A beautiful coming-of-age story set in the forests of New Hampshire

Waiting for the Night Song is an impressive debut novel from writer Julie Carrick Dalton. As someone from New England, I recognized her name as a popular contributor to The Boston Globe and other local newspapers and blogs. Dalton's novel is an emotional coming-of-age story about how time and secrets can change people and affect childhood friendships. The novel itself is set in rural New Hampshire, and woven throughout the narrative is a timely warning against racial tensions and climate change. The strong emphasis on nature writing and environmental conservation reminds me of Delia Owen's novel Where the Crawdads Sing: "The crowns of oak trees framed a window straight up to the sky, where starlings billowed like lace. Cadie inhaled Garrett's exhale. Mineral iridescence tingled on her tongue. Garrett tasted like the lake. Or maybe the lake had always tasted like him." Overall, I found Waiting for the Night Song to be both riveting and heartbreaking. It's a beautiful story about friendships, resilience, acceptance, and love.