Up a Road Slowly is Irene Hunt's story of a young girl, named Julie Trelling, coming of age beautifully, in spite of personal tragedies and insecurities. At the age of seven, Julie is sent to live with her unmarried aunt, Aunt Cordelia, when her mother dies leaving Julie, her younger brother, Chris, and their older sister, Laura. Laura is seventeen at the time, and the decision is made to let her remain at the family home with their father, because she requires little care. Chris and Julie, however, are sent to live with their mother's sister, Aunt Cordelia, who is an unmarried schoolteacher. Julie has only vague memories of her aunt but Aunt Cordelia's huge house in the country is familiar and eventually becomes a haven to Julie as she struggles to adjust to her new world without her mother.

Julie and Chris make friends with...