Right as Rain

Lindsey Stoddard's second novel wraps an emotional story of loss and grief in a dynamic, beautifully detailed package. Stoddard's superb ear for dialogue telegraphs family tensions so well that there's no need for description. What Rain hears her parents saying speaks volumes about their lives. The way the kids in Rain's new neighborhood talk -- or don't talk-- captures the vibrancy and quick pace of city living. Right as Rain expertly shows what it's like to survive the loss of a sibling, the shutting down, the grief and anguish, and the glimmer of hope that eventually surfaces.

Kids will appreciate the sensorial quality of the details: from the smell of rot emanating from Rain's homeless acquaintance and the stab of empathy Rain feels for that man, down to the gooey, warm, love-filled chocolate chip cookies from Ms. Dacie's kitchen. Kids who have heard their parents argue will relate to the way Rain feels pulled between them. Rain's new-kid experience at a school where she doesn't fit in is spot on, as is the warm feeling of belonging when she finds a friend. All of these aspects of the story are so well crafted, that Rain's experience leaps off the page. Though things may not have turned out the way Rain and her parents wanted them to, they learn that love and hope can still flourish, if you take care of the weeds and then plant the seeds.