STOPOVER

by Carol Ryrie Brink ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 6, 1951

1910 and a small town in Minnesota are the setting for the return of Naomi Murdoch, wife of the school principal, who left her husband Henry and three children ten years before. For the town it is satisfying old gossip revived and new conjectures rampant; for the family it means a new chance at happiness wrecked for Henry, the burning hatred of the older daughter Joyce, the delirious happiness of younger Lily, and the uncertainty of shock for the youngest, Ted, so that Naomi's presence leads to turbulence. And since Naomi is uncertain about staying or leaving and has to find out whether she still loves Dutch, with whom she had planned to elope earlier, her all-out selfishness leads to the shooting of Joyce's beau, the loss of Lily's devotion, the sudden growing up of Ted -- and relief for Henry when she walks out again after disgracing herself at a school party. Naomi is a fictional heroine but the children are real. It lacks the compelling fascination of Double Muscadine, and is hard to define. Neither a family novel, nor yet sharply period or regional in values.

Pub Date: March 6, 1951

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1951

Categories: FICTION