Season Of Secrets
Gr 4-7-Molly and her sister, Hannah, live with their grandparents in Northumberland, on the border between England and Scotland. Their mother has died and their father, unable to cope, has left them with his parents temporarily, though it is becoming more of a permanent situation, much to the girls' dismay. A ray of hope shows itself to Molly with the appearance of "my man," the Oak King or Green Man, the spring and summer figure in the life cycles of seasons. A mythical figure-as is his nemesis, the Holly King or Beast Man, ruler of fall and winter months-he is for Molly all too real. She witnesses as he perishes in the face of the Beast Man, only to reemerge as an unruly, adolescent, Puck-like figure when spring returns. As seasons change, so do Molly and her family members. Her father slowly recovers and rediscovers that his girls need him, and Molly begins making friends at school. She still takes comfort in "her man," and through him sees the never-ending struggles of life. At first somewhat slow, the book proves to be captivating as Molly's fantasy/coping skills introduce her to a life cycle that is painful, yet part of a continuum, and not solely the unbearable loss she initially experiences. For thoughtful readers, this tale is a gem. British lingo may be a bit unfamiliar to American children, but it in no way hinders understanding the dialogue in this meaningful story.-Tracy Karbel, Chicago Public Library (c) Copyright 2010.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.