ARPress is honored to announce that the flipbook format of The Spare (Part 3) by Marsha May Fairchild Sumpter is now available for purchase. The book is also offered in other formats on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the ARPress website.
There’s something undeniably magical about holding a paperback or hardback book in your hands, the smell of the pages, the feel of the paper, the satisfying thump as you close it at the end of a great story. It’s a sensory experience that e-readers and screens have struggled to replicate.
But here’s the thing: the world of reading is evolving, and it’s not just about going digital or flipping through pixels on a screen. Enter the flipbook, a fresh, interactive way to experience stories that goes beyond the printed page while still capturing the tactile joy we love.
You might remember flipbooks from childhood, those little booklets where flipping the pages quickly created a tiny animation. Today’s flipbooks have massively leveled up. They’re digital, accessible on any device, and combine the charm of flipping pages with multimedia elements like videos, sound, and clickable links. Imagine reading your favorite novel and encountering subtle animations or embedded audio that brings scenes to life.
We live in an age where change happens at lightning speed. Families scatter across the country, careers take us far from where we grew up, and land that once sustained generations is sold off for something more “convenient.” It’s easy to feel unmoored, like the ground beneath us is constantly shifting.
That’s why The Spare (Part 3) by Marsha May Fairchild Sumpter feels so relevant today. On the surface, it’s a memoir of a South Dakota farm family, but at its heart, it’s about something much deeper, what it means to belong, to sacrifice, and to preserve a way of life when the world tells you it’s easier to let go.
The story begins in 1938, when Sumpter’s parents married and, mindful of the times, decided two children would be enough, “one to replace each adult.” But her mother had a thought: what if life dealt them losses? What if they needed a “spare”? That’s where Marsha came in, the youngest, the one not originally “planned” but who would become the keeper of the family’s legacy.
Fast forward to the 1970s, and the American farm landscape was shifting. Land prices were rising, neighbors were selling out, and many families were leaving behind rural life. But Sumpter’s parents had a different vision: instead of selling, they invited Marsha and her family back to the farm. That choice set the stage for decades of hard work, family tension, and moments of grace, all recounted with honesty and grit in her memoir.
What shines through the pages isn’t just the daily life of farm chores, livestock, and unpredictable weather. It’s the deeper question: What do we owe to the generations before us? And how do we honor the land and the legacy they left behind? At one point, Sumpter reflects on the farm as more than property:
“This farm was put together with sweat and yes, real blood. Can we, the third descendants, throw it to the wolves? … It’s not just land, it’s a lifestyle, the greatest inheritance parents can give their children.”
In today’s world, where convenience often trumps tradition, those words hit home. We see it everywhere, from family homes sold after a passing, to small businesses swallowed by big corporations, to communities losing their anchors. The Spare reminds us that not everything should carry a price tag. Some things, like heritage, resilience, and belonging, are worth fighting for.
As for the author herself, Marsha May Fairchild Sumpter isn’t just writing history; she lived it. Through droughts, lawsuits, changing economies, and even family disagreements, she stood firm in her conviction that the farm was more than acres of land. It was a living testament to perseverance and love.
The lesson she leaves us with is powerful: even when the world pushes us to move faster, sell out, or give up, we have the choice to hold on. To fight for what matters. To be the “spare,” the one who carries the torch when no one else will.
And maybe that’s what we need most today: reminders that roots matter, that family stories matter, and that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is stay.
If you love books, don’t worry, paperbacks and hardbacks aren’t going anywhere. They still hold a special place on our shelves and in our hearts. But flipbooks open doors to new possibilities that blend tradition with innovation.
Whether you’re a lifelong reader curious about new formats or a creator eager to explore interactive storytelling, flipbooks invite you to go beyond the printed page and rediscover the joy of stories in a whole new way.
The Spare (Part 3) by Marsha May Fairchild Sumpteris now available for purchase via the ARPress Bookstore.