when mockingbirds sing by Billy Coffey (a review)

Leah Norcross and her family are new to the town of Mattingly and are not feeling very welcome, since people from Away are viewed with suspicion. Leah mostly keeps to herself and her stutter just adds to her lonely existence.  When Leah begins painting detailed pictures depicting future events, given to her by her imaginary friend, the Rainbow Man, the quiet community of Mattingly is plunged into chaos and confusion. Could the Rainbow Man be God or is he evil or does he exist at all? Does Leah have a special gift or is she crazy?  

Such is the basic plot of Billy Coffey’s latest novel, when mockingbirds sing (Thomas Nelson Publishers).  Being from a small town myself, I am a fan of stories that portray small town life. Coffey has accurately described the possibilities of what could, and would, likely happen when the normal is disrupted by the magical or supernatural in a small “leave us to our ways’ type of place. The reader of when mockingbirds sing will walk with a host of characters (including Leah’s spunky best friend Allie) through Mattingly and wrestle alongside them with the deeper issues of life, including relationships, priorities, friendship and family, faith and doubt, good and evil, and questions about the existence of the unseen. Along the way, you will laugh and cry and, in the end, you will be satisfied with a story well told.  When I turned the last page, I was somewhat sad to leave Mattingly, but I was pleased to find out that Coffey would return there with another upcoming novel.

If you want a good summer read, this is one you should pick up. I am confident you will be glad you did.

(I received this book from Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review)