Imagine the horror of learning a child in your community ( machine embroidery thread ) is missing. Now pretend that you are the best friend of the child that’s missing. Keep on step deeper:How would you feel if,as the best friend,you trusted you were somehow to condemn?

The book, “Daisy Chain” by Mary DeMuth, tells the story of fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper, whose best friend, Daisy Chance, disappears one summer evening in 1977.

The first chapter is a touching scene between Jed and Daisy, and takes place shortly before losing. The rest of the story tells about Jed’s struggle with guilt, and his journey to find out what has happened to her. But interwoven throughout this main story is a second thread ( embroidery thread ) dealing with family secrets.

Since you can well suppose,for the reason of the subject problem this is not a “fluffy” read. It is mottled and rough and nervous, but well done all these things.

Here are the things I particularly enjoyed about this book:

1. STRONG CHARACTERIZATION

The author does an amazing job of bringing the characters to life on the page. Many times when you read a book told from the viewpoint of children, the characters seem like miniature adults instead of kids. Not in this fairly tale.

One of my favorite books all the time is “To Kill A Mockingbird” which is written by Harper Lee. The main thing that drew me into that story was the voice of Scout. The voices of Jed, Sissy and Daisy from “Daisy Chain” are equally compelling.

2. TIGHTLY WOVEN PLOT STRUCTURE

The skill Mary DeMuth displays as she weaves in the story thread ( embroidery thread ) of family secrets is nothing short of masterful. If you’ve never been a person skilled in embroidery, you will understand what I mean. They sew in this thread and that one, and a work of art comes together in a beautiful whole. That is what happens in this story.