My rating: 3.75/5
There are some books that are written that aren’t meant for sheer entertainment, but provoke insight, reflection, and contemplation. The Filling Station by Vanessa Miller is a riveting story that encourages the reader to do all three. This novel is appropriately considered Christian historical fiction, as it is based upon the often-overlooked incident of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, with the inclusion of a hopeful Christian message of redemption. This horrific event exposes a dark time in American history where a person’s worth was established merely based upon the color of their skin. In this modern day, the recollection of this egregious incident shows the exceptional progress this country has made regarding race relations. Although the racial progression is imperfect, I can only attribute the advancement made thus far to the Lord’s grace and mercy upon us.
The Filling Station follows two sisters, Margaret Justice and her younger sister Evelyn “Evie” Justice, the daughters of the respected Henry Justice, a successful entrepreneur in the affluent black community of Greenwood, Oklahoma. Also regarded as the “Black Wall Street” due to the prosperous Black American residents in the community, the novel opens as racial tensions are increasing due to rumors of a possible lynching following the unjust arrest of a young man who was accused of assaulting a white woman, are swarming the community. Unexpectedly, on May 31, 1921, until June 1, 1921, a mob of white men charged into Greenwood and attacked and killed many of the residents of the community. The mob also destroyed the town, leaving in its wake, a community devastated with burned down homes and businesses. Upon witnessing the attack, Margaret and Evelyn miraculously escape the invasion. During their escape they stumble upon the Threatt Filling Station, which is actually located on the former Route 66 road, where their father previously informed them is a safe rest stop for Black Americans traveling. Upon arriving, they are graciously taken in by the Threatt family who were providing a safe place for escapees of the massacre. The novel is set in the span of four years, where readers follow the Justice sisters as they experience grief, heartache, love, and racism that threaten to destroy their determination and hope. The trauma they faced during the massacre, as well as the challenging experiences they face in the aftermath will alter their faith in God and leave them questioning the purpose of their existence.
The Filling Station is a plot and character driven story that is well paced with themes of survival, restoration, and hope. The novel depicts the fight for restoration through the portrayal of the community’s determination to rebuild after the destruction, and the sister’s fight to regain a sense of purpose and dignity despite the corruption of racism during the Jim Crow era. The inclusion of Christian content is shown, as the Justice sisters are seen struggling with their faith and gradual growth in their personal relationship with Christ. Secondary characters are depicted with unwavering faith and encourage the sisters with their evolving connection with Christ Jesus. I appreciated the way in which the author depicted the historical events of the massacre, which was detailed and accurately portrayed. The author was also able to adequately capture the culture during the 1920’s, including incorporating notable songs by Black Americans during the era as well as the style of dancing and attires.
My only disappointment with the plot is the time frame it is set in. The story spans a total of four years. With the novel broken into three parts, I would have enjoyed reading how things turned out for the characters within a time frame of ten years or more. However, I greatly enjoyed this story. The congenial characters, intriguing storyline, and great writing made for a successful novel. This is not the first book that I have read by Vanessa Miller, and it will not be the last. If you enjoy a well written historical fiction novel that incites hope, I implore you to read this story.
With gratitude, I received a digital advanced reader copy of this novel from Thomas Nelson Fiction via NetGalley. The opinions in this review are unbiased and my own.
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