Newbery Medal Winner

Missing May

by Cynthia Rylant

Summary

After the death of her beloved aunt May, twelve year old Summer and her grieving Uncle Ob struggle to go on in their rural West Virginia trailer. When Ob becomes convinced he can sense May's spirit, the two set out on a journey with an odd classmate that becomes a search for comfort and acceptance. Cynthia Rylant writes with lyrical tenderness about loss, memory, and the love that holds a small family together.

Historical Context & Significance

Rylant, known for her Appalachian settings, drew on the rural mountain region of her own childhood for the story.