In the
1940s, during World War II, two ten-year-old girls, Jewel and Claudine, are
inseparable best friends growing up in Blackburn’s Hollow, nestled within
North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. They live in very different homes on
opposite sides of a creek that runs through the Hollow. The creek and the
fields and mountains surrounding it are their playgrounds as they spend
every possible moment together having fun.
However, during the summer after the school year ended, Jewel and Claudine
and their parents receive news of a dangerous, communicable disease that had
stricken their community. Soon after, their close friendship is threatened
as their parents take precautions against the raging polio epidemic by
barring their children from spending time with each other. They can only see
each other and wave at one another from across the creek. Jewel and Claudine
are devastated, and they miss one another deeply. How will these two young
girls deal with their isolation and separation and the fact that they cannot
be close to each other for who knows how long?
Drawing
parallels between the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and the 1940s polio
epidemic, this story, based on a true story told to the author, illustrates
the struggles and issues children face when they are separated from their
friends by something that is unfair and is not their doing. But it also
demonstrates hope in prayer and in a little creativity to help overcome
obstacles and maintain meaningful connections.