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Sun Seekers: A Novel
From Emmy Award-winning writer Rachel McRady comes a vital, illuminating debut novel of a broken family uniting in the face of terrifying crisis, for fans of This is Us and Parenthood .
Six-year-old Gracie Lynn is perpetually curious and big-hearted. Convinced she knows how to save her beloved grandfather John from the “worm” that is eating his brain—a metaphor her mother once used to explain John’s dementia and sundown syndrome—she helps him break out of his nursing home, and the two disappear together on a quest to chase the sun. But what’s an adventure for Gracie is a nightmare scenario for her estranged parents, LeeAnn and Dan. There’s no way to predict where John might have taken their young daughter, or if he’s capable of keeping her safe.
Jaded beyond her years, and struggling with her own mental health, LeeAnn has no delusions about what might happen if they don’t locate Gracie soon. Dan is no less frantic, but communicating with LeeAnn isn’t easy, even under the circumstances—too much stands between the hopeful young couple they once were and the people they’ve become.
An emotionally resonant novel for fans of Fredrik Backman and Mark Haddon, Sun Seekers artfully explores the truths of parenthood, the ways in which we sometimes hurt those we love most, and the universal experience of deep loss—even when the person is still here.
Six-year-old Gracie Lynn is perpetually curious and big-hearted. Convinced she knows how to save her beloved grandfather John from the “worm” that is eating his brain—a metaphor her mother once used to explain John’s dementia and sundown syndrome—she helps him break out of his nursing home, and the two disappear together on a quest to chase the sun. But what’s an adventure for Gracie is a nightmare scenario for her estranged parents, LeeAnn and Dan. There’s no way to predict where John might have taken their young daughter, or if he’s capable of keeping her safe.
Jaded beyond her years, and struggling with her own mental health, LeeAnn has no delusions about what might happen if they don’t locate Gracie soon. Dan is no less frantic, but communicating with LeeAnn isn’t easy, even under the circumstances—too much stands between the hopeful young couple they once were and the people they’ve become.
An emotionally resonant novel for fans of Fredrik Backman and Mark Haddon, Sun Seekers artfully explores the truths of parenthood, the ways in which we sometimes hurt those we love most, and the universal experience of deep loss—even when the person is still here.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 9, 2024
15 people are currently reading
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February 27, 2024
3.5⭐️
Six-year-old Gracie Lynn has devised a plan to break her grandfather out of the assisted living facility where he currently resides. She intends to go on an “adventure” with him and follow the sun, hoping their proximity to it would prevent the “worm” in her Grandfather’s brain from waking up because it’s the worm that makes him forget who she is – the simplistic explanation her mother, LeeAnn has provided her to explain her grandfather’s “episodes” resulting from dementia and sundown syndrome. Gracie loves her grandfather and his tall tales of his “adventures.” LeeAnn is wary of John, a result of a deep-rooted resentment stemming from her childhood compounded by his diagnosis and a few “incidents” in the recent past. LeeAnn, separated from her husband and responsible for her father, is raising Gracie alone and often at her wits’ end, also having to deal with the judgment she senses from other mothers in Gracie’s circle of friends. Her relationship with her sister is also strained and Dan, Gracie’s father, loves his daughter and is willing to share responsibility and help LeAnn if only she would let him, despite having since moved on after she left him on account of his infidelity. However, when Gracie and her grandfather disappear, she is compelled to work through her personal issues with her estranged sister, her resentment toward her husband and her own pain, in an effort to find Gracie and John.
Heartbreaking yet hopeful, Sun Seekers by Rachel McRady is an emotional story about family, forgiveness, grief and moving on The narrative is presented from the first-person perspectives of Gracie, LeAnn and Dan and the author does a remarkable job of weaving these voices into a fluid narrative. Gracie is an endearing character and her love and concern for her grandfather would melt your heart and I thoroughly enjoyed her unfiltered thoughts and reactions to the people and events around her. The author does a brilliant job of depicting the complex relationships and tension between the adult characters and the challenges faced by caregivers and the toll it takes on family members. I can’t say either Dan or LeeAnn were particularly likable characters, though I could sympathize with their plight and everything they had endured both as individuals and as a couple. The author weaves in lighter moments in the form of John’s entertaining tall tales. I had mixed feelings about the bittersweet ending, but overall, I found this novel to be a satisfying read that will touch a chord in your heart.
Many thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published in the USA on January 09, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Six-year-old Gracie Lynn has devised a plan to break her grandfather out of the assisted living facility where he currently resides. She intends to go on an “adventure” with him and follow the sun, hoping their proximity to it would prevent the “worm” in her Grandfather’s brain from waking up because it’s the worm that makes him forget who she is – the simplistic explanation her mother, LeeAnn has provided her to explain her grandfather’s “episodes” resulting from dementia and sundown syndrome. Gracie loves her grandfather and his tall tales of his “adventures.” LeeAnn is wary of John, a result of a deep-rooted resentment stemming from her childhood compounded by his diagnosis and a few “incidents” in the recent past. LeeAnn, separated from her husband and responsible for her father, is raising Gracie alone and often at her wits’ end, also having to deal with the judgment she senses from other mothers in Gracie’s circle of friends. Her relationship with her sister is also strained and Dan, Gracie’s father, loves his daughter and is willing to share responsibility and help LeAnn if only she would let him, despite having since moved on after she left him on account of his infidelity. However, when Gracie and her grandfather disappear, she is compelled to work through her personal issues with her estranged sister, her resentment toward her husband and her own pain, in an effort to find Gracie and John.
