Noel Street by Richard Paul Evans
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Elle lives with her son Dylan in a small town called Mistletoe. She works as a waitress at Noel Street Diner almost everyday to support the both of them. The people of mistletoe are mostly supportive of Elle and Dylan but there are a few who aren’t because it’s 1975 and while Elle is white, Dylan is biracial and seen by everyone as as African-American and some in small town mistletoe don’t like that at all.
Dylan is only six and doesn’t understand racism too well yet. She is very protective of him and tries to make sure he is mostly unaware of any racism that may be directed towards him. One of the most supportive people to her and Dylan is the town mechanic who frequently fixes her old car but when serious repairs are suddenly needed, she is worried that even with the discount the mechanic gives her and her boss letting her come in later so she can take her car in and giving her extra shifts when she can that she won’t be able to afford the repairs. She is losing hope.
A man named William starts working with the mechanic which makes Elle’s life even more complicated because he makes her question what she truly wants for the future. Elle is a war widow who has assumed since that she would remain single for the rest of her life. William is also no stranger to war and loss.
Warning: There is one scene towards the end of the book where an an adult calls Dylan something very racist watch out for it.
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