A Place We Knew Well

A Place We Knew Well by Susan Carol McCarthy

9780804176545

256 Pages

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Bantam Dell, Bantam

Release Date: September 29, 2015

Fiction (Adult), General Fiction (Adult), Cuban Missile Crisis, Mental Illness, Adoption

In October 1962, Wes Avery owns a Texaco gas station and is married to Sarah. Their teenage daughter Charlotte was named to the Homecoming Court. They live near a military base in the Orlando, Florida area. One morning, planes begin taking off in advance of an expected hurricane but then the storm changes course.

The military base is preparing for a show and Sarah is in charge of “Grandma’s pantry.” This includes all the food that should be stored in a bomb shelter. Sarah is dealing with emotional/mental issues after a necessary hysterectomy after a pregnancy with twins resulted in a miscarriage. She is under constant pressure from the committee chairwoman to get things done while trying to deal with everyday life and preparing for homecoming. It proves to be too much for her, and she takes a turn for the worse.

When Wes is asked to give a job to a displaced Cuban boy, Emilio, he readily agrees. Between him and his best friend Steve, they provide stability to Emilio. President Kennedy gives a speech announcing the Soviets placed missiles in Cuba which puts the military base on alert. Everyone is tense and no one knows if there will be a tomorrow.

The story is fast paced, the characters are well developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. The author shows how mental illness was treated during that time. It was sad to watch Sarah deteriorate while her family watched helplessly. This is an excellent book for anyone in the Florida area (I am in West Central Florida) or that likes military fiction.