The Queen of Sleepy Eye

Title: THE QUEEN OF SLEEPY EYE
Author: Patti Hill
Publisher: Broadman & Holman Fiction
September 2008
ISBN: 978-0-8054-4750-7
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary/women’s fiction

Amy Monteiro is a recent high school graduate, and has applied to and been accepted at a college in California. One as far from her mother has she can possibly get. But when her mother’s 1958 Pontiac Bonneville Sports Coupe’s transmission dies in the middle of Colorado, it doesn’t take Amy long to realize that her mother is out of money and in no hurry to let go of her daughter.

The small town Amy and her mother land in is full of surprises – from a funeral home that will let Amy and her mother live there as unpaid caretakers, to the residents of the town, which includes geeks, jocks, hippies, young and old, etc. And as Amy struggles to find her place in this town, both she and her mother grow up.

THE QUEEN OF SLEEPY EYE is an unforgettable novel by this acclaimed author. I enjoyed reading this story about Amy, and getting to know her mother and a host of other secondary characters as seen through Amy’s eyes.

Part of the story made me cry, so I recommend keeping a box of Kleenex nearby when reading this book. The faith message is strong, and borders on preachy at times, but that is the way the character is developed. THE QUEEN OF SLEEPY EYE is a fantastic story about love and loss, and discovering there is more to everyone than what we see on the surface. Don’t miss this book. Discussion questions and a yummy sounding cookie recipe is included at the end of the book. $14.99. 389 pages.