Exploring the profound themes of family bonds and the emotional toll of war, this narrative delves into the struggles and resilience of those affected by conflict. It captures the heartbreak experienced during separation and the ultimate joy of returning home, highlighting the transformative power of love and the enduring strength of human connections amidst adversity.
Set in 1955 Mill Town, Wisconsin, the novel delves into the intricate relationship between mothers and daughters, highlighting themes of conformity and the essence of friendship and family. Through its tender narrative, it explores the emotional complexities and societal pressures faced by women during this era.
Wisconsin, 1961. Evelyn “Button” Peters is nine the summer Winnalee and her fiery-spirited older sister, Freeda, blow into her small town–and from the moment she sees them, Button knows this will be a summer unlike any other.Much to her mother’s dismay, Button is fascinated by the Malone sisters, especially Winnalee, a feisty scrap of a thing who carries around a shiny silver urn containing her mother’s ashes and a tome she calls “The Book of Bright Ideas.” It is here, Winnalee tells Button, that she records everything she her answers to the mysteries of life. But sometimes those mysteries conceal a truth better left buried. And when a devastating secret is suddenly revealed, dividing loyalties and uprooting lives, no one–from Winnalee and her sister to Button and her family–will ever be the same.