Missing May

Author: Cynthia Rylant
Other books by Author: A Fine White Dust, A Blue-eyed Daisy

General Summary and Plot
Aunt May had died and nothing was the same. Summer and Uncle Ob tried for 6 months to live without her and it was not working. Summer was becoming more disconnected and Uncle Ob was becoming weaker.
Cletus Underwood, an acquaintance from Summer’s school that she would rather have stay away, finds his way to Uncle Ob’s trailer. He and Ob become friends and Cletus spends his afternoons there.
One day Ob says he can feel Aunt May’s presence and talks to Cletus and Summer about contacting her somehow. Cletus goes along with the idea but tells Summer he does not believe what Ob is saying, Ob just needs to have some way to keep Aunt Mays memory alive.
They drive to find some woman pastor of a spirit church who claims to contact the dead only to find out that she is dead herself. The trip seemed to be wasted until They try to make the most of it. Summer cries all the way home.
Some how the failed trip began the healing process for Summer and Uncle Ob.

Positive Elements
Aunt May seemed to have been a wonderful woman and had a tremendous impact on Ob and Summer’s lives.
Summer and Ob find their answers somehow and do not even need to contact Aunt May’s spirit to do so.
Cletus allows Uncle Ob to speak of Aunt May freely which probably helps.

Spiritual Content
The spirit church is mentioned, the brochure read but, Summer knew Cletus knew better that to even mention going to church to her and Uncle Ob.

Negative Elements
It is always sad when a person dies and it is evident that they never knew Christ as their Savior. It is beyond me how unsaved family members cope with the death of a loved one. This accounts for the way Uncle Ob about shuts down after Aunt May’s death.
They are trying to contact May’s spirit.
Before they go on the long trip to the church Ob lies to Cletus’ parents about why they are going and exactly where they are going. I am never a fan of lying to one’s parents about anything.

Profanity
"Hell" twice
"Hot damn" once
There may have been more. This is all I noticed.

Sexual Content
None

Violence
None

Overall Theme
Sometimes it is a good friend on a long journey that heals us.

Conclusion
An interesting book. It is hard to put your finger on “I liked it.” or “I hated it.” One of those books you kind of liked but not sure about who to recommend it to, if anyone.

Suggested age group
Middle school on up. Contacting spirits may be a bit confusing to many children.