Heartbreaking yet hopeful, Sun Seekers by Rachel McRady is an emotional story about family, forgiveness, grief and moving on The narrative is presented from the first-person perspectives of Gracie, LeAnn and Dan and the author does a remarkable job of weaving these voices into a fluid narrative. Gracie is an endearing character and her love and concern for her grandfather would melt your heart and I thoroughly enjoyed her unfiltered thoughts and reactions to the people and events around her. The author does a brilliant job of depicting the complex relationships and tension between the adult characters and the challenges faced by caregivers and the toll it takes on family members. I can’t say either Dan or LeeAnn were particularly likable characters, though I could sympathize with their plight and everything they had endured both as individuals and as a couple. The author weaves in lighter moments in the form of John’s entertaining tall tales. I had mixed feelings about the bittersweet ending, but overall, I found this novel to be a satisfying read that will touch a chord in your heart.
Many thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published in the USA on January 09, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
June 11, 2024
Hi, I wrote this book! I wrote it for caregivers and loved ones of those affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s. I wrote it for those in dark situations feeling desperate for light. And I wrote it to work through my own grief. I hope you find some of that in these pages, and I’m immensely grateful that you’ve taken the time to read my debut novel.
January 7, 2024
3.5★s
Sun Seekers is the first novel by American author, Rachel McRady. Grandfather has had the worm in his brain for two years: Gracie Lynn Abernathy knows it’s why he had to leave the house where Mama grew up, where they have lived since Daddy made a big mistake three years ago, and go to live in the home. The worm only wakes up when the sun goes down, so Gracie, almost seven, has a plan for fooling the worm. She and Grandfather will go on an adventure, in his 1985 Chevy Impala: they will follow the sun.
Dan Clarmont knows most people in Reading, South Carolina see him as the villain of the story of his broken family, something he truly regrets, and he knows the fact that a sleep-deprived and grieving LeeAnne refused his help with baby Gracie, excluded him from her care, is no excuse for seeking solace with Ashley, but he really wants a bigger part in Gracie’s life. Turning up at her swim meet without warning LeeAnne probably wasn’t the best idea; more unfortunate that the (now-married) predatory woman he dated only once in high school latches onto him right then.
LeeAnn Abernathy seems to be a damaged soul, full of resentment that prevents her from enjoying life: she resents the alternate days visits to the man who was such a poor parent; she resents her not-quite-ex-husband’s life with his girlfriend and new baby son; she resents her boss’s demanding and condescending attitude; she resents the clique of critical PTA moms who seem to take malicious pleasure in her every misstep; and she resents her older sister Sarah’s perfect life with her lawyer husband.
Augmenting her resentment is the grief over the loss of her beloved mama the day Gracie was born, Gracie now being her only true joy. And on this hot June day, Gracie and her demented grandfather are missing, and she will have to ask for help.
There’s nothing like a crisis to crystallise emotions and launch epiphanies, and each of the adults dealing with this terrifying ordeal has their own. Both the adult narrators spend a lot of time analysing their emotions and feelings; their behaviours, like social media hate-stalking and avoiding confrontations, don’t make them very likeable or easy to connect with.
Often, in spite of her tender age, Gracie shows more maturity and insight than her parents: “Grown-ups never think kids can hear them” and “Necessary lies are for when you don’t want to upset people. I never want to upset people, so I’ll probably have to tell many necessary lies”
Gracie’s take on her grandfather: “I don’t know why everyone says I’m so sweet for visiting Grandfather. He is the most interesting person I know” is very different from that of his daughters: “a washed-up fraud with great dreams and zero follow-through. Big John was always in search of an audience. I didn’t want to be another faceless member of his congregation, my worth only measured in my reactions. Sometimes I wanted him to listen to me, to care about my stories, my life. But that never happened.”
Where LeeAnne comes across as whiny, Gracie Lynn is a delight: she has an espionage notebook to note down clues, because “To a spy everything is a clue. And since I’m not old enough to know things yet, I’ll try to figure them out by putting the clues together”
Gracie is expressive: “Grandfather says I can’t let fear run my life, but sometimes it feels like fear is hugging me. When I feel fear I feel other things too, things that come out of fear’s belly. When I feel fear, I feel panic and I feel pain because when I am afraid I bite my bottom lip… I want to scream, but I’m too scared. Fear has my voice in her belly.” Some aspects of the story (eg the driving lesson) definitely require suspension of disbelief. An adequate debut that will resonate with some.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Alcove Books/VERVE books.
Sun Seekers is the first novel by American author, Rachel McRady. Grandfather has had the worm in his brain for two years: Gracie Lynn Abernathy knows it’s why he had to leave the house where Mama grew up, where they have lived since Daddy made a big mistake three years ago, and go to live in the home. The worm only wakes up when the sun goes down, so Gracie, almost seven, has a plan for fooling the worm. She and Grandfather will go on an adventure, in his 1985 Chevy Impala: they will follow the sun.
Dan Clarmont knows most people in Reading, South Carolina see him as the villain of the story of his broken family, something he truly regrets, and he knows the fact that a sleep-deprived and grieving LeeAnne refused his help with baby Gracie, excluded him from her care, is no excuse for seeking solace with Ashley, but he really wants a bigger part in Gracie’s life. Turning up at her swim meet without warning LeeAnne probably wasn’t the best idea; more unfortunate that the (now-married) predatory woman he dated only once in high school latches onto him right then.
LeeAnn Abernathy seems to be a damaged soul, full of resentment that prevents her from enjoying life: she resents the alternate days visits to the man who was such a poor parent; she resents her not-quite-ex-husband’s life with his girlfriend and new baby son; she resents her boss’s demanding and condescending attitude; she resents the clique of critical PTA moms who seem to take malicious pleasure in her every misstep; and she resents her older sister Sarah’s perfect life with her lawyer husband.
Augmenting her resentment is the grief over the loss of her beloved mama the day Gracie was born, Gracie now being her only true joy. And on this hot June day, Gracie and her demented grandfather are missing, and she will have to ask for help.
