June Bug is Chris Fabry’s second adult novel since authoring many children’s books. After reading Dogwood, I knew I’d probably read whatever this man wrote. What a writer. In the last few pages of this story as the end of many things is near to the beginning of many more, I cried. My heart broke at the beauty of impossible circumstances finding imperfect resolutions.
The story begins with the red-headed nine year old girl named June Bug traveling in an old RV with her dad and narrating their experiences and predicaments. Broke down in the Walmart parking lot waiting on a part, June Bug sees a computer generated face on the Missing Children’s wall in the store which looks just like her, and from that moment on life changes radically for her and her dad.
Invited by a lonely female assistant manager to park and wait for the part in her driveway at her home, since the manager orders a tow truck to take them away, John Johnson and June Bug spend a couple of days with “Sheila” who convinces John to let the girl stay with her while he goes to do whatever it is he feels he must do because she can offer those things little girls need. As much as he hates to do it, he agrees with Sheila and takes off. June Bug’s intuition tells her she should go with her dad and she stows away in the RV.
Through the course of this story, we learn some of the background of the girl’s disappearance through the eyes of the grandmother, the mother, the Sheriff of the small town where she lived, and through John’s devoted but broken spirit.
When we return to the little girl’s story, we discover she’s terrified of bridges and sings the hymn “I’ll Fly Away” over every crossing just to avoid complete panic. We also find she knows all the nuances of her dad’s tone of voice in every situation. There is a deep love between them which hovers between mutual respect and a playful relationship. They’ve been all over the country together, and he’s taught her things she could’ve never experienced within the walls of a school. But soon enough he begins to realize she needs some things he can’t really provide. Among those is the truth of who she is.
Brilliantly crafted and sweet and sour all at the same time, we know this special relationship between June Bug and the honorable man she’s always known as her father will change. And we dread it in spite of the inherent needs of this clever little child.
Needless to say by now, I’m a huge Chris Fabry fan. Few authors can weave such unique stories with such perfect language and impose their characters upon my heart like this man. Not as beautifully told as Dogwood because of the childlike portion of narration, he creates these noble but hurting manly characters that touch the souls of readers. He handles the observations of the spunky June Bug with precision and accuracy that rings true. (Being the father of nine children might have something to do with that.) The peripheral or secondary characters grab us and create a picture of people who are determined, ugly, sad, and/or detestable.
Chris Fabry is an artist with words. All I can say is: Read his novels.
Father, you have seen Chris’s family through horrendous circumstances. They’re still navigating the impossible. Please help them through these hard times and pour out your Spirit and your blessings upon their family as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Wow. It sounds incredible. I'll definitely check him out!
Posted by: Kristen Torres-Toro | November 02, 2009 at 07:06 AM
Kristen, his work enriches you as a reader. He's just such a good writer. I didn't care for part of Dogwood's ending, but his superb writing and the overall story make it one of my favorite novels of all time. With June Bug it's the overall story and the capturing of brokenness.
Posted by: Nicole | November 02, 2009 at 07:25 AM