The story of a young girl's search for her mother's love in this coming of age tale set in 1958 Texas.
Elvis is on the radio and summer is in the air. Life in the small Texas community of Graham Camp should be simple and carefree. But not for Sammie Tucker. Sammie has plenty of questions about her mother’s “nerve” problems. About shock treatments. About whether her mother loves her.
As her life careens out of control, Sammie has to choose who to trust with her deepest fears: Her best friend who has an opinion about everything, the mysterious boy from California whose own troubles plague him, or her round-faced neighbor with gentle advice and strong shoulders to cry on. Then there’s the elderly widower who seems nice but has his own dark past.
Trusting is one thing, but accepting the truth may be the hardest thing Sammie has ever done.
FaithWords (HachetteBookGroup), 2010, ISBN:0446556556
LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: This nostalgic debut is perfect for readers who enjoy Christian coming-of-age stories.
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: Stewart writes about powerful and basic emotions with a restraint that suggests depth and authenticity; the relationship between Sammie and her mother Rita, the engine that drives the plot, is beautifully and delicately rendered. Coming-of-age stories are a fiction staple, but well-done ones much rarer. This emotionally acute novel is one of the rare ones. (June, 2010)
ROMANTIC TIMES REVIEWS – 4 ½ STARS – This first-person narrative contains resolute characters and vivid descriptions of a small Texas community in the 1950’s. If her debut is any indication, Stewart has a promising future.
What Readers Are Saying
“CHASING LILACS is the kind of coming of age story that sticks to you beyond the last page. Unforgettable characters, surprising plot twists, and a setting so southern you will fall in love with Texas.” —Mary E. Demuth, author of Daisy Chain and A Slow Burn
“Breathe in the scent of CHASING LILACS—nostalgic, yet fresh and real.” —Sarah Sundin, author of A Distant Melody
“A remarkable debut novel. Carla Stewart cleverly captures the stark simplicity of a young girl’s voice with all of the masterful qualities of powerful prose. Unforgettable.” ~Susan Meissner, author of The Shape of Mercy
“Carla Stewart’s book CHASING LILACS was a delightful read. It’ll warm your heart.” ~Jodi Thomas, New York Times Bestselling Author
Finalist for 2011 Oklahoma Book Award
Winner of the 2011 Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc. Fiction Book of the the Year
Second Place in the FHL Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award
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