In this heartfelt tale about enduring hope amid the suffering of the Great Depression, Sean Dietrich--also known as Sean of the South--weaves together a tale featuring a cast of characters ranging from a child preacher, a teenage healer, and two migrant workers who give everything they have for their chosen family. When fifteen-year-old Marigold becomes pregnant during the Great Depression, she is rejected by her family and forced to fend for herself. She is arrested while trying to steal food and loses her baby in the forest, turning her whole world upside down. She's even more distraught upon discovering she has an inexplicable power to heal, making her a sought-after local legend. Meanwhile, middle-aged migrant workers Vern and Paul discover a violet-eyed baby abandoned in the woods and take it upon themselves to care for her. The men continue their search for work and soon pair up with a poverty-stricken widow, plus her two children, and the misfit family begins taking care of each other. As survival brings this chosen family together, a young boy finds himself without a friend to his name as the dust storms rage across Kansas. Fourteen-year-old Coot, a child preacher, is on the run from his abusive tent-revival pastor father with thousands of stolen dollars--and the only thing he's sure of is that Mobile, Alabama, is his destination. In a sweeping saga with a looming second world war, these stories intertwine in surprising ways, reminding us that when the dust clears, we can still see the stars. With dry humor and compassion, beloved writer Sean Dietrich highlights the good of humanity and the light that's always just around the corner. This standalone novel includes discussion questions, which makes it perfect for book clubs. Also by Sean Dietrich: Kinfolk , Over Yonder , The Incredible Winston Browne , and You Are My Sunshine . Perfect for fans of Allen Levi and Fredrik Backman. 'Authenticity, charm abound in Dietrich's latest' -- Clarion-Ledger 'big-hearted novel' -- Garden & Gun, JULY READING PICK 'Dietrich is a Southern Garrison Keillor. Fans of the latter and former will be pleased.' -- Library Journal 'Ideal for those readers who appreciate a dash of magical realism in their historical fiction.' -- Deep South Magazine, SUMMER READING LIST 'Sean Dietrich can spin a story. With hope and heart, [Stars of Alabama] tells interweaving stories of connection, unlikely friendship, and the responsibility we have to take care of one another.' -- Southern Living magazine 'Set during the Dust Bowl, this pleasing, ambitious epic from Dietrich (Sean of the South) brings together unlikely allies all escaping dire situations. . . Though filled with preachers declaring judgment and prophecies of the end-time, Dietrich's hopeful tale illuminates the small rays of faith that shine even in dark times.' -- Publishers Weekly 'The characters are meticulously described in settings so real that they seem to be drawn from memory. . .historical fiction and mystery readers will find this to be a very satisfying book.' -- Booklist Sean Dietrich is a columnist, humorist, multi-instrumentalist, and stand-up storyteller known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared on The Today Show and in Newsweek , Southern Living , Garden and Gun, and Reader’s Digest . His column appears weekly in newspapers throughout the US. He has authored eighteen books and over four thousand columns. He tours his one-man show throughout the US, makes appearances on the Grand Ole Opry , hosts the Sean of the South podcast, and he’s a really nice guy. Follow Sean’s daily writing at seandietrich.com or @seanofthesouth on Instagram. Stars of Alabama By Sean Dietrich Thomas Nelson Copyright © 2019 Sean Dietrich All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-7852-2637-6 CHAPTER 1 HOLLERING Paul Foldger listened to Louisville bark. The dog's black-and-tan fur dripped with water that had turned her hair curly. The dog had been swimming in Rabbit Creek all morning. She loved to swim. Louisville was old, lean, all ears, long jowls, with some white around her snout. The old girl howled for all she was worth, staring straight into the woods that sat behind the creek, which forked into the Mobile Bay. She was a tracking dog. The most obedient dog Paul had ever trained. If Paul would've told the dog to build a ten-foot-tall sandcastle, Louisville would've gone hunting for a shovel and bucket. The morning air had an oyster taste to it. Not like a fresh oyster; more like a horrible canned oyster, the kind Paul's father ate. The air surrounding the bay always had that sort of taste. It was a smell that could gag a goat. A smell that only got worse when the weather got hot and the wind died. A day like today. Louisville heard something. So did Paul. A high-pitched shriek cut the air. They listened to the screams together. Man and dog. Paul knew what Louisville was thinking. She wanted Paul to send her into the woo