Restoring Harmony

A lovely tale of hope

In our difficult current times, it's refreshing to find such a tale of hope as "Restoring Harmony". Although the story takes place after a severe global financial and social collapse, and is peppered with the darkness which would inevitably follow such a disaster, it's not a negative story at all. It is a story of a family which has embraced the important values in life, and built themselves a thriving home where the true joys of full bellies, a rich crop, and hard work fill their lives. It is a story of a young girl who steps forth on what, to us, seems to be an impossible task, and she manages to overcome every obstacle and bring her family even closer together. Through it all runs a gentle thread of young love and discovery of self that is simply enthralling.

Though "Restoring Harmony" is written primarily for young adult readers, it is a story that will touch and inspire anyone who reads it.

Courtesy of Mother Daughter Book Club.com

Sixteen-year-old Molly is on the adventure of her life. Sneaking into the U. S. from her family's farm in Canada, she's on a mission to find out if her grandparents are still alive and living near Portland, Oregon. Travel is severely restricted in a time when most of the world's oil has run out, and governments tightly control what's left. Communication is sporadic, and Molly must adjust to changing and unanticipated circumstances before she makes her way to her grandparents' doorstep.

She finds them alive, but they are eking out an existence with little food and no prospects for the future. Molly must convince them to leave the city and return to Canada with her, even though the journey is sure to be difficult and uncertain, with no way to determine how long it will take. She must also figure out a way to escape the local Mafia, which is intent on keeping her around after she overhears them threaten to kill a neighbor. But with the help of her new friend, Spill, she just might find a way for all of them to go home.

Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony will transport you into life in the 2040s. Anthony paints a vivid picture of this world without ready gasoline. With no strong government to support infrastructure, organized crime controls most routine transactions. Food is hard to come by. Travel and communication is sparse. Health care is limited.

Molly is a great heroine for her time. Raised on a farm, she has learned self-sufficiency, and she's not afraid to work. Spared of the realities of a tough city life, she still believes in the goodness of people. She plays the fiddle to restore her own inner harmony and to soothe others as well.

Topics to discuss include the book's portrayal of this future world and book club members' own perceptions of what the future may bring. You can also talk about family relationships, adapting to uncertain circumstances, being self-sufficient, contributing to a community, discovering a new friendship, and finding a possible love interest. Anthony has a great book trailer as well as recordings of some of the music highlighted in the book on her website, http://joelleanthony.com/. I highly recommend Restoring Harmony for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 13 and up.

2041 Isn't Look That Great

The world of 2041 is so unlike our world today, but it is the only environment that 16 year old Molly McClure has ever known. Molly lives in Canada with her family and their quiet life is so set apart from the unrest that is constantly brewing just over the border in the US. When Molly's grandma is found to be ill, she is tasked with making her way across the border and getting her grandparents to come home with her. Once there, Molly realizes that the US is unlike anything she has ever experienced before. The streets are dirty and she is terrified of what could be lurking in every shadow. Molly manages to find her way to her grandparents, but it's not that easy to get them to leave their treasured home. Molly's fight to restore her family pits her in some dangerous situations and she comes to find that her new 'friend,' Spill, may not be exactly who he seems. Can Molly survive the dangerous world that the Collapse has created? Will her family ever be whole again? Is Spill really a good guy? You'll have to check out Restoring Harmony to find out.

I must be on some sort of dystopian kick because I feel like I've been reading them quite a bit lately. I was excited to read Restoring Harmony, but I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. Anthony has created a vast, dystopian world that could actually be a reality one day. The Collapse triggered the end of the world as we know it and even though Molly has always lived in that environment, she has never been fully immersed in it. Her experiences in the US ring so true and her 16 year old naiveté feels real and even endearing. The little love story between Molly and Spill is also a sweet journey. Molly doesn't instantly fall for Spill, but is actually a little wary of him. Their relationship can be seen developing throughout the book and we can see the blossoming of something more, which is such a nice change from how things usually happen in YA novels.

This is far from a fast-paced, action book. A lot of the journey may appear to be mundane, but every single thing that Molly does is out of her devotion to her family and the life that is waiting for her. She is so determined to bring her family together and that determination stands as a beacon of hope in a downtrodden and dangerous world. The little family moments anchor the story and I was more than happy to see Molly's journey right to the end.

Anthony has constructed a beautiful dystopian world, not just because it is realistic and vividly imagined, but because it isn't devoid of hope. The McClure's have been able to carve out their own little paradise and Molly only wants for her entire family to be able to experience that together. Molly's father gives her his beloved farmer's almanac and Anthony uses small excerpts from the book to begin several chapters. It is a very nice touch that gives the reader a little something more to hold onto Molly's life in Canada. Restoring Harmony is very much a character-driven, emotionally based story and I loved getting to know Molly and her family.

Opening line: "When the plane's engine took on a whining roar, my grip tightened on my fiddle case." ~ pg. 1

Favorite line (From the farmer's almanac): "December 24th - Other things may change us, but we start and end with family. -Anthony Brandt" ~ pg. 300

Unforgettable Characters

Restoring Harmony is set 30 years in the future and yet it has an old world charm. Much of this charm comes in the character of Molly. She is a smart, sweet, independent and resourceful heroine, who finds her way through the obstacles in her path and always does her best to help others. Although the future Anthony paints is bleak, Molly, her family, and their small island community provide a sense of hope that a new life can be created if this future should ever become real.


I love Molly and I love the other characters that populate the novel. Her grumpy cynical grandfather, the funny and sweet children next door and Spill, the stranger who Molly isn't sure if she can trust but is drawn to anyway. Although the story whips along, with many twists and turns, it is the characters who make it really shine.

Restoring Harmony is a delightful read, one which will make you want to learn the fiddle, go on a road trip and hug your family. It definitely has a star spot on my bookcase.

Brilliant and Believable

Restoring Harmony was like magic on paper. I actually felt as if I lived in 2041. Molly was the perfect Heroine with out even trying. While sent off to find her grandfather her journey began. The world that was created was Brilliant and Believable. You could feel all of Molly's struggles. The writing was smooth and didn't falter. The trip to her grandfather's was a trip she will never forget. She met Spill along the way. He was a praiseworthy character who was mysterious and generous. What a wonderful read! I just want to go on and on. Yet I don't want to give anything away. I am buying a hardcopy to add to my shelves. Don't just label this a YA book this crosses over into any generation. This is one of the best books I have read this year! I can't wait to read more from Joelle Anthony!

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