Life on a farm in mountainous coalfields of Virginia brings ups and downs for a fifth grader leaving a two-room school on the mountain for a two-story school in town. The new farm cat won"t give Mary Ann the time of day, and she encounters the class bully at her new school. Challenges and changes at school highlight the changes happening in Mary Ann"s own life, but her three protective older brothers, grandparents and mom work together to make sure the family lives and loves well. Caught between being a child and a teenager, Mary Ann must discover for herself that the world exists in a spectrum of colors as varied as those found in a Caney Ridge sunrise. Mary Ann"s Mountain, author Mary Ann Rose Hart"s first novel, pays homage to her mountain heritage, sharing stories, lessons and secrets. She notes the joys of mountain music, making apple butter and working hard with family, and relays homespun stories about life on a small farm. The longtime teacher shares free downloads for...