Cynthia Rylant's Missing May (1992) tells the story of a young girl named Summer, whose aunt - and de facto caregiver - just died in her vast garden. This rocks Summer, who had just lost her parents several years prior, to her core. After her Aunt May's untimely death, she is left alone with her Uncle Ob, who has likewise sunken into a deep depression and has stopped creating the trinkets he had once loved. Over time, the two grow closer and realize that they must move forward with their lives while still continuing to miss her and honor the love she gave to them.
Rylant has written over 100 books for children in her long and illustrious career. None were as widely read and universally loved as Missing May. Missing May won a number of awards after its publication, including the prestigious 1993 Newbery Medal. It has also become a member of the very selective "Scholastic Gold" line, which publisher Scholastic uses to signal important, best-selling books. Reviews from Rylant's novel reinforced the number of awards it received. In their review, Kirkus Reviews said that Missing May is "A beautifully written, life-affirming book."
