Stars of Alabama

A Novel by “Sean of the South”

By: Sean Dietrich

Narrated by: Sean Dietrich

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.

I laughed. I cried.

I laughed. I cried. I smiled and enjoyed every moment of the journey with the characters in this novel. Such an honest look into the heart of mankind. Having the audio book read by this author is a treat.

Wow!

This was not at all what I expected, but oh so much better. Thanks Sean! ♥️

Kept losing interest

Was a good real life story as far as that goes but I guess it needed a better narrator to keep my interest. I love WWII stories & would have to say this wasn’t up to par for me. I kept dozing off while listening! Could have been much better.

recording is interrupted several times

story is very interesting and holds your interest, but in several spots a completely different story starts playing. Very confusing.

Outstanding!

The plot is interesting, the characters are well-developed, the timing is just right, and the narration is perfect. Stars of Alabama is a colorful story of the South where some characters fit the stereotypical image of “Southerner” and other characters are surprising in their progressive and complex personalities. Dietrich’s writing is spiced with a humorous descriptiveness which, alone, makes the book worth listening to.