The Filling Station, Vanessa Miller
The Filling Station, Vanessa Miller
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The Filling Station
A USA TODAY Bestselling Historical Fiction Novel about the Tulsa Race Massacre

Author: Vanessa Miller

Narrator: Angel Pean

Unabridged: 10 hr 19 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Published: 03/11/2025

Synopsis

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER! · A LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOKS OF 2025 PICK · A BOOKLIST EDITORS' CHOICE PICK FOR 2025 · A heart wrenching and hopeful novel from the bestselling author of The American Queen"Absolutely worthy." --Booklist, starred review"Should be required reading." --Library Journal, starred review"Resilience, faith, and grit." --Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling authorTwo sisters. One unassuming haven. Endless opportunities for grace.Sisters Margaret and Evelyn Justice have grown up in the prosperous Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma--also known as Black Wall Street. In Greenwood, the Justice sisters had it all--movie theaters and entertainment venues, beauty shops and clothing stores, high-profile businesses like law offices, medical clinics, and banks. While Evelyn aspires to head off to the East Coast to study fashion design, recent college grad Margaret plans to settle in Greenwood, teaching at the local high school and eventually raising a family.Then the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre upends everything they know and brings them unspeakable loss. Left with nothing but each other, the sisters flee along what would eventually become iconic Route 66 and stumble upon the Threatt Filling Station, a safe haven and the only place where they can find a shred of hope in oppressive Jim Crow America. At the filling station, they are able to process their pain, fill up their souls, and find strength as they wrestle with a faith in God that has left them feeling abandoned.But they eventually realize that they can't hide out at the filling station when Greenwood needs to be rebuilt. The search for their father and their former life may not give them easy answers, but it can propel them--and their community--to a place where their voices are stronger . . . strong enough to build a future that honors the legacy of those who were lost.The Filling Station weaves together themes of love, hate, hope, trust, and resilience in the face of great turmoil. With every turn of the page, you will be transported into a story about strong Black women in a pivotal moment of history.Discussion questions are included, so it's perfect for book clubs! Keep your tissues nearby because this one is practically guaranteed to make you feel all the feelings.Audio read by Angel Pean, narrator of Junie: A GMA Book Club Pick.

About Vanessa Miller

Vanessa Miller is a celebrated USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning author whose prolific body of work spans over fifty titles that explore deep themes of redemption, resilience, and faith—often spotlighting strong Black women during pivotal moments of history. Vanessa also wears the hats of playwright, motivational speaker, and retreat host—channeling her storytelling gift across multiple creative platforms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and family. Connect with her online at vanessamiller.com; Facebook: @vanessamiller01; Instagram: @authorvanessamiller; X: @vanessamiller01.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Karren on March 28, 2025

Henry Justice is a grocery store owner in the Greenwood District, Tulsa, Oklahoma and he has two daughters Evelyn who’s about to finish high school and Margaret a college graduate and she's applied to be a teacher. When a group of white men enter “Little Africa” and the situation quickly gets out of......more

Goodreads review by Jill on March 09, 2025

THE FILLING STATION by Vanessa Miller Angela Pean does a terrific reading of this book, as well as, her reading in Vanessa Miller’s previous book, The American Queen Where was the justice system when hateful humans destroyed the lives and community of the black residents of Greenwood District? This is......more

Goodreads review by LaCricia on December 09, 2024

Thank you Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC. This was a very difficult book to read due to the subject matter. Although the Tulsa Massacre is a well known moment in history, Author Vanessa Miller brought it to the forefront with a reminder of the heartache......more

Goodreads review by Lois on March 31, 2025

This is beautifully and respectfully handled given that this is based on real people and real events in US history. I think Vanessa Miller has a true gift for breathing life into historical characters and situations. This follows the Justice sisters, Evelyn and Margaret, who are the daughters of Hen......more

Goodreads review by Darcy J. on March 20, 2025

4.25⭐️ “The Filling Station" "Why do they hate us so? What have we ever done to them?' The quote is a question that has never left our culture as Black Americans. It's a question I am sure our grandparents, great grandparents, etc didn't want us to continue to ask in 2025. The 1921 Tulsa Massacre. Van......more

Quotes

'In a novel that should be required reading, Miller (THE AMERICAN QUEEN) movingly explores the aftermath of racial trauma and how resilient people can open their hearts again. Read-alikes exploring Black historical experiences include WHEN STARS RAIN DOWN by Angela Jackson Browne and UNDER THE TULIP TREE by Michelle Shocklee.' Library Journal Starred Review

'Miller (THE AMERICAN QUEEN, 2024) doesn't shy away from the hardships the Justices face--racism, unscrupulous developers, sickness-inducing conditions in the rebuilding Greenwood--and Margaret's faith journey is hard-won and convincing. The Tulsa Race Massacre is rarely covered in historical fiction, and this story is an absolutely worthy addition to the genre.' Booklist Starred Review

'The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre is, shockingly, little more than a footnote in history--because history has always been written by white men. Miller's book, thankfully, reverses that egregious oversight. By making us live through the eyes of two sisters who that suffered catastrophic loss, we viscerally learn how this vibrant Black community fought devastation with resilience, faith, and grit.' Jodi Picoult, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author

'THE FILLING STATION is a compelling contribution to the understanding of Black Wall Street and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The depth of research, coupled with Vanessa Miller's ability to bring these historical events to life, ensures that these stories are not only remembered but resonate with readers. So many of the names and places come to life in a way that makes me have to stop reading and process the fact that this event actually happened, and it happened in my community to people I have known.' Michelle Burdex, program coordinator for Greenwood Cultural Center

'Through Miller's skillful writing, we see the filling station not only as a notable landmark, one deserving of all Americans' attention, but as a superb metaphor for the people and places that replenish the spirit, if we have the courage to let them in. Definitely recommended.' Historical Novel Society

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