The View from Half Dome
"Isabel will steal your heart with her hopeful spirit." -Kerry Chaput, author of Daughter of the King
1934. Isabel longs to escape her squalid San Francisco neighborhood. While her mother struggles to make ends meet and her older brother serves with the CCC at Yosemite, she manages the household and comforts her younger sister with stories about an idyllic imaginary world. Desperate for a taste of freedom, she takes matters into her own hands-with tragic consequences.
Distraught, she flees to Yosemite, where she falls in love with its majestic beauty. Inspired by Enid Michael, the park's only female ranger-naturalist, Isabel hikes, learns new skills, and discovers an inner strength she never knew she had. But even as she relishes her independence, she hides her grief, along with a terrible secret she fears will destroy relations with her family. And when she receives upsetting news from home, Isabel must decide if she can assist her family without sacrificing her chance at a new life.
Rich with historical detail and lyrical prose, The View from Half Dome is a moving coming of age story about hope, forgiveness, nature's healing power, and the courage to overcome societal boundaries and grow, regardless of age.
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2023 IPPY Bronze Medal Award Winner - Best Regional Fiction, Pacific West
"The View from Half Dome, a great coming-of-age story, is historical fiction at its best. Author Jill Caughterty deftly interweaves fiction and reality." -Midwest Book Review
"The essential story of this poor girl getting a reprieve from the slums to live among the wonders of nature is a winning formula and has enough plot to keep the reader rooting for Isabel." -New York Journal of Books
"Working toward a practical resolution, the historical novel The View from Half Dome follows a determined teenager as she pursues the incremental fulfillment of her dreams." -Foreword Reviews
"I would recommend this book to teenagers, especially those lucky enough to live near a national park. The View from Half Dome may well open their eyes to wonders just a little way from their door." -San Francisco Book Review
"Caugherty's love letter to the extraordinary park has a simple plot, but the breezy, conversational prose is engaging, capturing the despair of the Depression and the frustration of women struggling for equality." -Kirkus Reviews
"A touching coming of age tale set against the towering beauty of Yosemite National Park, where a young woman's dreams reach as high as its tallest peaks." -Jean Roberts, author of The Heron
"Well-developed characters, gorgeous setting, and a story that will stay with you. 5 stars!" -Gail Ward Olmsted, author of Miranda Writes
"Open this book to enjoy the scenes in Yosemite, and stay for well-drawn characters that include the park's first female ranger-naturalist. Highly recommended." -Linda Ulleseit, author of Aloha Spirit
"Isabel will steal your heart with her hopeful spirit." -Kerry Chaput, author of Daughter of the King
"Historical fiction at its very best: a wonderful story that immerses the reader in a distant era. Readers of Sue Monk Kidd and Kim Michele Richardson will enjoy Caugherty's deeply touching story." -David Rabin, author of In Danger of Judgment
