HOW THE DEER MOON HUNGERS

How the deer moon hungers: Susan Wingate

The bond between sisters is often more precious than that of mother and daughter. Mac and Tessa had a unique relationship until someone, and one event would wipe it all out. The Prologue sets the sad stage for an event or death that would shatter the lives of an already broken family into ashes that would burn and smolder forever in their minds. The second or another sort of prologue finalized what we later learn the unfortunate death of 7-year-old Tessa a death that would forever change the course of Mackenzie’s life.

Each chapter at first flashes back and forth to different events that allow us to get to know just how close Mac and Tessa were and how their mother was a constant hindrance, lacked emotional parenting skills and insisted that Mac be in charge of Tessa, cleaning the house, shopping and all around maid. Their mother Urm was brooding over the breakup of her marriage and the interaction with her father proves how volatile they both were.

Gemma is supposed to be Mackenzie’s best friend and their discussions lead you to know that both were into pot but what about drugs?

Bill Pauling is an older man whose driving skills and license should have been revoked before he hit Tessa with his car causing her death.

Tessa is air lifted to the hospitals and her mother along with Mac are taken by the police to the hospital but things will change after several witnesses give statements blaming Mac for her death claiming she was not watching her sister, off talking with Gemma as Mr.Pauling an elderly man loses control of his car taking Tessa’s life . But why did Gemma sell her best friend down the river?

Gemma’s parents would not let her testify in her behalf and Mac got 18 months in a facility for selling drugs that belonged to Gemma and the abuse, fights, horrors described to all readers to know the injustices she faced at the hands of the guards and the other inmates so to speak. Allowing her to go home for Gramma. s funeral did not endear her to her family or then to her. Mac will have to find her own course and lift herself up and hopefully become stronger.

The author graphically describes the horrors that Mac endured and the visits she has with Gemma about the lies she told to protect herself until the truth comes out, her mother takes action but an incident in the facility might end her life and two guards might get what they both deserved.

Author Susan Wingate takes us deep inside the mind of 16-year-old Mackenzie and her parents as well we Gemma hearing their innermost thighs, conflicts and justifications for their actions and feelings.

The startling revelations and the truths told as MAC learns the hidden lies and secrets about Tessa, her mother’s betrayal, corruption of the guards and abusive behaviors that could scar the girls forever but Mac was released but why visit Mr. Pauling and could she use her 12 step program to rise above and start over one step a time. Wrongly accused, abused and shunned will she ever recover ?

Some endings bring understanding, enlightenment and disclosure as MAC takes us back to that day that Tessa was riding her bike, carelessly not watching her safety, egging on the dogs she passed and at the same time trying to watch what Gemma and Mac were doing and wanting her sister not to smoke pot which in a sense was the catalyst for this tragic story. Some endings are new beginnings and Mac  must face her present not dwell on the past. The pull of the deer and watching the moon coming out and guess what , “the deer in the moon does not eat cheese.” Tessa will never be far away from Mac but only Mac can have the strength to allow herself freedom from guilt and the learn the true meaning of forgiveness for others, herself and the ability to forward. In small towns most everyone knows everything about everyone and the witnesses that claimed they saw what happened to Tessa were suspect to start with but the honesty and the sincerity that is shown at the end as Mackenzie tries to come full circle will give readers the understanding that what she went through might help her to survive. When her mother gives away her cat and all of her possessions after she leaves for the detention center, it’s as if she wants nothing to do with her and losing Tessa now, she would make Mac disappear too. Living her life, fighting her own battles and then the harsh reality behind the truth about Tessa is something that Mac will have to decide if she can handle or ever forgive.

Losing my own sister, I do understand the pain when something happens, and you do not understand how or why! Lives will not be the same, Mac will have to determine her own course but one thing that no one can ever take away from her is Tessa and knowing she will always be that light in the moon when she looks up into the sky and sees How the Der Moon Hungers and guides her. Friendships are frayed, family relationships are fragile and the life of one young girl will never be the same only is she forgives herself and realizes that she did not cause the death of her sister but sometimes fate has a way of playing it’s own hand in events. A strong character and a meaningful ending where will she turn next and what will her future be?

Fran Lewis: Just reviews