Narcissus Louise Funk, better known as “Cissy”, is a young teen scared to death of her mother. I'm not exaggerrating, she is really frightened and she has reason. Living with her brother Jonas and their mother in Depression-era Colorado, Cissy spends her days doing farm chores and attempting to please thier mother. Everything Cissy does, she does in an effort to forestall the rages that whirl around in her mother’s head, not unlike the sudden dust storms her mother is certain will come if Cissy and Jonas leave her by herself. 

Cissy desperately misses her father. He left the family immediately after the burial of Violet, Cissy’s and Jonas’ baby sister. Before Violet dies, or at least in Cissy's memory, her mother was warm and caring and and her father was attentive. In short, the Funks were an intact, functioning and "normal" family.

But now everything is different. Cissy’s mother idealizes her husband; she obsessively believes he will return. Jonas knows better, though he indulges his mother. He also is gentle with Cissy. But as time goes by, Frank, Cissy’s father, never does arrive. However, his sister ,Vera, does. Aunt Vera comes for a visit and begins to make a real difference in the household: Cissy now has someone she hopes will look out for her. At first, Cissy’s mother is not as violent while Vera is around. Soon that changes, and it becomes obvious that Cissy’s mother has nothing but contempt for her sister-in-law Vera. 

After witnessing a particularly brutal act, Vera steals Cissy away from the house and attempts to alleviate the pain and suffering that have marred her young life up to this point. Things never go as expected and people are never quite who we think they are. This book takes many circuitous routes before we know whether there will be stability and happiness in Cissy’slife.   

Taylor tackles very adult themes and presents them to the young reader with respect and sensitivity, never in any way condescending. This is no fairy tale and there are no magical, happy, improbable endings here, but rather what you might expect from real life:  tough choices, hurt and disappointment and realistic characters with the strength and ability to redeem their lives, taking responsibility for themselves and for others, as well.  A wonderful effort by a first-time novelist with meticulous detail of the Depression era and a storyline that remains captivating to the end.

   --- Reviewed by Michelle Andrews