Facing the Dawn

Ruchti (Afraid of the Light) returns with a heartbreaking story about one woman’s journey through grief and resentment. Mara Jacobs has been raising her three trouble-prone children alone for the past three years while her husband, Liam, has been working in Uganda for a company that provides clean water to villages. Mara’s oldest son is on probation for drug possession, her teenage daughter has a bad attitude, and her youngest son keeps his emotions hidden. Oh, and the house keeps falling apart, and she hates her job at a cheese factory and resents Liam’s absence. After Liam dies in an accident, Mara is faced with either sinking under the weight of guilt for resenting him or learning to rely on her faith and the strength of surrounding friends. Not until Mara visits the last place her husband was seen alive does she begin to see the hope that comes after healing. Through the tragedy of Liam’s death, the whole Jacobs family comes together to ensure that Liam’s legacy of empathy and commitment to others remains intact. Ruchti delivers well-rounded, believable characters and has a sure hand at charting the ways they process complex emotions. This packs an emotional punch. (Mar.)