Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite

In Those Coming Back by Alanna R. Clutter, readers meet a young girl named Catherine. It’s 1869, and she and her family are about to embark on a big move, leaving Ohio and her maternal grandparents to go to Iowa to help work her paternal grandparents’ farm. Told mostly through her diary entries and letters, the story follows Catherine as she adjusts to life on the farm, misses her best friend Freddy, begins a new school, and forms friendships with classmates like Josie. Freddy, who writes to her, faces family challenges, including his mother's illness, as he finishes school. As the years pass, Catherine grows into a young woman who begins sewing dresses for members of the community. A man named Bert begins courting her, but their relationship ends on a very traumatic note. Freddy, who is working at his father’s grist mill, meets a love interest as well, but that sadly ends. He decides to move to Iowa, too, and his friendship with Catherine leads to something more romantic. They wed and move west to Oregon. Will their future give them the children they both want? Will this move to a new state be right for them?

I really enjoyed Those Coming Back by Alanna R. Clutter—it's one of those books that pulled me right in and didn't let go. I found myself caring about the characters and wanting things to work out for them. The writing felt real and natural. I enjoyed that it was written like a diary, along with letters. That gave it something extra. Catherine is a very strong character and a very good role model for young girls. Seeing her grow and change over the years added a lot of depth to the story. I especially enjoyed her relationship with Freddy from the beginning and hoped it would develop into something more. The story also does a nice job of showing what everyday life was like during that time period. Readers who like family sagas or historical fiction will love this wonderful book.