There’s nothing like a crisis to crystallise emotions and launch epiphanies, and each of the adults dealing with this terrifying ordeal has their own. Both the adult narrators spend a lot of time analysing their emotions and feelings; their behaviours, like social media hate-stalking and avoiding confrontations, don’t make them very likeable or easy to connect with.
Often, in spite of her tender age, Gracie shows more maturity and insight than her parents: “Grown-ups never think kids can hear them” and “Necessary lies are for when you don’t want to upset people. I never want to upset people, so I’ll probably have to tell many necessary lies”
Gracie’s take on her grandfather: “I don’t know why everyone says I’m so sweet for visiting Grandfather. He is the most interesting person I know” is very different from that of his daughters: “a washed-up fraud with great dreams and zero follow-through. Big John was always in search of an audience. I didn’t want to be another faceless member of his congregation, my worth only measured in my reactions. Sometimes I wanted him to listen to me, to care about my stories, my life. But that never happened.”
Where LeeAnne comes across as whiny, Gracie Lynn is a delight: she has an espionage notebook to note down clues, because “To a spy everything is a clue. And since I’m not old enough to know things yet, I’ll try to figure them out by putting the clues together”
Gracie is expressive: “Grandfather says I can’t let fear run my life, but sometimes it feels like fear is hugging me. When I feel fear I feel other things too, things that come out of fear’s belly. When I feel fear, I feel panic and I feel pain because when I am afraid I bite my bottom lip… I want to scream, but I’m too scared. Fear has my voice in her belly.” Some aspects of the story (eg the driving lesson) definitely require suspension of disbelief. An adequate debut that will resonate with some.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Alcove Books/VERVE books.
January 5, 2024
I wish I had known this would be told, in one part, by a six-year-old; I would not have requested it; it’s not a point of view I can connect with. The other two narrators, however, were not much better. LeeAnn is the most unlikeable, selfish, martyr wannabe, that just grated on my nerves. I get she feels wronged but her inability to forgive is ruining her. Even when she is distraught about the fact that her daughter is missing, it’s all about her. The only things I enjoyed in this story were the fantastical stories that Big John shared and his relationship with Gracie. This story was just not for me.
I received a copy from #NetGalley, #AlcovePress, and #Dreamscape_Media for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley, #AlcovePress, and #Dreamscape_Media for an honest review.
December 20, 2024
If you are a softy, do not read (or listen to) this in public. Not on your commute. Not in a waiting room. The tears started flowing early and I was ugly crying for the last quarter of this. I'm not complaining...but I'm glad I read this at home!
The main action follows a six-year-old who decides she needs to get her grandfather out of his nursing home to escape the "worm" in his brain that is more active at night. As adults, we know this is about dementia and it's very sweet to see it from the vantage point of a child. At the same time, we have the girl's estranged parents coming together to search for her and working through their sad history. We also have the girl's mother dealing with her own mental health and past trauma. It's all beautifully done, even if it's not wrapped up with a perfect bow at the end. The ending is very satisfying.
I am a sucker for beautifully written children and Rachel McRady had me loving little Gracie from the start. What a beautiful, charming character.
The main action follows a six-year-old who decides she needs to get her grandfather out of his nursing home to escape the "worm" in his brain that is more active at night. As adults, we know this is about dementia and it's very sweet to see it from the vantage point of a child. At the same time, we have the girl's estranged parents coming together to search for her and working through their sad history. We also have the girl's mother dealing with her own mental health and past trauma. It's all beautifully done, even if it's not wrapped up with a perfect bow at the end. The ending is very satisfying.
I am a sucker for beautifully written children and Rachel McRady had me loving little Gracie from the start. What a beautiful, charming character.
August 3, 2023
What a debut from Rachel McRady! The strength of this book is the narration -- with three vastly different points of view, it would've been easy for this story to feel muddled or overwritten, but McRady moves deftly between six-year-old Gracie's achingly earnest voice, her mother LeeAnn's harried, frenetic energy, and Gracie's estranged father Dan, who wants more than anything to right by his family, but doesn't really know how. This book contains so many beautiful, deeply-felt ruminations on family and the myriad ways we can let each other down, even when we're trying our hardest to do the right thing. I can't wait for the world to read this book.
July 8, 2023
I received a free copy of, Sun Seekers, by Rachel McRady, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Six year old Gracie wants to help her grandfather, but he has dementia, so she decides to break him out of the home he is at and go for a drive. Her mother is frantic with worry. Dementia is a horrible disease, Gracie does not understand the disease but knows she loved her grandfather. This was a good read but sad, I did not care for Dan and Ashley at all, though.
September 13, 2023
Absolutely fantastic. As a family therapist who worked with families/caregivers and those with dementia- this book is spot on to the struggles. Not only addressing the challenges of dementia, but what does it mean to be family, to love, to forgive. Highly recommend this book!
January 24, 2024
THE GOOD:
Six-year-old Gracie is a kick in the pants and I adored the chapters told from her point of view. Pitch perfect, fast-paced, energetic stream of consciousness from a lively childlike innocence.
A happy-ending story with a good heart.
THE BAD:
The climax of the tale came off a little flat, emotionally speaking, so therefore seemed a little underwhelming and arbitrary.
“Big John’s” tall tales are fanciful and fun.
CONCLUSION:
A novel about healing, trust, forgiveness, and letting go; backboned by the inherent liveliness of childhood.
Six-year-old Gracie is a kick in the pants and I adored the chapters told from her point of view. Pitch perfect, fast-paced, energetic stream of consciousness from a lively childlike innocence.
A happy-ending story with a good heart.
THE BAD:
The climax of the tale came off a little flat, emotionally speaking, so therefore seemed a little underwhelming and arbitrary.
“Big John’s” tall tales are fanciful and fun.
CONCLUSION:
A novel about healing, trust, forgiveness, and letting go; backboned by the inherent liveliness of childhood.
