The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha

"Beautifully written, expertly crafted, forcefully rendered. The Crying Tree is a story of redemption, but at its core it is a love story as well, and that is the most powerful story of all," says Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain.

A more common name for the "crying tree" is the willow, and one grows near the grave of a fifteen-year-old boy, Shep, shot and killed in his family's home. Daniel, a young neighbor with a history of violence, has been apprehended and sentenced to death. Shep's murder sends his family into a tailspin, with each member attempting to cope with the tragedy in his or her own way. Shep's mother, Irene, lives week after week, waiting for Daniel's execution. Those weeks turn into months and then years. Struggling with severe depression, alcoholism, and despair, Irene takes the extraordinary and clandestine step of writing to Daniel in prison. The two forge an unlikely connection that remains a secret from family and friends. Then Irene receives the notice that she had craved for so long—Daniel will be executed within a month. This announcement shakes the very core of the Stanley family. Irene, it turns out, isn't the only one with a shocking secret.

Dramatic, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting, The Crying Tree is an unforgettable book about the unbreakable bonds of family and the transformative power of forgiveness.

Praise

"The Crying Tree is everything that great fiction stands for. It is an immense tale of sadness, of incredible loss—perhaps the greatest loss, losing a child. It's also about the arduous, soul-shattering journey of trying to pick up the pieces, make sense of the world, and eventually move forward. It's a tale of redemption in overcoming the loss of faith in life itself." — Weekly Volcano

"The Crying Tree offers readers an enthralling story. It also offers a sense of hope: the possibility that we, as a society, may someday find a place for genuine forgiveness within our justice system." — High Country News

"A powerful and stunning debut novel...replete with insights into the delicate family dynamics and suppressed emotions of those left behind. Written with wisdom and such sensitivity." — Spokesman Review

"Rakha brings hard questions for which there are no black-and-white answers to the fore. Readers are forced to question their own beliefs as Rakha's characters delve into their own." — Deseret News

"A compelling read ... whose message lingers: At what point does that to which we cling for our survival become the very thing that robs us of our life?" — The Oregonian

"Beautiful and passionate ... Highly recommended." — Library Journal

"Spellbinding " — Publisher's Weekly

About the Author

Naseem is an award-winning author and journalist whose stories have been heard on NPR's All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Marketplace Radio, Christian Science Monitor, and Living on Earth. She lives in Oregon with her husband, son, and many animals. When Naseem isn't writing, she's reading, knitting, hiking, gardening, or just watching the seasons roll in and out. Learn more at: http://naseemrakha.com/

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River House by Sarahlee Lawrence

PNBA award-winning River House is one young woman's story about returning home to her family's ranch and, with the help of her father, building a log house on the property. Sarahlee Lawrence grew up in remote central Oregon and spent her days dreaming about leaving her small town for world adventures. An avid river rafter through adolescence, by the age of twenty-one, Lawrence had rafted some of the most dangerous rivers of the world as an accomplished river guide. But living her dream as guide and advocate, riding and cleaning the arteries of the world, led her back to the place she least expected — to her dusty beginnings and her family's home. River House is a beautiful story about a daughter's return and her relationship with her father, whom she enlists to help brave the cold winter and build a log house by hand. Lawrence's father, landlocked on the ranch for decades, is a surfer who longs for the sea. Lawrence, a reformed river rat, has forsaken the water for a spell, determined to build a home. Together, they work through the harsh winter, father helping daughter every step of the way to achieve her dream. The surprise comes when Lawrence sees how she has helped him live his.

"Determined to leave her home in the high desert of Oregon, Lawrence departed at an early age to work as a river guide running some of the world's wildest ribbons of water. Though beguiled by her worldwide fresh-water exploits, Lawrence found herself longing for the arid environment of her upbringing while sitting in a rain-soaked tent in a South American jungle. "For the first time, I wanted to go back. I was ready to explore my own place for once, to live and work each season in an ecosystem as familiar as Sunday breakfast." Lawrence explores the deep bond she shares with her troublesome yet lovable father as together they build the house of her dreams on the family ranch. She chronicles her deep connection to the dry, beautiful landscape of eastern Oregon. With her keen eye and talent for writing about the natural world, Lawrence pays homage to the American West, capturing the changes washing over her rural hometown as it transitions to a playground for the vacationing rich. Lawrence is one of those remarkable young women spawned by the American West who are adept at running wild rivers, operating heavy equipment, and building a log home, all evocatively told in this informative book." — Publishers Weekly

Praise

"the experiences give this memoir an existential grace" — Kirkus Reviews

"gritty, honest, and continually engaging." — PNBA Awards Committee

"keen eye and talent...evocatively told" — Publishers Weekly

"A true adventure story of rare dimension." — Booklist

About the Author

Sarahlee Lawrence was born and raised on her family ranch in Terrebonne, Oregon. After a decade of study and travel, and an MS in environmental science and writing from the University of Montana, she returned to the ranch where she owns and operates an organic vegetable farm.

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