The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

A must-read!

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride is a must-read for everyone. While the book took me a while to read it always kept me engaged and eager to see what happens next. The detailed backstories of each character are woven together to paint a picture of America in the 1920s. The story shows us how they have more in common than they think with one another despite different backgrounds and disabilities.

A beautifully written story in the 1920s about a small town in Pennsylvania where immigrants from all different backgrounds have come in search of The American Dream. While the first half of the book focuses on the many characters and their unique stories that live in Pottstown PA, as the story continues to unfold you learn how each of them are connected and willing to help one another. As a reader, you want to keep reading to connect the dots between the characters and see how they each share a bit of each other's stories.

Chona connects all of the characters in the book, never allowing her illness to stop her while she welcomes everyone around her. Through Chona a community in this small town is built and everyone learns something from this main character that allows them to feel included, understood, or willing to help others as she did.

Each storyline, character, and situation in The Heaven & Earth Grocery Story will have you feeling connected, understanding, rooting for the underdog, and wanting more of this book.

The heartfelt story is one that everyone should read at least once and teaches lessons of acceptance along the way.