Missing May

Rylant, C. (2004). Missing May. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Plot Description: Summer was taken in by her Aunt May and Uncle Ob when she was six years old.  When she was younger her mother had passed away and after that she was shuffled between relatives.  At the age of twelve May also passes away and she and Ob have trouble dealing with life without her.  Ob then meets Cletus, a quirky kid in Summer’s class who collects photos, who seems to make him a little happier.  The three of them decide to go to a neighboring city to meet with a lady that speaks to spirits in hopes of connecting with May.  Once they get there they find out that she has also passed and Summer thinks her chance of getting the old Ob back is gone.  On the drive back Summer senses a change in Ob and he seems to be full of life again and back to his old self.  Once back at the house they move all the whirligigs that Ob has made into May’s old garden and finally are able to move on with their life.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Group: This is appropriate for grades 5-8.

Similar Books: The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman & Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

Personal Thought: This book details the grief of losing a loved one and how one family gets through the pain.  It would be an excellent read for anyone going through the same situation.

Subject/Themes: Grief, Death, Family, Spirits

Awards: Newberry Medal, Boston Globe- Horn book Award for fiction.

Character Description: Summer is twelve years old.  She was taken in by her Aunt May and Uncle Ob six years ago and has loved living with them.

Cletus is a strange boy in Summer’s class.  He is currently into collecting pictures and has become good friends with Ob.

Ob is Summer’s Uncle.  He is lost once May passes away.

Annotation: Summer doesn’t think that Ob can go on after May’s death.  When she hears about a lady that can talk to spirits she thinks all their problems are solved, but soon finds out things aren’t always that easy.