The Orchard

An eighty-acre citrus orchard forever links the lives of four generations of strangers.In the midst of the Great Depression, newly widowed Gwendolyn Meeker Hobbs enlists the help of seasoned farmhand Charlie and young prot g Phillip to run her citrus orchard. Twelve-year old Phillip finds an unlikely friend in Gwendolyn, and as she takes him under her wing, he finds escape from the rantings of his alcoholic father and develops his own affinity for working the land.Ryuichi Nakamura moves his family to Southern California to grow a new kind of strawberry, and with the help of Phillip and Charlie he builds a thriving business on the former Hobbs land. When America enters World War II, Ryuichi must fight to protect both his business and his family, and Phillip must choose between the land he loves and his chance to escape the emotional prison created by his father.Building a life in post-war America, Carl Roberts has a grand dream. Embarking on a business venture with his brother, he soon realizes, however, that prosperity comes at a high price.Forming a friendship across racial barriers, suburban housewives Hazel and Cora struggle to find their places in a modern world, and George, who has lost everything that matters to him, finds renewed hope in the wake of a devastating wildfire.Set against a rich backdrop of California history, THE ORCHARD weaves a tale of beauty, betrayal, loyalty, and transformation, for both the land and the people who inhabit it.