Bicentennial Eve. A Wisconsin Novella - Julie A. Jacob

The day before July 4, 1976, as a nation observes its bicentennial, one family's preparations spark quiet reckonings-of loyalty, longing, and the cost of independence.

Bicentennial Eve: A Wisconsin Novella is a gentle, slice-of-life tale of a family on the eve of the USA's 200th Birthday. As the cast of characters go about their day, each of them struggles with their own passing of time. From Grandma Kitty's quest for some adventure to young Skylar's search for a taste of first love, each family member is looking for a little independence of their own against the backdrop of a changing country.

Author Julie A. Jacob's created a believable world in the fictional Wisconsin Lakeshore community of Middleport. Her writing is impeccable, drawing the reader into the story with great attention to the cultural details of the times. Bicentennial Eve is more than a nice story; it is a testament to the lasting values that make up family and a look into the communities that make up Midwestern America.

Those who appreciate the charm of Thornton Wilder's Our Town will love the character of the small-town view of America in 1976. Julie A. Jacob has found something special that endures through the decades.