March 1, 2024
This is such a cute book. I loved that there were chapters written in the girl’s voice and perspective because it really helped give the story shape. Overall, just kind of sad but I was glad to see the parents finally work it out.
🌀Synopsis
All Gracie knows is that her grandpa is sick and he needs to get out of the home he’s in. She conspires up a plan to help him escape and it works! It’s not long and the two are off on an adventure. Grandpa seems to be fine, he just forgets things like getting Gracie water and how hot it is outside. Gracie isn’t telling him either, she’s just along for the ride.
Meanwhile, her parents are on the hunt to find her. That’s saying a lot because her parents don’t usually talk to each other if they don’t have to. They’ve never gotten along, each of them holding a grudge. Finally Gracie going missing allows them both to put the past behind and work towards the common goal of finding her, but will they make it in time?
🌀Synopsis
All Gracie knows is that her grandpa is sick and he needs to get out of the home he’s in. She conspires up a plan to help him escape and it works! It’s not long and the two are off on an adventure. Grandpa seems to be fine, he just forgets things like getting Gracie water and how hot it is outside. Gracie isn’t telling him either, she’s just along for the ride.
Meanwhile, her parents are on the hunt to find her. That’s saying a lot because her parents don’t usually talk to each other if they don’t have to. They’ve never gotten along, each of them holding a grudge. Finally Gracie going missing allows them both to put the past behind and work towards the common goal of finding her, but will they make it in time?
January 2, 2024
Gracie is fascinated by the “worm” that is in her grandfather’s brain making him sick. According to her mom, the worm tends to come out at night, which is why she is only allowed to see her grandfather at the home during the day now. Gracie has great idea though. She is going to break him out and the two will chase the sun, making the worm stay in hiding. She doesn’t account for that fact that her estranged parents will need to come together to try and find her.
This book has one thing in abundance….heart. Gracie is so sweet in wanting to help- her grandfather escape the effects of the “worm.” Meanwhile, her mom created the worm to try and explain dementia to a 6 year old (I personally thought that was a very good way to explain what was happening to him.) I also felt for both LeeAnn and Dan, they weren’t the easiest characters to love from the start, but they both had so much pain from their past that they needed to face. Gracie was the absolute sweetest character, and I could just feel the love she had for her Grandfather and his fascinating stories, aka tall tales. Dementia is such a hard disease, and seeing it from the perspective of a child is even more heartbreaking. I truly enjoyed this debut and can’t wait to see what McRady does next!
This book has one thing in abundance….heart. Gracie is so sweet in wanting to help- her grandfather escape the effects of the “worm.” Meanwhile, her mom created the worm to try and explain dementia to a 6 year old (I personally thought that was a very good way to explain what was happening to him.) I also felt for both LeeAnn and Dan, they weren’t the easiest characters to love from the start, but they both had so much pain from their past that they needed to face. Gracie was the absolute sweetest character, and I could just feel the love she had for her Grandfather and his fascinating stories, aka tall tales. Dementia is such a hard disease, and seeing it from the perspective of a child is even more heartbreaking. I truly enjoyed this debut and can’t wait to see what McRady does next!
January 7, 2024
Big John Abernathy -perpetual yarn-spinning, tall-story telling life of the party - is languishing away in a nursing home when his granddaughter, six-year-old Gracie, busts him out with her mums stolen car keys and a daring plan to go on one more adventure, to chase the sun so that the "worm" in his brain she thinks makes him mean and confused stays away. But Big John has dementia, sundowners, and the threads of his life get muddled as he and Gracie visit his favourite places one last time.
Meanwhile Gracie's mother, Lee-Ann is frantic with worry as she searches for her missing daughter, but struggles to bring herself the accept the help of her ex and the gossiping PTA.
Told through the alternating viewpoints of Gracie, Lee-Ann and Gracie 's estranged father Dan, Sun Seekers tells the story of fractured families. As Lee-Ann and Dan frantically search the town for any sign of Gracie, we learn more and more of the struggles Lee-Ann has faced as a single mum in a small town, the toll it had taken on her mental health, the reasons why Dan left, and why Lee-Ann has the troubled relationship with Big John.
Its a story of loss and of heartbreak and redemption and forgiveness. A story of lies and memories. A story of walls and loneliness and the village we need when we tell ourselves we will be fine all alone.
Gracie 's chapters are exceptionally well written from the POV of a 6 yo trying SO HARD to do the right thing without the full understanding of the situation. Dan and Lee-Ann's chapters are cleverly crafted and filled with remorse, venom, loss, and regret as their own story unpacks and trauma forces them to reassess their roles in the past.
Sun Seekers brought me to tears. Its a powerful story and a stunning debut novel.
~Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~
Meanwhile Gracie's mother, Lee-Ann is frantic with worry as she searches for her missing daughter, but struggles to bring herself the accept the help of her ex and the gossiping PTA.
Told through the alternating viewpoints of Gracie, Lee-Ann and Gracie 's estranged father Dan, Sun Seekers tells the story of fractured families. As Lee-Ann and Dan frantically search the town for any sign of Gracie, we learn more and more of the struggles Lee-Ann has faced as a single mum in a small town, the toll it had taken on her mental health, the reasons why Dan left, and why Lee-Ann has the troubled relationship with Big John.
Its a story of loss and of heartbreak and redemption and forgiveness. A story of lies and memories. A story of walls and loneliness and the village we need when we tell ourselves we will be fine all alone.
Gracie 's chapters are exceptionally well written from the POV of a 6 yo trying SO HARD to do the right thing without the full understanding of the situation. Dan and Lee-Ann's chapters are cleverly crafted and filled with remorse, venom, loss, and regret as their own story unpacks and trauma forces them to reassess their roles in the past.
Sun Seekers brought me to tears. Its a powerful story and a stunning debut novel.
~Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~
January 19, 2024
I have not a read a book that has touched my heart as much as this one has. Ever. In so many ways. This is a beautifully written love letter to caregivers, families, those that are grieving, and anyone who has ever felt lost due to trauma, disease, or any life challenges. I cried tears of sorrow, tears of joy, and tears of laughter while getting lost in the pages and read it in one sitting. I feel as though I know these characters personally, can feel the heat of the South despite the snow here in PA, and can picture John and Gracie's adventure with crystal clarity. The hilarious scenes with the PTA mom's should not be missed, and I adored the wit and snark in the dialog. There are so many topics to relate too in this story and for me it was caregiving for my Dad who had Parkinsons Disease. Thank you Rachel McRady for bringing all of those emotions that we tend to hold onto out through your words. I miss him every day and I'm so blessed to have been able to take him on adventures and remind him of all of the marvelous memories we made through the years.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
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February 5, 2025This will be a fine book for some people, but I am not the target audience. I read this for my book club, and if I didn't have the pressure of needing to finish it for the discussion, I'd probably have abandoned it, despite finding stories rooted in Alzheimers generally interesting.
Here's why:
1. I couldn't handle the language. Adults who call their parents "momma" and "daddy?" No.
2. Any book with a 6yo narrating will have an uphill battle to win me over. I don't care how smart of precocious the kid is, it feels like reading a "Dick and Jane" book in terms of vocabulary. Not my scene.
3. The mom in the story loves wallowing in VictimLand. She can't figure out why her life is so hard, why she has no friends and why her husband left her. I can tell her why: she's a sad sack that no one wants to spend time with. Get some therapy.
Here's why:
1. I couldn't handle the language. Adults who call their parents "momma" and "daddy?" No.
2. Any book with a 6yo narrating will have an uphill battle to win me over. I don't care how smart of precocious the kid is, it feels like reading a "Dick and Jane" book in terms of vocabulary. Not my scene.
3. The mom in the story loves wallowing in VictimLand. She can't figure out why her life is so hard, why she has no friends and why her husband left her. I can tell her why: she's a sad sack that no one wants to spend time with. Get some therapy.
January 7, 2024
This was such an emotional family drama read, it covers a very difficult subject for children to understand and I felt the author did an amazing job creating a story that really drew me in and made memorable characters!
Leann is a single mother whose trying to make ends meet, her husband left and now lives with a new woman and has a new child with her, he has a six year daughter Gracie with Leann who he never sees. She has a judgmental sister and her father is suffering from dementia. Leann explains to Gracie that her grandfather John has a worm in his brain to help explain John’s dementia and sundown syndrome. So Gracie comes up with a plan, she decides that her and Grandpa John need to go on an adventure, and follow the sun. She thinks that as long as they stay in the sunshine, her grandfather will be alright and it will make him better. Told in Gracie's point of view and that of her mother and father. We follow Gracie’s adventure and her parents when they discover she’s gone. It’s a sad but insightful story and a must read.
Leann is a single mother whose trying to make ends meet, her husband left and now lives with a new woman and has a new child with her, he has a six year daughter Gracie with Leann who he never sees. She has a judgmental sister and her father is suffering from dementia. Leann explains to Gracie that her grandfather John has a worm in his brain to help explain John’s dementia and sundown syndrome. So Gracie comes up with a plan, she decides that her and Grandpa John need to go on an adventure, and follow the sun. She thinks that as long as they stay in the sunshine, her grandfather will be alright and it will make him better. Told in Gracie's point of view and that of her mother and father. We follow Gracie’s adventure and her parents when they discover she’s gone. It’s a sad but insightful story and a must read.
March 16, 2024
The majority of this book is from a child's perspective and it's quite thought-provoking. It's not often I read something that I know will stick with me for years to come but Gracie's description of "necessary lies" is one of those things. Well done, Rachel McRady.
Narrators did a good job with this as well. It flows smoothly into each character and is easy to follow.
Narrators did a good job with this as well. It flows smoothly into each character and is easy to follow.
November 23, 2023
This is the story of 6-year-old Gracie and her grandfather, who has dementia. Gracie is a very bright and precocious little girl. her grandfather has dementia. Gracie's mother has explained Sundowners Syndrome to Gracie, where confusion and violence get worse during the evening. Gracie's solution is to go on an adventure with her grandfather and follow the sun. She thinks that as long as they stay in the sunshine, her grandfather will be ok.
The story is told from Gracie's point of view and that of her mother and father. We follow Gracie on the “adventure” and experience the search with her separated parents when they realize that she is missing
It's an interesting but sad story.
Besides the story about the adventure it’s also a family tale. Lots of back story during the narration of the mother and father. There is longstanding dysfunction in the family. Though they mean well, both mother and father could use some life skill lessons.
The grandfather is a very interesting character but his whole life story is based on “tall tales”.
The characters of Mom and Dad are hard to like. But that's what makes the story evolve.
Gracie is a sweetheart, sometimes a little too smart for her age. She is also very intuitive.
The ending is satisfactory.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The story is told from Gracie's point of view and that of her mother and father. We follow Gracie on the “adventure” and experience the search with her separated parents when they realize that she is missing
It's an interesting but sad story.
Besides the story about the adventure it’s also a family tale. Lots of back story during the narration of the mother and father. There is longstanding dysfunction in the family. Though they mean well, both mother and father could use some life skill lessons.
The grandfather is a very interesting character but his whole life story is based on “tall tales”.
The characters of Mom and Dad are hard to like. But that's what makes the story evolve.
Gracie is a sweetheart, sometimes a little too smart for her age. She is also very intuitive.
