A Painted House

by John Grisham

Seven-year-old Luke Chandler lives and farms with his family in 1952 Arkansas. When his family hires 10 Mexicans and a family of "Hill People" to help them bring in the cotton that fall, no one knew what troubles would unfold for everyone involved or how they would change Luke's life forever.

This is not a John Grisham legal thriller. It is a simple story told by a simple narrator. But I think I'd have to put it down as one of my favorites of his. There are a host of characters in this book, but surprisingly, not hard to keep everyone straight. Perhaps because each is drawn out so it is easy to keep track. Even the absent Uncle Ricky, who is in Korea, feels like a true character. The best part is that everyone is seen through the eyes of Luke, who is often overlooked by the other characters because of his age.

As his family struggles to bring in the cotton, they are faced with various issues that make a difficult everyday life even more difficult. The Mexicans and Hill People don't get along, the Latcher neighbors release a troubling secret and the weather is not cooperating. But through it all, seven-year-old Luke longs for the fall to pass so he can return to his beloved baseball and the family life that he adores.

Give this a read. You won't be sorry.