Within This Circle

November 1, 2007
When Ellie McFarlane's depressed mother, Jana, abandons her husband and child, Jana's widowed father and his second wife, Julia, must step in to care for Ellie. Likewise, the entire family learns to cope with Jana's leaving and the impact it has on Ellie. Raney's sequel to "A Vow To Cherish" is a skillful drama that tackles the subject of depression and its devastating toll on those affected. This title would make a good book club selection, as it provokes discussion of families coping with mental illness and the issue of grandparents raising their grandchildren. Recommended for public libraries. Raney lives in Kansas.

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