The ending is satisfactory.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
January 23, 2024
As someone who had a grandparent with both Alzemiers and sundown syndrome this was an emotional read that hit close to home. It is so hard to watch anyone slowly start to forget and see their behavior change because of the disease and this author did a wonderful job portraying those instances but in a respectful way. I enjoyed the POV of Gracie, Lynn, and Dan but I think Gracie’s was the one I enjoyed the most. She was such a smart girl, and I loved the love she had for her grandfather and her planning she did to help him. It highlights how hard it is to explain certain things to children and knowing when they are old enough to really understand what is going on. Lynn never really had a good relationship with her father but through her fear of losing Gracie other things came into perspective as well. The adventure that Gracie went on with her grandfather was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. It made me think of all the great times and adventures I went on with my grandma when I was younger.
Thank you @rachelmcrady and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.
Thank you @rachelmcrady and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.
August 20, 2023
I came across this book on TikTok and was instantly captivated by its cover. The description intrigued me so much that I couldn't resist heading straight to NetGalley to request an ARC.
What truly touched my heart was the story being told from the perspective of a 6-year-old whose grandfather is battling dementia and residing in a facility. The little girl makes a decision that she wants to spend some precious time with her grandfather and embarks on a final adventure with him. I don't want to give away too much and spoil the plot, so I'll leave it at that.
As mentioned in the description, Sunseekers is a must-read for fans of the Parenthood series. It beautifully captures the essence of family bonds and dynamics. It's hard to believe that this is the author's debut novel because it is incredibly compelling. I found myself completely immersed in the story, emotionally invested from beginning to end.
Rachel McRady has done an exceptional job in portraying a relatable and grounded family. The narration is so well-crafted, and the concept of the story is refreshingly original. The way the family dynamic is portrayed is nothing short of amazing.
I want to share my heartfelt recommendation for this remarkable book. It has left a lasting impression on me, and I believe it will remain with me for a very long time. As someone who had a grandmother named Rachel, living with dementia, I connected with this book on a profound level. It resonated deeply within me, touching me in ways that are difficult to put into words.
So much thanks to NetGalley, Alcove Press and Rachel MCRady for this heartfelt and compelling read.
What truly touched my heart was the story being told from the perspective of a 6-year-old whose grandfather is battling dementia and residing in a facility. The little girl makes a decision that she wants to spend some precious time with her grandfather and embarks on a final adventure with him. I don't want to give away too much and spoil the plot, so I'll leave it at that.
As mentioned in the description, Sunseekers is a must-read for fans of the Parenthood series. It beautifully captures the essence of family bonds and dynamics. It's hard to believe that this is the author's debut novel because it is incredibly compelling. I found myself completely immersed in the story, emotionally invested from beginning to end.
Rachel McRady has done an exceptional job in portraying a relatable and grounded family. The narration is so well-crafted, and the concept of the story is refreshingly original. The way the family dynamic is portrayed is nothing short of amazing.
I want to share my heartfelt recommendation for this remarkable book. It has left a lasting impression on me, and I believe it will remain with me for a very long time. As someone who had a grandmother named Rachel, living with dementia, I connected with this book on a profound level. It resonated deeply within me, touching me in ways that are difficult to put into words.
So much thanks to NetGalley, Alcove Press and Rachel MCRady for this heartfelt and compelling read.
September 3, 2023
Sun Seekers is a bittersweet family drama. There are lots of misunderstandings, hurt feelings, difficult moments and frustrating memories for these beleaguered family members. There is sun but not enough to make their lives shine which is why a six year old runs away with her demented grandfather seeking more sun for their solemn lives.
Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.
August 20, 2023
A beautiful sad story written about a family and a trip the 6yr old and her grandfather who has dementia take. Great perspective written in different people's parts makes it easy to follow along. A heartfelt story.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
January 7, 2024
Sun Seekers is the first novel by American author, Rachel McRady. The audio version is narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya, Liam DiCosimo and Haley Taylor. Grandfather has had the worm in his brain for two years: Gracie Lynn Abernathy knows it’s why he had to leave the house where Mama grew up, where they have lived since Daddy made a big mistake three years ago, and go to live in the home. The worm only wakes up when the sun goes down, so Gracie, almost seven, has a plan for fooling the worm. She and Grandfather will go on an adventure, in his 1985 Chevy Impala: they will follow the sun.
Dan Clarmont knows most people in Reading, South Carolina see him as the villain of the story of his broken family, something he truly regrets, and he knows the fact that a sleep-deprived and grieving LeeAnne refused his help with baby Gracie, excluded him from her care, is no excuse for seeking solace with Ashley, but he really wants a bigger part in Gracie’s life. Turning up at her swim meet without warning LeeAnne probably wasn’t the best idea; more unfortunate that the (now-married) predatory woman he dated only once in high school latches onto him right then.
LeeAnn Abernathy seems to be a damaged soul, full of resentment that prevents her from enjoying life: she resents the alternate days visits to the man who was such a poor parent; she resents her not-quite-ex-husband’s life with his girlfriend and new baby son; she resents her boss’s demanding and condescending attitude; she resents the clique of critical PTA moms who seem to take malicious pleasure in her every misstep; and she resents her older sister Sarah’s perfect life with her lawyer husband.
Augmenting her resentment is the grief over the loss of her beloved mama the day Gracie was born, Gracie now being her only true joy. And on this hot June day, Gracie and her demented grandfather are missing, and she will have to ask for help.
There’s nothing like a crisis to crystallise emotions and launch epiphanies, and each of the adults dealing with this terrifying ordeal has their own. Both the adult narrators spend a lot of time analysing their emotions and feelings; their behaviours, like social media hate-stalking and avoiding confrontations, don’t make them very likeable or easy to connect with.
Often, in spite of her tender age, Gracie shows more maturity and insight than her parents: “Grown-ups never think kids can hear them” and “Necessary lies are for when you don’t want to upset people. I never want to upset people, so I’ll probably have to tell many necessary lies”
Gracie’s take on her grandfather: “I don’t know why everyone says I’m so sweet for visiting Grandfather. He is the most interesting person I know” is very different from that of his daughters: “a washed-up fraud with great dreams and zero follow-through. Big John was always in search of an audience. I didn’t want to be another faceless member of his congregation, my worth only measured in my reactions. Sometimes I wanted him to listen to me, to care about my stories, my life. But that never happened.”
