Summary (from Goodreads):
Ever since May, Summer's aunt and good-as-a-mother for the past six years, died in the garden among her pole beans and carrots, life for Summer and her Uncle Ob has been as bleak as winter. Ob doesn't want to create his beautiful whirligigs anymore, and he and Summer have slipped into a sadness that they can't shake off. They need May in whatever form they can have her -- a message, a whisper, a sign that will tell them what to do next. When that sign comes, Summer will discover that she and Ob can keep missing May but still go on with their lives.
My Review:
I thought this book was excellent on several levels. It's a respectful look at life in rural West Virginia, an area that is generally looked upon as backwards or "redneck." The story is relatable, especially for readers who have lost a parent or parent-figure, and who are processing that loss. The characters are interesting, especially Ob (the protagonist's uncle), and the novel has a cinematic quality to it - one could easily see a film adaptation of the story.
Read: March 2022
