Missing May - Chapter Book # 6

Missing May

Author: Cynthia Rylant

John Newberry Medal Winner

Publisher: Dell Publishing New York 1992

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Themes: Love, family, death, moving-on, spirits, friendship

Primary Characters: Summer, Ob, Cletus

Secondary Characters: May

Summary:

     Ob and May loved each other with a love Summer had never seen before.  They loved each other so much it made Summer want to cry forever from happiness.  That's why when May died it seemed like Ob would fall apart.  May and Ob are the only people that cared about Summer since her momma died.  Everyone else just passed her around when they got tired.  Summer already lost May and now she was clinging to Ob for fear of losing him to grief.  There is only one person that can help save Ob from himself.  Cletus.  Cletus is a weird kid that collects any picture he can.  Perhaps that's why Ob takes a liking to him.  One day Ob feels May's spirit while in the yard and is determined to talk with her.  Cletus has some crazy ideas like going to see a bat lady and Ob is willing enough to go along.  Summer just isn't sure if Ob is able to be disappointed.  Will Ob talk to May?  Will the two ever be happy again?

This book will be good for upper middle grades or high school because it has very little profanity.  It covers the topic of death and explains how's these two family members cope with the loss of their glue, May.  This would be great for someone who has lost someone in their life or for a sympathy lesson on death.  Simple writing makes it great for many levels and easily comprehensible.