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Friday, July 25, 2014

My Love For Tracy Holczer's THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY (And A Giveaway)

THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY by Tracy Holczer (G.P. Putnam's Sons, May 2014)

"Writing would help me through it, just like it always had. And where I used to think that writing was like the little hole in a teakettle to let out steam, I figured it was more than that. I hoped the hundreds, thousands, maybe millions of words I wrote down would help me fill the empty place left by Mama and make me whole." (The Secret Hum of a Daisy, pages 282-283)

The words above are those of 12-year-old Grace, the narrator of Tracy Holczer's luminous debut novel. Every writer, I'm sure, can embrace such a sentiment. For how many times does writing fill our empty places and make us whole? I know it does for me.

Grace has lost her mother in a freak accident. It turns out to be the biggest loss of many losses in her life. Her father and her grandfather were killed in a car accident before she was born, which had a connection with her grandmother sending her mother (pregnant with Grace) away. How could anyone find forgiveness in all this? Especially since now Grace has ended up with the very grandmother whom see believes to be the cause of all her troubles?

The novel starts with Grace's mother's funeral, and her being taken home by her grandmother. There are many humorous scenes, where she tries to put a "Plan B" into effect, trying to force her grandmother to send her back to the friends she lived with at the time of her mother's death. (Laundry detergent being sneakily replaced by dishwashing soap, anyone?) The emotional heft of the novel feels intensely realistic, as Grace moves through her anger and resentment to some understanding of her mother, her grandmother, and herself.

The setting--a small town an hour away from Sacramento--and the cast of characters are captivating. All of them figure in the treasure hunt (a hunt both literal and figurative) which leads Grace to a greater knowledge of herself.

Finally, I loved the way the characters were so richly realized. It would have been easy to "let them off the hook," but each character is flawed--and therefore alive--in their own way. This is the sort of novel that resonates with a reader long after the final page is read and the cover closed. I wouldn't be surprised to hear the words "Newbery" whispered about it.

As for me, in my other blogging life, I am a tough old prune of a Middle Grade Mafioso. You wouldn't expect a 50-something, former Brit like me to be dabbing my eyes with a handkerchief--but believe me, I did so a number of times while reading this glorious book. (I did the same during A Bridge to Terabithia and at the ending of Charlotte's Web.) As a result, I am going to send one lucky winner a copy of this novel, so you can laugh and cry as much as I did. I'm also hoping to have Tracy Holzcer send me an inscribed bookplate for the winner. (You can learn more about Tracy Holczer at her website. There's also a great interview with her by Natalie Aguirre of Literary Rambles.)

All you have to do to be a winner is comment on this post. To add to the fun, choose a number between 1 and 312 and I will gift you with some lines from your chosen page. And believe me, each page has at least one line, if not several, which made me go "Wowzers!"

Thanks for supporting the Mayhem. You have until one minute before midnight PST on Monday the 28th to leave your comment and have a chance of winning. Winner will be notified on the blog on 7/29. U.S./Canada entries only, please.






32 comments:

  1. This sounds so lovely. I've heard great things.

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  2. Random.org gave you page 11, Jen: "The sheriff's car led the funeral procession--patrol lights flashing against the world--turned left, and climbed a winding road to a small, unfenced cemetery."

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  3. THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY is on my Goodreads list. I love Grace's voice and the peaceful cover.
    Michael, I like your sharing a line idea. What's your favorite line on page 1?

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    1. Hi Manju! Here's a line from page 1:

      "Mama's voice seemed to drift near the stained glass windows where wet snow stuck and then slid down the colored panes."

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  4. It's on my shelf. Can't wait to read...and meet Tracy in person at SCBWI!

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    1. Caroline, have a wonderful time at SCBWI!

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  5. I don't know if writing actually fills up my holes, but it sure does a better job of trying than anything else!