Where LeeAnne comes across as whiny, Gracie Lynn is a delight: she has an espionage notebook to note down clues, because “To a spy everything is a clue. And since I’m not old enough to know things yet, I’ll try to figure them out by putting the clues together”
Gracie is expressive: “Grandfather says I can’t let fear run my life, but sometimes it feels like fear is hugging me. When I feel fear I feel other things too, things that come out of fear’s belly. When I feel fear, I feel panic and I feel pain because when I am afraid I bite my bottom lip… I want to scream, but I’m too scared. Fear has my voice in her belly.” Some aspects of the story (eg the driving lesson) definitely require suspension of disbelief. An adequate debut that will resonate with some.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Dreamscape Media
Dan Clarmont knows most people in Reading, South Carolina see him as the villain of the story of his broken family, something he truly regrets, and he knows the fact that a sleep-deprived and grieving LeeAnne refused his help with baby Gracie, excluded him from her care, is no excuse for seeking solace with Ashley, but he really wants a bigger part in Gracie’s life. Turning up at her swim meet without warning LeeAnne probably wasn’t the best idea; more unfortunate that the (now-married) predatory woman he dated only once in high school latches onto him right then.
LeeAnn Abernathy seems to be a damaged soul, full of resentment that prevents her from enjoying life: she resents the alternate days visits to the man who was such a poor parent; she resents her not-quite-ex-husband’s life with his girlfriend and new baby son; she resents her boss’s demanding and condescending attitude; she resents the clique of critical PTA moms who seem to take malicious pleasure in her every misstep; and she resents her older sister Sarah’s perfect life with her lawyer husband.
Augmenting her resentment is the grief over the loss of her beloved mama the day Gracie was born, Gracie now being her only true joy. And on this hot June day, Gracie and her demented grandfather are missing, and she will have to ask for help.
There’s nothing like a crisis to crystallise emotions and launch epiphanies, and each of the adults dealing with this terrifying ordeal has their own. Both the adult narrators spend a lot of time analysing their emotions and feelings; their behaviours, like social media hate-stalking and avoiding confrontations, don’t make them very likeable or easy to connect with.
Often, in spite of her tender age, Gracie shows more maturity and insight than her parents: “Grown-ups never think kids can hear them” and “Necessary lies are for when you don’t want to upset people. I never want to upset people, so I’ll probably have to tell many necessary lies”
Gracie’s take on her grandfather: “I don’t know why everyone says I’m so sweet for visiting Grandfather. He is the most interesting person I know” is very different from that of his daughters: “a washed-up fraud with great dreams and zero follow-through. Big John was always in search of an audience. I didn’t want to be another faceless member of his congregation, my worth only measured in my reactions. Sometimes I wanted him to listen to me, to care about my stories, my life. But that never happened.”
Where LeeAnne comes across as whiny, Gracie Lynn is a delight: she has an espionage notebook to note down clues, because “To a spy everything is a clue. And since I’m not old enough to know things yet, I’ll try to figure them out by putting the clues together”
Gracie is expressive: “Grandfather says I can’t let fear run my life, but sometimes it feels like fear is hugging me. When I feel fear I feel other things too, things that come out of fear’s belly. When I feel fear, I feel panic and I feel pain because when I am afraid I bite my bottom lip… I want to scream, but I’m too scared. Fear has my voice in her belly.” Some aspects of the story (eg the driving lesson) definitely require suspension of disbelief. An adequate debut that will resonate with some.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Dreamscape Media
January 9, 2024
Leanne Abernathy has a lot on her plate she is raising precocious six year-old Gracie she also shoulders most of the care for her daddy big John who is now in a home due to his early onset dementia. Unlike Leeann and her sister Sarah Gracie is enamored with her grandpa big John, as is most of the town of Redding South Carolina. Big John was kind harded and always seemed to have a story that made the normal fantastical but him and his daughters relationship is fraud with anger. Instead of explaining to a four-year-old Gracie that her grandpa had dementia with the side effect of sundowners syndrome Leanne told her he had a worm in his head that woke up at night and that’s why grandpa did not act the same when the sun went down. This is also why Gracie came up with the idea to go on one last adventure with grandpa they would get in his old El Camino in drive to chase the sun that way his worm would never wake up. It will take Leeann losing Gracie and the dad she believes she doesn’t care about to learn lessons she never would have known otherwise. This book is told from different points of view sometimes Gracie sometimes Leanne and a couple of times Gracie‘s dad Daniel but every POV pushes the story forward and comes together to make it a great story. I will be honest and say I connected with Lee Ann unlike any character I have read about before because her relationship with her mom and dad seem to mirror my own and I know how it is to feel slighted and cheated out of a parent and yet have others tell you what a great parent they are. Just like Leanne I too recently lost my father and although our relationship was much better the last few years of his life I still could totally get what Leanne was going through. They say out of the mouths of babes in this book is a great example of that Rachel McRaedie has a great writing style and one I thoroughly enjoy. I am getting tired of reading in Books where people can’t talk about hurts that happened years before because they get choked up or they find out devastating news and it throws their equilibrium off a bit this is not the way real people act at having to hold on to furniture to help you stand up, if that was the way the world reacted to trauma nothing would ever get done but I know this is entertainment and hyperbolic is the law I think I just get tired of all the unrealistic reactions from these characters. I get when it’s apropos to the plot but sometimes the character reactions are just out of the box and ridiculous. HavingSaid that this is still a great solid read and one I thoroughly enjoyed love little Gracie because it can’t be easy to grasp the thought process of a six year old and I think the author did an admirable job. Sorry for the rant. I want to thank Al Cove press and Ned Galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
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February 10, 2024Sun Seekers tells the story of a young girl, Gracie, who helps her elderly grandfather with dementia escape from the nursing home to go on an adventure, worrying her parents who are in the midst of a divorce.
