Missing May

Rating:
Summary: Finding your way
Review: This 1993 Newbery winner by Cynthia Rylant shows the struggles of a young lady, Summer who does her best to keep up the different adversities that she faces in life. After being passed from home to home by relatives she lands in the home of an elderly aunt and uncle who absolutely adore her and treat her like she is someone special. Her happiness is short lived when tragedy strikes her life and book gives us a view of what it is like for a young person to cope with death. I enjoyed this book because the interactions between the characters and the story are humorous and yet believable. It is great to what the characters grow throughout the story as each one deals with the adversities of life.

Rating:
Summary: Missing May
Review: The book Missing May was about a girl named Summer. When she was a little girl her parents died. She was adopted many times. Until Uncle Ob and Aunt May took Summer home. When six years passed, Aunt May was found dead in her garden. Ob and Summer was really sad and disppointed about what had happened and now that they are alone, Ob just couldn't get over May's death.
Summer was frighten that something had happen to Uncle Ob. Ob felt May's spirit going through his body and it felt like she was with them at the moment. Ob tells Summer that Cletus Underwood can help him contact May because Ob had seen Cletus gone to heaven and then back here on earth.

Rating:
Summary: Death and its significance to Life
Review: The oft quoted line "Death is a part of Life" and the acceptance of that fact is the essence of this book. The bond of love shared by the elderly couple and the little girl remained even through the difficult times following Aunt May's passing.

Written in the first-person singular, the book made me truly feel as though I were experiencing the thoughts of a little girl that bore the responsibility of helping her uncle cope with death. The vivid descriptions of life in the West Virginia community and reflections on school are assets to be enjoyed by the reader.

Cletus provides the needed "comic relief" in a story that deals with death. Cletus is a "pack rat" that accumulates odds and ends in a series of satchels. He collects old newspapers, photographs, brochures, and advertisements. It is from this assortment that he tells Uncle Ob about the psychic that might be able to reach Aunt May.

Even though the trip to Charleston does not yield the intended "meeting" with Aunt May, Uncle Ob receives a new lease on life. The underlying message here is that the dead are best remembered for the life that they led. The living should continue as best as they can; lives should not be spent in mourning.

This is a powerful story told with straightforwardness and compassion.

If one criticism must be cited, it is the use of a few profane words in what is classified as a "children's book." I realize that children's literature has changed significantly since my youth, but I fail to see the inclusion of one or two curse words to be necessary.

Call me "old-fashioned," but reader/parent beware.

Rating:
Summary: Missing May by Cynthia Rylant
Review: The book Missing May was about a girl named Summer. When she was a little girl her parents died. She was passed from relative to relative. Nobody wanted her until Uncle Ob and Aunt May took Summer home. When six years went by Aunt May died. Ob and Summer couldn't get over her death. Summer was afraid something was going to happen to her Uncle Ob. Ob said, he always heard May's spirit from the day May died. Summer and Ob will never forget May. They both realized that they have to get on with their life and not dwell in the past.

Rating:
Summary: I just finished this book and it was touching
Review: If you are looking for a sad and weird book get Missing May. This book will touch your heart and almost make you cry. When you hear about this boy you will almost laugh at him. Also you will meet a heartbroken old man who just lost his wife and a girl who tries to cheer him up. Read to see if this girl cheers this heartbroken old man up before he gives his life up.

Rating:
Summary: A book I think everyone will like!
Review: The book was about a girl named Summer.One of her foster parents passes away and her other foster parent [ob] can't stop mourning for his wife May.The book Missing May was a good book becauseit was a fantastic book for people who like books about how people handle tough situations in their lives.If you like books like that you will really love this one.

Rating:
Summary: Finding Peace
Review: Though this story is a little odd it really captures the feelings of greif. As a person who has recently lost a parent I found this book more comforting than any other that I have read.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Read
Review: This book was a wonderful novel full of spirit and hope. It teaches you to keep your head up high and if one thing doesn't go your way, don't stop what you're doing, still continue your life. Life will eventually get better if you do the right thing. If you like emotional stories you will love this.It is kind of sad and if you are someone who cries over small things you'll probably cry for this. It was a great story that you'll learn a lot of lessons from and the most important one I've learned was to listen to your heart, like OB and Summer, who didn't stop moving on even thought they were "Missing May".

Rating:
Summary: Love in Missing May
Review: Missing May is about the difficulties of Ob, Cletus, and Summer as they embark on a journey of accepting their beloved May's death. Summer, who faces many family members' deaths, is the main character in the book. Because of Uncle Ob and Summer's love for May, they attempt to spiritually contact her with the help of their unusual friend Cletus. By the end of the novel, the three learn to accept the past, enjoy the present, and look forward to the future. Francelia Butler's article "Death in Children's Literature" discusses the didacticism of children's literature when focusing on the topic of death. According to Butler, books about death teach the importance of examining the reality of death and of living with the knowledge of death. Missing May initiates the discussion of death and uses Summer to portray the ideal way of accepting and dealing with death. Throughout Missing May, love helps Summer cope with death. Summer learns to accept death in Missing May by receiving love then giving love as a friend and a relative. "Death in Children's Literature" defines love as the "magic potion" that conquers death. Love first conquers death for Summer. This first occurs when she learns to cope with death by finding love. After her parents' deaths, Summer is passed from one unloving relative to another. She finally finds true, unconditional love from her Aunt May and Uncle Ob, the only relatives who see her as the "angel" she is. Because her parents died when she was so young, she has missed out on the experience of the type of love that May and Ob give her. This experience helps ease Summer's difficulty with dealing with her parents' deaths for Summer and gives her strength to face death in the future. Love conquers death for Summer in another way. Summer is also able to cope with death by giving her love to others. Summer continues to love May, even after her death. She often speaks of May in a loving way, instead of being angry with her for dying. Summer also continues to love Uncle Ob after May's death in the nurturing way that May once cared for him. Summer constantly worries about Ob and his health and wants what is best for him, which he believes is spending his time and energy on a journey which will enable him to "feel" May's presence. Butler mentions that children's literature encourages "hope for life after death in some form." On this journey and as a result of his undying love for May, he is able to learn how to accept the past, including May's death. The final way that love serves as a "magic potion" and helps Summer cope with death is that she learns to love as a friend. Through this type of love, Summer learns a lesson. This lesson is to look for good in everyone, even in unusual places and circumstances. Anyone coping with death has to focus on the good and not the bad. Friendship begins for Summer when she first thinks that Cletus is a strange kid whom she could never befriend. Throughout the book though, Summer develops a friendly love for Cletus. This relationship develops because Cletus is deeply concerned for Ob. He spends time with Ob and attempts to help him get in touch with May. He also has many characteristics similar to May. Just like May, he is caring and compassionate toward other people. Although she will not admit it, Summer finds a lifelong and much-needed friend in Cletus, which helps her to cope with and accept May's death. Missing May is a perfect example of the power of love and its effects in dealing with death. Without love, Summer could not have so effectively coped with the many deaths that she faced. This book is as an example of the benefit of never giving up on love.

Rating:
Summary: For Those Who Love Good Writing
Review: For those who love good writing this is a superb book. Every page contains a poetic gem. The story is not driven by plot but by the gentle unfolding relationships among three people as they struggle to recover from a death. Rylant's words evoke strong emotional responses. And I will add, that while I loved this book for its brilliant writing, my 11-year-old and 14 year-old sons also enjoyed it very much.