The book Christy by Catherine Marshall is a fictionalized true account of the author's mother's time as a volunteer to be a missionary teacher in the Great Smoky Mountains in her youth. Most of the characters actually existed, and most of the events occurred, but some have been changed for greater drama. The story is of a young and innocent girl who feels called to offer a year of her life living among and teaching the people of Cutter Gap. The people of Cutter Gap are of Scottish-Irish descent; they view strangers with suspicion and their ideas with greater skepticism. Christy's great love of the children and the people convinces more than words can the depth of her feeling for the people. Christy begins her journey, with big dreams of helping people. She sees her journey through with the deeper understanding of God's love for all living beings, even the ones who reject him, and that to truly help people she must first love them. (read more)