The reader catches a glimpse of an American era integral to the civil rights struggle: 1902-1970. The book is set in Pine Vale, a fictitious town located about one hundred thirty-two miles southeast of Houston, and in Houston itself, which presents unforeseen challenges for the Pratt-Carey clan. The story offers insights into the hardships of a Black family striving for a better life in the face of poverty and prejudice. Back in Pine Vale, we see a vivid portrait of matriarch Sarah Bailey, a woman whose active Christian faith deeply affects the lives of her family and community for the better. The barber, Sarah's granddaughter, is the widowed Marietta "May" Carey, who faces the temptation of forbidden love. May's daughter, Sammie Lee, evolves from a shy schoolgirl to a confident teen. Along the way, she is defended against big-city school bullies by her younger brother, Jake, and the heroic elementary school principal, Mr. Garcia. Other family members, neighbors, friends, the barbershop's proprietor, and customers add to the rich flavor of the story, which is highly informed by the invisible but powerful presence of a real person: the author's mother, a barber and bold witness for Jesus Christ. One apparent lesson the reader may glean from the story is voiced by a wise elderly Black man to his little granddaughter: "The hard times we face in life don't need to live hard on our faces. Trust in God. He'll give you some sweet days." These words also uplift and encourage us in this day and age. In the end, the barber's daughter is optimistic about the future despite the challenges ahead.