The abrupt disappearance of young Daisy Chance haunts the small town of Defiance, Texas. Fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper searches for answers in this gritty and compelling story of love and sorrow, revealing God's hand of redemption in impossible situations. Lyrical fiction from a bright new literary talent.
The abrupt disappearance of young Daisy Chance haunts the small town of Defiance, Texas. Fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper searches for answers in this gritty and compelling story of love and sorrow, revealing God’s hand of redemption in impossible situations. Lyrical fiction from a bright new literary talent.
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
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4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Amy Lund (Onalaska, WA), February 01, 2010
In Daisy Chain, Mary DeMuth has done an excellent job of creating "real-life" characters that touched past realities of my own life. Though at times a bit awkward editorially, this book is a great read and I recommend it highly.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Novel Teen Book Reviews (Oregon), October 14, 2009
Review by Gretchen Hoffman
Mary E. DeMuth’s latest book, Daisy Chain, is a coming of age story about fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper. He lives in Defiance, TX in 1977, a time of small towns where parents didn’t have to worry about their children running around. At least they didn’t until young Daisy Chance goes missing.
Not only is Daisy Jed’s best friend, but he was the last one to see her. Jed faces guilt over the disappearance of his friend and struggles with hidden hurts from his seemingly picture-perfect family. Through his pain, Jed must learn to overcome his guilt and find redemption.
This novel has been compared to Harper Lee’s infamous book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Let’s just say I can totally understand why. It’s the newest coming of age story that is so well-written. Daisy Chain has beautiful prose, off-beat but very real characters, and a delicate story. It’s one of those books that stays in your mind long after you’ve finished reading it. The story is a little sad, and I couldn’t help wishing things would have turned out differently, but alas, life isn’t always happily-ever-after. I would recommend it.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Linda (Rondeau), August 31, 2009
Rarely does a work of Christian Fiction exhibit both literary genius and masterful story telling. Daisy Chain is one of those rare and beautiful finds that touches the heart but also possess a balance of intrigue that keeps the reader turning the pages. Kudos to Mary Demouth for the courage to expose the hypocrisy that makes an intelligent child question what faith is really about. Fourteen-year old Jed Pepper is the son of a very imperfect preacher. Few outside his father’s church know the extent to which his family hurts. Except for Daisy, the love of his life. When she comes up missing, Jed feels alone. Like most young men growing up in abusive homes, feels he must become the protector for his mother and sister. Her struggles with the misperception that he failed to protect Daisy, blaming himself for whatever happened to her. We ache with the least of Defiance’s citizens on his journey to comprehend this faith his father preaches, a faith veiled by the hypocrisy that so permeates Jed’s life.
Mary Demuth takes us on an expose of a small Texas town through the eyes of an adolescent. She has crafted a beautiful window into the heart and soul of a boy trapped in rural insanity, before Amber Alerts and child protective services. Like so many small towns we drive through, picturesque and post-card perfect, Defiance hosts pain and sorrow tucked underneath a faux veneer of righteousness. This is the backdrop that haunts Jed as he deals with a family torn apart and the grief he endures from Daisy’s disappearance. A wonderful read and deserving of all the accolades it has received to date.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Michelle (Metro Manila, Philippines), August 17, 2009
Victory through trials and tribulation is the theme of Daisy Chain by Mary E. De Muth. Thirty years ago in Defiance, Texas, the summer when Jed Pepper was fourteen, his best friend, Daisy Marie Chance, died. Jed saw Daisy last after they met in their usual meeting place. He was worried about going home early so he left Daisy alone to go home by herself. A few hours after, still worrying this time if Daisy came home safely, he decided to go back to the old abandoned church where he left her. There he found one of Daisy’s shoes but no Daisy. He went to her home and found that she has not come home. Filled with guilt, he spends the following days and weeks searching for her as best as he could.
But Jed also had problems of his own. His father was their town’s preacher. They seemed like the perfect Christian family, but nobody in their town knew what was really going on inside their home. As Jed deals with guilt over Daisy, he also has to deal with their problems at home.
I’ve had to constantly stop and reflect while I was reading this book. Mary de Muth writes with such poignancy and truthfulness that I was so affected with sadness and pain as I read this. The pain that abuse brings is brought to reality here. Though there is no usual happy ending to this story, there is also the reality of hope in the Lord, that even if our start in this world is so bad, God is still there and is able to change our lives.
This is a beautiful, beautiful book and should be read by many. Daisy Chain is the first book in the Defiance, Texas trilogy.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Chandra Lynn (PA), June 19, 2009
Sometimes you find an author who is able to take difficult subjects, tough truths and weave a poignant story from them. It is rare, indeed, to find books of such depth that also draw you in and will not let you put them down. Every time I crack the binding of a book by Mary Demuth I know I am opening such a book. Her skill at telling stories is made more memorable by the subjects and the characters she creates. Daisy Chain is yet another example of turning trials to triumph.
Jed Pepper lives in a typical small town. The time is 1977. His best friend, Daisy Chain, goes missing and Jed is convinced it is his fault. Daisy, in her sweet innocence left a trail of clues for Jed. As Jed follows the clues determined to find her, he finds other hidden things along the way. Hidden secrets within his own family that threaten to destroy his own world. At a time when he needs her the most, his best friend is gone. Jed must grow into manhood through difficult circumstances and only as he does will he find the truth of a God always present, even when no one else is.
This is a beautiful, heart-wrenching story or growing up, rebuilding, and redemption. The reader will be drawn into the lives of the characters and work through each struggle with them. It takes one back to simpler days that held complicated problems and the knowledge that God is always there. Daisy Chain will challenge the reader, and touch hearts. I recommend this book for anyone, but especially those searching for God's Hand in the trials of life.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Daniel Darling (Chicago, IL), June 13, 2009
Daisy Chain is an interesting read. Its a book unlike I've read in a long, long time. Mary DeMuth weaves a haunting story of abuse into a slow-moving, but tightly written work of art.
Where do abused family members go when their perpetrator is a respected small-town pastor? The truth is that there is really no recourse. There is no shelter. There is no out.
Told thru the wide eyes of a 14-year old boy, Daisy Chain shares a riveting story of a lost girl, a legalistic theology, and very human characters. Its the drama of everyday people and everyday life.
I read a lot of books. Most are filled with too many words. The mark of a really good writer is the economy of words. Mary Demuth has no wasted words in Daisy Chain. Each is carefully chosen like an artist who agonizes over each brush stroke.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Daisy Chain. I know you will as well.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Annette M. Irby (Seattle, WA), May 29, 2009
From the moment this story launches, you are holding tight to your seat, thrust so deeply into these characters’ lives and the heart of their country life you feel you’ve become a character. I’ve rarely read a book this emotionally gripping. I’ve heard this book compared to Leif Enger’s “Peace Like a River.” I hold that book in very high esteem as well. And I would agree. Mary’s coming-of-age story, centered on her hero Jed and heroine Daisy is so well written, so gripping, prose lingering in your mind, even if you’re not a highlighter of fiction phrases, you may be tempted to raise a yellow marker to the page.
Fantastic novel. Highly recommended.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Jan Coates (College Station, TX), May 06, 2009
Mary DeMuth's Daisy Chain opens the gates of dirty family secrets while beautifully demonstrating that real freedom is experienced in "Truth." The very real characters will grip your soul and abide in your memory bank long after you've read the last page. Love, forgiveness, redemption, mystery--all within a masterpiece story.
I highly recommend this excellent book to survivors of dysfunctional family relationships (and those who love them), counselors, pastors, and readers looking for an unforgettable book.
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