The journey begins in 1939 with Rose, who moves with her mother and siblings from rural Texas to live with their estranged grandfather on the Louisiana bayou. Rose connects with this flavorful community by driving a bookmobile. Two decades later, Merle Henry, Rose’s son, is more passionate about trapping a mink than about reading, although there is a place in his heart for Old Yeller. In 1973, Merle Henry’s daughter, Annabeth, feels torn between reading childish fairy tales and a crush on her own real-life knight in shining armor. And in the present day, Annabeth’s son, Kyle, finds himself in a bind: He hates reading, but the only summer job he can get is at the library.
In her people-smart way, Kimberly Willis Holt introduces us to a Louisiana family. Touching, lyrical, and always intriguing, their stories reveal the power-ful connections among four generations.