The Sheepish Scribe

When Mockingbirds Sing by Billy Coffey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Strange. This book was way out of my normal genre reading. In fact, I'm not really sure what genre it is! A little supernatural, a little mystery, a little... creepy?! But whatever it is, it was hard to put down. It's not my favorite type of read because I really like that feel-good, wrap-up ending. This story doesn't have that. It's stark. It's real. It's a bit on the gritty side.

Nine-year-old Leah Norcross is painfully shy and stutters, badly. Recently moved to a new town, she pulls into herself. Her parents try to draw her out by inviting the whole town to her birthday party. Things spiral out of control from there. Leah sees and hears the Rainbow Man. By obeying him, she alienates the citizens of the town. Nobody understands, including her parents, but she doesn't need them to understand. She needs them to believe.

Not a comfortable read, but one that will challenge your thinking on matters of the spirit.