The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha

When I first picked this book to read and review, I wasn’t sure about it.  All I can say now is that I am so glad I picked this book.  It is a book that I will never forget.  I may forget the name of the book or the author’s name, but it is a story that I will never forget.

Meet the Stanley family:  Nate, Irene and kids Barbara (Bliss) and Steven (Shep).  They live in a rural area of Illinois in the old family home.

One day Nate comes home and tells the family he has been offered a job in Oregon as a deputy sheriff.  He goes to Oregon, checks out the town Blaine, accepts the job and buys a house for his family.  He returns home and tells the family they are indeed moving to Oregon.

Bliss is a typical teenage girl but Shep is not the typical teenage boy.  Shep loves music.  He plays the piano, which he learned by ear when he was a toddler and plays a horn.  Shep is a loner and loves to take off on his bike and go exploring.

When the family is packing to leave, Nate tells them there is no room for the piano and it will have to be left behind.  Shep is heartbroken.

The Stanley family does indeed move to Oregon.  Bliss is making friends at her new school and is involved in a lot of extra curricular activities.  Shep is still a loner and loves to ride off on his bicycle exploring their new community.

Then tragedy strikes the Stanley family.

One day after school while Shep was at home alone, he is shot and killed.  It was believed that he surprised a burglar.

The three remaining Stanley’s all deal with their grief in their own way.  The family is close to being torn apart.

Years later the man who was found guilty for shooting Shep, his execution date is set.  This affects the Stanley’s all in different ways.

Out come all the secrets that have been kept since Shep’s death.  This story taught me the power of forgiveness.

You may ask why the name of the book is the “Crying Tree”.  There is a very special reason for that but you are going to have to read the book to find out what it is.

I will promise you that if you read this book, it is a story you will not soon forget.

Reviewed by Sapphire

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