The Night Rainbow: A Novel
Five-and-a-half-year-old Peony—Pea for short—has become awfully good at entertaining herself. Practicing cartwheels in the meadow behind her house, picking blackberries from the bramble bushes, feeding the chickens in the coop . . . anything to stay out of her very pregnant mother’s way. After Pea’s father passed away from a sudden heart attack, Pea’s mother seems to have given up on all but the basic upkeep of the house, herself, and Pea. When Pea meets a stranger and his dog in the meadow, she discovers a series of secrets in his dusty house that affects her entire world. King’s debut is a poetic, engaging story with a slow-burning plot set in the idyllic French countryside. King’s authorial voice shines through Pea, as her skillful narration is childishly authentic without being cloying or cutesy. Reminiscent of Myla Goldberg’s Bee Season (2000) and Emma Donoghue’s Room (2010) but decidedly lighter, The Night Rainbow is an ode to childhood resilience with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it twist ending. Gorgeously written and deeply heartfelt, King’s novel captures one family’s reaction to and tentative return from seemingly insurmountable tragedy. --Stephanie Turza