Can an unlikely friendship give them the courage to start again?
Forced to sell the dairy farm he's worked his entire life to make successful, Gerrit Laninga, now sixty-three, doesn't know what to do with himself. He sacrificed everything for his cows--his time, his health, his family--with nothing to show for it but bitterness, regret, and two grown children who want nothing to do with him.
Fifteen-year-old Rae Walters is stricken with panic every time she climbs behind the wheel. But any failure, including not passing her driver's test, jeopardizes The Plan--the detailed blueprint for high school and beyond that has her following in her lawyer father's footsteps. Though she's always been committed to The Plan, now that the pressure to succeed is building, doubts about whether she has what it takes begin to haunt her. What was supposed to unite her family in purpose could end up tearing it apart.
As their paths cross and a friendship begins to form, Gerrit's and Rae's lives change in unexpected ways. Will they discover what really matters in life and together learn it's never too late for a second chance?
Read an excerpt from The Sowing Season on the publisher's website.
My Thoughts:
The Sowing Season by Katie Powner commenced with searing emotion and gave me all the feels as I read through the book. Because the poignant story dealt with heavy issues, I had to take frequent breaks. Despite such interrupted reading, my interest in the characters and their relationships never waned.
In The Sowing Season, Gerrit, a cranky, older man with a lifetime of regrets and bitterness, must face the aftermath of his own choices. Rae, a perfectionistic, overachieving teenage girl with a deep attachment to The Plan for her future, must decide who and what she’ll invest her time and energy in. These two characters are good medicine for each other. Their unlikely friendship brings forth character growth in them both. Themes about sowing and reaping, the importance of relationships, and letting go of expectations weave into these characters and their stories.
I recommend The Sowing Season to fiction readers who
enjoy novels that delve deeply into life experiences, including painful ones. The
ending is what I consider an open resolution – there’s resolution, but not
every loose end is tied up and there is potential for a sequel.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
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