It is 1959 in Boise, Idaho. Nine-year-old Sawyer Huish is orphaned and living with his recently widowed grandfather, Pop. Under the loving guidance of Pop, Sawyer learns some of life’s most important lessons: the responsibility that comes with love, the nature of charity, respect for all living things, and the dangers in telling a lie. Pop is a humble man whose example extends far beyond his small circle. While he has attained no social recognition or position, the ripple effect of his example reaches generations into the future. With simple storytelling and honest sentiment, The Mourning Dove answers the question, “What is the worth of one person?” Larry Barkdull is the award-winning author of many books, including a World War II–era novel entitled Cold Train Coming, and The Shepherd’s Song, a Christmas novella. He is a regular contributor to Meridian Magazine. He and his wife, Elizabeth, are the parents of ten children and reside in Orem, Utah.