Blooming Hollyhocks: Tales of Joy During Hard Times

Step into a bygone era where family, faith, and community turned hardship into unforgettable stories of strength. In Blooming Hollyhocks: Tales of Joy During Hard Times, Duluth journalist Naomi Helen Yaeger shares the true story of her mother, Janette Minehart, a spirited girl growing up in rural Minnesota during the Great Depression and World War II. Dreaming of nursing school at a time when few women pursued higher education, Janette faced farm chores, community gatherings, rations, victory gardens, men drafted into war, and heartbreaks—yet discovered resilience, joy, and hope. Written with the intimacy of memoir and the sweep of narrative nonfiction, Blooming Hollyhocks invites readers who love Little House on the Prairie or The Waltons to rediscover the strength of an earlier generation and the timeless lessons it still offers today.

Inside the book, find:
• Photos
• Maps
• A family tree