A Bright Tomorrow

by Gilbert Morris
312 pages

This first novel in the American Century series follows the three oldest Stuart children, Amos, Lylah, and Owen, as they leave home and enter the world.  The Stuarts grew up on a farm in the Arkansas Ozarks, near Mountain View, during the end of the nineteenth century.  Their mother is a devout, born-again Christian, but their father is not.  The oldest Stuart children must make their own decisions about God as they head out into the world and make a name for themselves.

For the most part, this was an enjoyable read.  Morris painted a very interesting picture of life at the beginning of the twentieth century.  This appears to be a well-researched novel with plenty of historical detail.  However, some of the events in this novel are implausible.  Amos's story, in particular, seems very unrealistic.  I just don't buy that one man, with little education and money, could be involved in so many different historic events and be so friendly with a president.  I understand what Morris was trying to do--paint a picture of the historical events and the political tension of this period.  I just don't think he should have tried to do it with one character.  This book was interesting, but I don't feel compelled to read the next book in the series.