    And this books sounds fabulous, if a bit of a tough (emotional) read. I lost my own mother to a freak accident when I was eleven, so I bet this would hit really close to home.

    Give me page 273.

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    1. Matt, I actually did think of you, knowing you had lost your mother at a young age.

      Here's a couple of lines from page 273. [Jo and Beth have been feuding, but are about to make up.]: "Jo took off her jacket. Her T-shirt declared, in black Sharpie, I WENT TO BETH CRINKLE'S HOUSE AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS STUPID T-SHIRT."

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  6. Can't wait to read it! Looking forward to seeing you at SCBWI LA, Tracy!

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  7. This book sounds like one I'd enjoy! Page 156?

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Andrea. Here's a paragraph from page 156:

      "We sat there in the silence of what it might mean. And then I realized, really and fully realized, that I would never know. So may things, I would never know."

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  8. Thanks for the giveaway! This sounds like a winner

    I like the number 4.

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    1. Something from page 4 for you, Charlotte:

      "I set the daisy crown right on top of the closed coffin lid. where Mama's head rested underneath, and then walked past Grandma, past all those other people who were studying their hymnals, singing for dear life."

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  9. Thanks for your thoughts about this book. I had originally picked it up to read because my mom's name was Grace, but really I really it very much on its own merits.

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    1. Interesting how we come to pick up books, Alex!

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  10. I just finished this one, so don't enter me! It was great to hear how much someone else loved this one too. I wouldn't be surprised to hear the "N" word about this one either. It's one of the most authentic portrayals of grief I've read in MG.

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    1. Loved your review on your blog, Jenni--and also reading about your writing process. http://jennienzor.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-secret-hum-of-daisy-and-writers.html

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  11. I missed meeting Tracy by one day at ALA and am SO looking forward to reading her book! Thanks for the giveaway. Page 99. :-)

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    1. Wouldn't it be great for the two of you to meet one of these days?! I love meeting other writers!

      Here's something from page 99:
      "I tucked the bird under my pillow, hoping the answer might come in my dreams. If I might have some good ones for a change."

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  12. I've heard so many good things about this book! Looking forward to reading it soon! Page 76?

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    1. Hi Mary Jo! Here's something from page 76 for you:

      "I turned the postcard over, and written in blue ink was the phrase A Secret Meadow. Something about the idea of a secret meadow seemed familiar, but I had no idea why."

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  13. This is a terrific book. No need to put me in the drawing. I have a copy and loved it.

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  14. This is one of those great books that after you've read it, you start feeling its emotions again just by thinking about it. And it makes you want to step into its time and place. Lucky person who wins a copy, and lucky everyone who is going to SCBWI, enjoy!

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    1. I agree, Christine. Beautiful echoes and ripples after finishing it.

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  15. This is tops on my "to buy" list. (Don't enter me in the giveaway, please; have won four books from bloggers this month!) Page 21?

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    1. It's been a lucky month for you, Joanne.

      Here's something from page 21: "There was nothing else to do but stand up on wobbly legs and get away from the river, wet branches slapping me in the face and neck as I ran back through the woods."

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  16. This book looks lovely! Definitely adding to my TBR shelf. I would love to win it! I choose page number 12 (because of Grace's age of course)!

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    1. hck, here's something from page 12:

      "I looked up into the sky and wondered about heaven. If it was a big empty space or if there were all kinds of comfy chairs placed in small groups so new people wouldn't be overwhelmed."

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  17. Sounds like a great read. Number 22 please.

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    1. KJH: Page 22 is pretty short--so here are a few lines of dialogue. Thanks for stopping by Project Mayhem.

      "I know it's true. I want to hear you say it."
      Grandma took forever to answer. "Yes. I sent her away."
      I stopped pacing. "Just like that?"
      "Nothing is just like that."

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  18. I hadn't heard of this book, but now I'm adding it to my list - sounds great. Thanks for the rec!

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Thanks for adding to the mayhem!