The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew
Anna Jean Mayhew's first novel explores the complicated connections between people, mother and daughter, husband and wife, child and caregiver. Focusing on a family vacation in the Deep South during the days of desegregation in the 1950s, events unfold through the eyes of Jubie Watts. At thirteen years old Jubie is more attached to their black maid, Mary, than to her neglectful parents. The tragic outcome of that trip catches the reader, as well as the family, unawares. With elements reminiscent of The Help and The Secret Life of Bees, this is a bittersweet novel that's not to be missed.
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
Step into the enchanted world of Mullaby, South Carolina, in Sarah Addison Allen's novel The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Emily Benedict is a newcomer and the discoveries she makes about her mother's mysterious flight from Mullaby before her birth couldn't be more surprising. The town's loner and famed cake baker, Julia Winterson, helps Emily find her truths while yearning for a second chance of her own. Addison's characters are quirky and memorable, much like the story she tells. Spend a little time in Mullaby and you're sure to be charmed.
