At A Crossroads
by Ophelia Robinson
A Story of Faith, Family, Baseball, and Finding a New Purpose When Life Changes the Plan
Set in rural Georgia during the years of rebuilding after the Great Depression, At A Crossroads follows Henry Honus Robinson, a thirteen-year-old farm boy whose life revolves around family, faith, hard work, and one extraordinary dream: becoming a professional baseball catcher.
Henry’s path is anything but simple. Financial hardship, illness within the Robinson family, responsibility on the farm, his father’s painful history with baseball, and eventually a devastating injury repeatedly force him to choose between the future he imagined and the people and principles that matter most.
What begins as the story of a boy determined to reach the ballfield ultimately becomes a story about what happens when the dream you have prayed and worked for changes—and whether faith can lead you toward a purpose you never expected.
The manuscript itself describes Henry’s story as one of perseverance and faith, following a boy who dreams big while confronting obstacles that test both.
Title
At A Crossroads
Author
Ophelia Robinson
Publisher
Cupples & Leon Publishing
GENRE
NON FICTION
PAGE COUNT
155
ISBN — eBook
978-1-969682-95-7
ISBN — Paperback
978-1-969682-97-1
ISBN — Hardcover
978-1-969682-96-4
About
the book
Sometimes the hardest crossroads is not choosing which dream to follow but learning what to do when the dream changes.
Henry Honus Robinson is thirteen years old, the eldest of five children, and already carries responsibilities far beyond his age.
Life on the Robinson family farm in rural Georgia begins before sunrise and rarely slows down. Henry left school after the fifth grade because his father needed his help on the farm, his mother had taken outside work, and his youngest brother’s illness placed even more pressure on a family already struggling financially.
But whenever Henry can steal a moment away from chores, there is usually a baseball nearby.
A bat.
A glove.
And a dream.
Henry wants to become a catcher in the big leagues.
Baseball, however, carries a complicated history inside the Robinson home.
Henry’s father, Philip Aaron Robinson, once loved the game himself. He even named his eldest son after Honus Wagner. But after Philip’s older brother died following a baseball accident, the sport became associated with pain rather than possibility. Philip therefore views Henry’s ambition with fear and skepticism, believing that baseball can lead to heartbreak rather than security.
Around Henry is a tightly connected family dealing with its own challenges.
His mother, Pauline, is deeply devoted to her children and her Christian faith. His siblings—Emma Grace, Dawson, Murph, and young Jonah—each have their own personalities and ambitions. Jonah’s serious illness places tremendous strain on the family, while Pauline’s own health later becomes another concern.
Still, the Robinsons are supported by neighbors, church members, and especially Mr. and Mrs. Grayburn, who become much like the grandparents the children never had.
The hardships do not extinguish Henry’s dream.
They sharpen it.
As Henry grows older and develops his skills on the baseball field, professional opportunity finally arrives. At seventeen, he is offered the chance to play for a minor-league team near Atlanta.
The opportunity could move Henry one step closer to the major leagues.
It could also provide money for his mother’s medical treatment and help his family financially.
But accepting means leaving home.
Henry reaches his first major crossroads:
Does he remain with the family that depends upon him—or trust that pursuing his dream may also become a way of helping them?
It will not be the last time life forces him to choose.
Why Read
At A Crossroads?
Henry dreamed of playing baseball. Life would teach him that staying in the game could mean something entirely different.
At A Crossroads will appeal especially to readers drawn to stories of Christian faith, strong family relationships, and the enduring spirit of baseball. Set against rural American life during the Great Depression era and its aftermath, the novel explores coming of age, perseverance through adversity, sacrifice, responsibility, and the challenges of pursuing a dream when life takes an unexpected turn. Through Henry’s journey, readers experience both disappointment and hope, physical and emotional recovery, and the powerful process of finding new purpose after loss.
