Secret Sense of Wildflower, The by Susan Gabriel; 2012. Softcover.

The Secret Sense of Wildflower earned a coveted Starred Review from Kirkus Reviews and was named by Kirkus to its list of Best Books of 2012. Set in 1940s Appalachia, The Secret Sense of Wildflower tells the story of Louisa May "Wildflower" McAllister whose life has been shaped around the recent death of her beloved father in a sawmill accident. While her mother hardens in her grief, Wildflower and her three sisters must cope with their loss themselves, as well as with the demands of daily survival. Despite these hardships, Wildflower has a resilience that is forged with humor, a love of the land, and an endless supply of questions to God. When Johnny Monroe, the town's teenage ne'er-do-well, sets his sights on Wildflower, she must draw on the strength of her relations, both living and dead, to deal with his threat. With prose as lush and colorful as the American South, The Secret Sense of Wildflower is powerful and poignant, brimming with energy and angst, humor and hope.

In its ability to create a truly original Southern voice, The Secret Sense of Wildflower has established Gabriel as a thoughtful and powerful Southern writer.