The Summer Kitchen

Lisa Wingate's "The Summer Kitchen" is beautifully written. It's one of those books you almost don't want to end, because the language is so thoughtful, intentional, vivid and engaging. No words are wasted here; each is chosen for a specific purpose. I could read and re-read this book several times and take away something different or new each time. Highly recommended.

Another very good book by Lisa Wingate, again told from various points of view. This one tells the story of Sandra Kay and Cass Blue. Sandra Kay grew up with a basically unhappy childhood, but many happy memories of time spent in the little pink house owned by her Uncle Poppy. They neighborhood, and house, have fallen into disrepair, and Uncle Poppy had been murdered. Sandra's family is falling apart; her adopted son blames himself for the murder and has disappeared. Her other son wilts under the pressure of living up to his brothers standards, and her husband grows distant. Sandra spends a lot of time away from home renovating the little pink house.
Meanwhile, just up the road, in a very rundown apt build, live Cass Blue and her older show more brother. Cass is only 12 years old but gives the appearance of being older, as does her 17 year old brother. They are on the run after their mother's death has left them to run or live under the care of her husband, who we are led to believe would abuse Cass. Cass and her brother struggle to survive with very little to eat, when a stripper with a young child enters their life, escaping from an abusive boyfriend. Along with the 3 children next door, their are a lot of hungry children in the neighborhood. By chance, Sandra Kay is compelled to give a pushy older woman a ride home from the store to this apt building. She witnesses children playing in the dumpster and comes to realize they are actually starving and scrounging for food. She comes back the next day with peanut butter sandwiches, and that is the start of the "Summer Kitchen'. Learning the story of the kitchen, the unravelling of Sandra Kay's family, and the story of Cass is interesting reading.
To make it even more fun, there are some 'cameo' appearances of a few of the characters from 'A Month of Summer'. It is fun to see them again, but they are not a big part of the story at all, and you do not need to have read the first book in order to enjoy this one! show less

I give it three and a half stars.