As anyone who has dealt with dementia knows, most patients experience what’s called “sundowning” where their symptoms get worse as the evening progresses. I liked how the characters explained this to Gracie as a “worm” invading her grandfather’s brain and thought it was lovely how Gracie wanted to “chase the sun” with her grandfather to prevent the worm from coming out. What a childlike and sweet notion of a disease that is horrific.
McRady has a gift at writing believable characters in the midst of so much pain. Several moments of the book struck me hard as I reflected on my own time in the sandwich generation of caregiving for kids and aging parents with Alzheimer’s. It was truly the hardest time in my life, and I liked how she portrayed the very real possibility of the primary caregiver undergoing depression and expressing anger. Caregiving isn’t talked about enough and can be such a lonely time.
If you have experienced taking care of someone with dementia or just want a thoughtful book that explores how dementia affects an entire family, I really recommend this book.
As anyone who has dealt with dementia knows, most patients experience what’s called “sundowning” where their symptoms get worse as the evening progresses. I liked how the characters explained this to Gracie as a “worm” invading her grandfather’s brain and thought it was lovely how Gracie wanted to “chase the sun” with her grandfather to prevent the worm from coming out. What a childlike and sweet notion of a disease that is horrific.
McRady has a gift at writing believable characters in the midst of so much pain. Several moments of the book struck me hard as I reflected on my own time in the sandwich generation of caregiving for kids and aging parents with Alzheimer’s. It was truly the hardest time in my life, and I liked how she portrayed the very real possibility of the primary caregiver undergoing depression and expressing anger. Caregiving isn’t talked about enough and can be such a lonely time.
If you have experienced taking care of someone with dementia or just want a thoughtful book that explores how dementia affects an entire family, I really recommend this book.
January 4, 2024
LeAnn is trying to keep her head above water. She is a single mother who’s husband is living with and has a child with another woman, for all intents and purposes is non-existent in her and her daughters life, her sister has mostly checked out and is living her own life sharing some money and snarky judgmental comments when she has a moment, her beloved and cherished mother died, her father has dementia and her gorgeous daughter Gracie Lynn is just about the sweetest girl in the world with a heart so big it is shocking it can fit into her tiny body and loves her grandpa with all of it. She knows he is not well, but doesn’t really understand so she wants to help him take the adventure he desperately wants to take. When they disappear it becomes an all hands on deck situation. It’s an emotional storyline that intimately leads to honest open conversation and some family resolutions, understanding and even some forgiveness. It was an emotional story about love, loss, emotional abuse, separation, parental alienation and so much more. I am shocked that this was her first book and am very much looking forward to what may be next from her. I listened to the audiobook. The narration was superb.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 31, 2023
Title: Sun Seekers
Author: Rachel McRady
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
I enjoyed this a lot! It reminded me vaguely of Fredrik Backman’s My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry because a lot of the story is from Gracie’s point-of-view. LeeAnn…I did not like her at all, except towards the very end. She is completely self-absorbed and wants to blame everyone but herself for all her problems. I found her to be almost hateful for most of the book and had a hard time being sympathetic. Dan…I didn’t have a lot of sympathy for him, either. He cheated on his wife, after all, but I liked that he was actively trying to figure out how to fit in Gracie’s life. This ended up being a deeply engrossing read, and I recommend it.
(Galley courtesy of Alcove Press in exchange for an honest review.)
Author: Rachel McRady
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
I enjoyed this a lot! It reminded me vaguely of Fredrik Backman’s My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry because a lot of the story is from Gracie’s point-of-view. LeeAnn…I did not like her at all, except towards the very end. She is completely self-absorbed and wants to blame everyone but herself for all her problems. I found her to be almost hateful for most of the book and had a hard time being sympathetic. Dan…I didn’t have a lot of sympathy for him, either. He cheated on his wife, after all, but I liked that he was actively trying to figure out how to fit in Gracie’s life. This ended up being a deeply engrossing read, and I recommend it.
(Galley courtesy of Alcove Press in exchange for an honest review.)
January 4, 2024
I received a digital ARC from Alcove Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This story is sad and hopeful at the same time. Six-year-old Gracie tries to help her Grandfather get rid of the “worm” in his brain by taking him on an adventure. The “worm” is Dementia and SunDowning Syndrome, and Gracie is convinced that if they chase the sun the “worm” will stay asleep.
The story is told through multiple points of view; Gracie, her mom Leanne, and her dad Dan. With each chapter, we learn more about the family, and what led to these events. I found each character relatable, and found myself getting emotional throughout the book.
This story is sad and hopeful at the same time. Six-year-old Gracie tries to help her Grandfather get rid of the “worm” in his brain by taking him on an adventure. The “worm” is Dementia and SunDowning Syndrome, and Gracie is convinced that if they chase the sun the “worm” will stay asleep.
The story is told through multiple points of view; Gracie, her mom Leanne, and her dad Dan. With each chapter, we learn more about the family, and what led to these events. I found each character relatable, and found myself getting emotional throughout the book.
December 16, 2023
This was such a beautiful story of second chances. I enjoyed hearing the story from the perspectives of LeeAnn, Dan and Gracie. Gracie captured my heart - - such a curious and tender hearted little girl. The relationship she had with her grandfather was very touching. Interesting how he could show her his soft side when he was never able to do so with his daughters. I really appreciated the author’s thoughtful approach to aging and dementia.
January 30, 2024
McRady’s Sun Seekers is a heart-wrenching story that will make you laugh and cry while you’re on the edge of your seat. This book is a must read for anyone who has been affected by a loved one’s dementia. The characters are lovable, complex, and human. I can’t wait to read more from Rachel McRady!
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