[.ca] Almond Eyes (ISBN 1413704727)

Heartbreaking stories of childhood:
The rural south lives through Bethy Hightower's stories: Bethy puffed up like a toady frog. "We don't have snakes in our outhouse. Daddy Jim left the bottom boards off the back where the chickens could get in and peck around and scare off the snakes." "Yeah, right." Missy rolled her eyes. "I reckon he had some cockamamie reason for leaving off the top boards, too." Bethy plopped her hands on her hips. "Anybody with any sense knows the back of our outhouse has that great big old chinaberry tree blocking the view."

Children remember old wounds:
After each member of the congregation filed past the little casket and returned to their seats, Minerva motioned the little mourners to silence. She faced the congregation; head held high, shoulders thrown back, eyes filled with satisfaction. "As you all know, the death we see here today is a reminder of how often we, as Christians, indulge in harmful gossip. The Lord loves us all and teaches we must show that same love to each other. One way we can do this is by burying Miss Ima Gossip once and for all."