Rain Village (2006)

by Carolyn Turgeon

Genre: Fiction

Review by Shawna Pershing, Youth Services Librarian

This first novel by Carolyn Turgeon chronicles the life of Tessa Riley.  Last child born to a poor Kansas farmer, Tessa is no more than four feet tall and unable to help with the heavy manual labor that is a part of farm life. The dullness of their lives is irrevocably changed when Mary Finn breezes into town and opens the library. Suddenly, farmers are reading Shakespeare on their tractors while their wives seek out Mary to have their fortunes told and get advice on their futures, lives and loves. 

Tessa’s life is forever changed when she finally meets Mary, learns to read, and eventually, takes a job helping in the library. Mary introduces Tessa to a new world and Tessa learns about the secret life Mary escaped from. A devastating event sets Tessa on a new path and the book chronicles her life and the influence Mary had on it.

Rain Village will take you along Tessa’s journey. Enjoy the ride!