“You can’t see today’s beauty when you’re always looking at yesterday’s storm.”

A cruel act by strangers forces a North Idaho family to leave their dairy farm and start a new life amid the Great Depression. As they face harassment, hunger, and an uncertain future, each family member struggles to adjust to their greatly altered life and learns how to survive. But none more than ten-year-old Eleanor, who blames herself for the turn their lives have taken.

With descriptions that make the Great Depression come to life, Ida Smith gives you a front-row seat next to Eleanor Cruthers and her family during their trials and triumphs. Following Eleanor and her family, readers imagine the physical and emotional hardships, and hope many experienced as their world fell apart.

A powerful story of grief, redemption, and one family’s resilience in the face of insurmountable odds. As Eleanor and her family build a new life and grow as individuals, Guarding What Remains challenges what is really important, and shines a light on our need for each other—to care and receive care.

If you liked Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds, Christina Baker Kline’s Orphan Train, and Elizabeth Hardinger’s All the Forgivenesses, you’ll enjoy Guarding What Remains.

REVIEWS:
"...a story of love, redemption, and resilience and readers will readily identify with the experiences the characters face." – Historical Novel Society

"This one of those stories that reaches out and tugs at your heart…a novel that is good for your soul…” – Panner, Bookbub

“…heartbreaking, intriguing and triumphant…so well researched and well written that it came alive as I read each page…” – Linda, Bookbub

“…full of heartwarming scenes of a tightknit family who lean on one another when the world seems set against them…the narrative is uplifting and true to the characters’ struggles.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Wow! A fantastic book describing the struggles of a family through unprecedented difficulties. The characters and their different journeys through the exact same circumstances perfectly depicts how God uses good and bad events to get our attention. This is such a powerful story of pain and forgiveness, human frailty and resilience, temptation and grace, hopelessness and steadfast love.” – Cecilia, Goodreads

“What a roller coaster ride of emotions…It’s a literal life changer if one allows it to be. I highly recommend this book for an unforgettable read!” – Marge Kazulak, Amazon

“…The author reels you in from the start and does not let go until the last page. A great variety of believable characters that you can't help but root for them…superbly written and obviously a great deal of research has gone into this to make it realistic and to give an insight into how families fared during this dark time in our history. – Gillian, Goodreads

“…written with alot of heart and soul. The characters have great growth and they took me on an emotional roller coaster ride that I didn’t want to stop.” – Bobbi Wagner, Bookbub

“…I don't often read Christian Inspirational titles but this one is right up there as an awesome read for secular readers as well as people of faith. I couldn't put it down. Ida Smith has created a masterpiece of deep empathy (without being saccharine) about what it was like to suffer intense poverty and homelessness through the Great Depression of 1929-39. Both dramatic and inspiring, as well as well-written and carefully researched.” – Robyn Pearce, Amazon

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