April 2021

Set in Montana in 1925, YOU BELONG HERE NOW by Dianna Rostad is a beautifully written debut novel. Three orphans are traveling westward from New York City, looking for new homes. At each whistle stop along the journey, they and the other orphans are paraded before families willing to adopt them. The families are often in search of laborers to help farm their land, and their goals are less altruistic than one might think. But at station after station, there are children who are not selected; for them, life ahead is one great unknown.

As the train lurches its way westward, one of the orphans notes that there are few stops left --- and unwilling to feel the sting of rejection, he is taking off on his own. Two others join him, another boy and a young girl. For the moment, hope replaces uncertainty for them with this action.

They stumble their way onto a ranch in Montana where they cross paths with a family that has been scarred by loss. Their story of being farm children from Canada seems suspicious to these old-school ranchers, especially to Nara, the young woman who hopes to inherit the ranch and run it. But the ranchers need help, so the children are taken in. Mishaps occur, and their ruse is uncovered, but eventually they find their way into the hearts of this family. Nara continues to test them, but they rise to her challenges --- and when she is given the chance to either support or abandon them, she comes out fighting for them.

Set against the spectacular backdrop of Montana, readers will feel the big sky. With travel still not happening these days, I was so happy to be transported there with this book. Dianna is a debut author to keep your eye on.