Summer of Light

December 18, 2006
As its title would suggest, Cramer's fourth novel is lighter and less gritty than its critically acclaimed predecessors (Levi's Will
; Bad Ground
), but it is a thoughtful and engaging read. When ironworker Mick Brannigan loses his construction job, he becomes a stay-at-home dad to his three children. Especially troublesome is four-year-old Dylan, who may have sensory integration dysfunction (and is in trouble for such things as licking the day-care teacher's ankle because he likes the texture of pantyhose on his tongue). The Brannigans' Georgia neighbors include a snobbish, wealthy couple and the contrasting Hap Harrelson, a grizzled fix-it man in unbuttoned overalls who is accompanied by a pack of beagles. A handless, homeless man (who faintly echoes a messianic character in Cramer's debut novel, Sutter's Cross
) serves as sort of a supernatural figure. Layne Brannigan, a paralegal, is a strong woman figure for faith fiction, both nurturing of her family and talented in her profession. Cramer allows Mick to be reasonably competent but thoroughly male in his parenting style, and Mick's discovery of his creative talent for photography is an uplifting addition. Although the plot feels pieced together and Cramer occasionally narrates instead of letting the story unfold, the enjoyable cast of characters will keep the reader interested.

February 1, 2007
In Cramer's follow-up to his Christy Award-winning titles ("Bad Ground; Levi's Will"), he introduces another strong male protagonist, Mick Brannigan, an iron worker who is forced into becoming a stay-at-home dad after an on-the-job accident. Mick is uncomfortable with this new role in which he must learn to rediscover himself, his relationship with his family, and his purpose in life. While lacking the raw edginess of Cramer's earlier works, this novel is well written and entertaining, and the author does a good job of exploring the different parts men play in society and with each other. Although not as compelling as the previous novels, "Summer of Light" deserves a place in most public libraries and will appeal to male readers. Cramer resides in Georgia.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from January 1, 2007
Mick Brannigan is a working-class stiff, but he has always been a good family man. Then he loses his job, while simultaneously his wife's long-\-postponed career takes off, and his small son, Dylan, exhibits developmental problems. Dylan needs the close supervision of a stay-at-home parent. Mick resists at first, then submits to his wife's logic and finds a new side of himself\emdash if not through housework, then through guiding his children in ways their mother would never have thought of. This is a surprising turn from the author of the brilliant, rather somber" Levi's Will " (2005), but it's warm, believable, and often\emdash particularly in scenes set at Disney World\emdash hilarious. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)