Missing May

Missing May
Author: Cynthia Rylant
Publisher: Scholastic (1992)
ISBN: 0459613833

5 (out of 5) STARS


Summary: After Summer's mother dies, she is passed around from one relative to another. When Summer is six years old she goes to live with her great aunt and uncle. However, when Aunt May dies, life becomes difficult yet again.

Review: Missing May is a short read weighing in at only 89 pages, yet it is packed full of emotion. Summer has lived with Uncle Ob and Aunt May from age six to twelve. When Summer is twelve her Aunt May passes away while working in her garden. Both Uncle Ob and Summer have a very difficult time adjusting to their loss. Summer is fearful of being passed around from one relative to another as happened when her mother passed away. And Uncle Ob just does not know how to go on living without May. With the help of an odd friend they explore different spiritual paths to try to make a connection with May. Finally Uncle Ob and May receive their sign and find they can miss May but still go on living as well.

Missing May won the Newbery Award in 1993. On June 27, 1993, Cynthia Rylant presented her Newbery Medal Acceptance speech. This speech was published in the back of my copy of Missing May. It was just as interesting to read as the book. One thing that was so fascinating was that Cynthia Rylant did not step foot into a public library until she was in her twenties. Cynthia Rylant is one of my favorite authors. At our house we love all the Poppleton books and the Henry and Mudge books as well.