Living will burrow a tunnel straight to your heart as the Stovall family navigates a quest toward not just surviving, but thriving.
Kathy Watson spent years as a public relations executive and journalist, including six as editor-in-chief of Oregon Business magazine, before embarking on a new career as a chef and restaurant owner. This is her debut novel. She lives in Hood River, Oregon, where she writes, leads a chefs collective, and runs and hikes the Columbia River Gorge with her husband Stu and Satchel, the world’s best dog.
Amy, thanks so much for reading and reviewing Orphans of the Living. I know it’s definitely not “happily ever after” but you still liked it! So appreciate the five stars.