| Four surviving sons and their families are called home to Ashe Mountain to fulfill the boy's father, Randall Stargill's, last wish. Randall has kept a stack of rosewood lumber for years in the barn. Now he asks his sons to make him a casket from that wood. Nora Bonesteel, an elderly neighbor, arrives at Randall's farm bearing cookies and a box which she requests they bury with Randall. The box is opened dispite Nora's instruction, and bones are revealed. They take the box and bones to the sheriff.
Another neightbor, J.Z. Stallard, has just been served with a foreclosure notice on the family farm. Daughter Dovey runs away upset, taking one of the children from the Stargill home, Kayla, hostage and disappearing into the mountains. A massive search is conducted for the two fugitives. Garret and Clayt, two of Randall's sons, lead sheriff deputy Joe LeDonne to a cave where the Stargill and Stallard children used to play. Entering the cave, LeDonne tries to keep his emotions in check, as it all reminds him too much of his years fighting the war in Vietnam. Eventually, Dovey is found and Kayla released. Nora visits the sheriff revealing the story of the bones now that Randall has passed away. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - very sensitive (sigh) Time/era of story - 1980's-1999 Internal struggle/realization? Yes Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Coping with loss of loved one(s) Yes Loss of... Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 60's-90's Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - Female Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: How sensitive is this character? Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 () United States Yes The US: - Southeast Forest? Yes Writing Style Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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