Rainwood House Sings

a social justice mystery

by Juliana Barnet

with Sophie Barnet-Higgins

2nd Edition, with a new foreword by actor-activist Danny Glover

Coming Soon!

University of MD groundskeeper and ex union activist Marlie Mendíval faces mounting bills, a lecherous boss, and boatloads of self-doubt. Keeping her going are her quirky nine-year-old granddaughter, Samantha, and ramshackle Rainwood House, full of musical plumbing, burgeoning houseplants, and whispers of bygone racial justice struggles.

Good-natured radical horticulturist Demetrius moves in, offering Marlie conversation and comfort cooking. She feels almost able to face her ex’s eviction threats, her sudden notoriety as a campus movement leader, and Samantha’s wrangles with a fundamentalist classmate.

Until she discovers Demetrius is in hiding — accused of shooting a white policeman. A fugitive in her house! Of course she must turn him in!

But will that bring justice?

Should she instead risk hiding him and helping him find the truth?

RAINWOOD HOUSE SINGS, book one in the Rainwood House Series, follows Demetrius, Marley, Samantha, and Rainwood House itself, as they delve into mysteries great and small in the course of seeking truth and justice, as they start a friendship club, a people’s history museum, and a unique refuge for activists fleeing persecution.

The Rainwood House series is a Fiction Featuring Activists project of Protect Our Activists. Fiction Featuring Activists promotes engaging and truthful fiction about the fascinating, ferocious, funny and inspiring lives of activists living in the belly of the Beast while struggling to transform it.

Folks say good things about Rainwood House Sings:

“Funny and creative. There is a blazing vitality to Rainwood House Sings that is enormously refreshing… The characters are original, convincing, indeed compelling…[The story] offers a glimpse not often encountered in novels into the lives, beliefs and doings of well-meaning, good-hearted people trying to make the world better.”

“This novel should inspire activists, from the environmental to the anti-war movements and democracy advocates beyond those themes as well.”

“Estupendo libro! De verdad! I’m not sure if I should be sad I just finished it—because it was like an extension of my life the whole time I was reading it!—or happy because now at least I can get to some other things...So engrossing, realistic, vivid...”

“…[E]xtremely inspiring. Rainwood House Sings is a jewel that should be read widely and discussed within classrooms, homes and community centers; a bold reminder of the important ongoing struggle for workers rights and of organizations and individuals often written out of US history classes and books. Juliana Barnet has written a true gem!”

“It is rare and wonderful to have a novel starring a Latina activist, by an author who...has been devoted to social justice for many years. ” ·

We need stories like Rainwood House Sings, showing everyday union organizers, community activists, folks wrestling with tough issues and experimenting with alternative ways of life, in all the vivid detail of their day-to-day struggles.