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The Garland
coming of age story
129 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 25, 2018
The interaction of two young lives
Martha Keltz makes her literary debut with THE GARLAND – a sensitive coming of age story about the interaction of two sisters and the arts in all forms. Martha earned her degrees in English and German from Barry College in Miami, Florida, and began writing, directing and producing dramas. The dramas advanced from one-act plays to full-length plays. She also is a painter and illustrator and her second publication will be an illustrated book of verse.
There is a radiance that flows across the pages of this very special young adult coming of age story enhanced by Martha’s deep commitment and experience with the arts – drama, music, opera, ballet, and painting. Though the story is about two sisters and their interaction and goals in life, the beauty of the Maryland countryside competes for attention, so agile is Martha in creating atmosphere. We meet these three main characters on page one – ‘Sondra and her little sister Amanda stepped off the train at the station in Hughmont, Western Maryland. The old station had only one platform and a small building and it appeared to be in the middle of the town. Nearby was the bus station. They had left New York City very early that morning and had changed trains in Pittsburgh. Their luggage consisted of only two suitcases and Sondra’s backpack. A man wearing overalls and a red cap took the suitcases from the conductor, and with a rush of steam and a shrill whistle the train continued down the tracks toward Cumberland. The two girls followed the man into the building and he pointed to the stationmaster behind the counter and went back outside. The stationmaster glanced at a paper he had on a clipboard. “Sondra Everett and Amanda Davison?” “Yes, sir,” replied Sondra. “Welcome to Hughmont. I’m to direct you to the offices of Mr. Fred Donovan.” Sondra must have looked worried because he added “You can see the offices from here. They’re just down the street. Your suitcases will stay here – they’ll be safe here – and when Mr. Donovan phones me, we’ll get them over to your house.” My house… our house… Sondra thought, her heart skipping a beat.’
The outline of the plot is as succinct as possible – ‘Eighteen-year-old Sondra, or "Sunny," has recently graduated from high school. After their single mom passed away, she assumed the legal guardianship of her half sister Amanda, "Mandy," who is eight years old. The story begins in June, when the two girls move from New York City to Hughmont, a small mountain town in Western Maryland, where they have been given two properties that belonged to Mandy's father, whom they have never met. Matters become complicated for Sunny when her little sister longs to continue with her ballet training. The child is an exceptionally gifted dancer and a natural, charismatic little superstar, while Sunny is a quiet, studious, hardworking girl who is still uncertain about the direction that her life will take. With the capable assistance of the many new friends that the sisters have met in the small town, in addition to their good friends back in New York City, Sunny puts aside her own interests and goals to manage Mandy's career. However, she draws comfort and realizes her eventual destiny through restful, solitary excursions to a small house in the forest called "The Hut," one of the properties given to the two girls. Here she discovers the natural wonders of the surrounding forest and the incomprehensible number of stars in the deep night sky. The twofold mystery of The Garland is revealed near the end of the story. One part of the mystery makes complete sense to Sunny, while she is astonished by the second more personal meaning.’
This is a most impressive publication debut and signals the arrival of a particularly sensitive new voice in YA books. Highly recommended.
Martha Keltz makes her literary debut with THE GARLAND – a sensitive coming of age story about the interaction of two sisters and the arts in all forms. Martha earned her degrees in English and German from Barry College in Miami, Florida, and began writing, directing and producing dramas. The dramas advanced from one-act plays to full-length plays. She also is a painter and illustrator and her second publication will be an illustrated book of verse.
There is a radiance that flows across the pages of this very special young adult coming of age story enhanced by Martha’s deep commitment and experience with the arts – drama, music, opera, ballet, and painting. Though the story is about two sisters and their interaction and goals in life, the beauty of the Maryland countryside competes for attention, so agile is Martha in creating atmosphere. We meet these three main characters on page one – ‘Sondra and her little sister Amanda stepped off the train at the station in Hughmont, Western Maryland. The old station had only one platform and a small building and it appeared to be in the middle of the town. Nearby was the bus station. They had left New York City very early that morning and had changed trains in Pittsburgh. Their luggage consisted of only two suitcases and Sondra’s backpack. A man wearing overalls and a red cap took the suitcases from the conductor, and with a rush of steam and a shrill whistle the train continued down the tracks toward Cumberland. The two girls followed the man into the building and he pointed to the stationmaster behind the counter and went back outside. The stationmaster glanced at a paper he had on a clipboard. “Sondra Everett and Amanda Davison?” “Yes, sir,” replied Sondra. “Welcome to Hughmont. I’m to direct you to the offices of Mr. Fred Donovan.” Sondra must have looked worried because he added “You can see the offices from here. They’re just down the street. Your suitcases will stay here – they’ll be safe here – and when Mr. Donovan phones me, we’ll get them over to your house.” My house… our house… Sondra thought, her heart skipping a beat.’
The outline of the plot is as succinct as possible – ‘Eighteen-year-old Sondra, or "Sunny," has recently graduated from high school. After their single mom passed away, she assumed the legal guardianship of her half sister Amanda, "Mandy," who is eight years old. The story begins in June, when the two girls move from New York City to Hughmont, a small mountain town in Western Maryland, where they have been given two properties that belonged to Mandy's father, whom they have never met. Matters become complicated for Sunny when her little sister longs to continue with her ballet training. The child is an exceptionally gifted dancer and a natural, charismatic little superstar, while Sunny is a quiet, studious, hardworking girl who is still uncertain about the direction that her life will take. With the capable assistance of the many new friends that the sisters have met in the small town, in addition to their good friends back in New York City, Sunny puts aside her own interests and goals to manage Mandy's career. However, she draws comfort and realizes her eventual destiny through restful, solitary excursions to a small house in the forest called "The Hut," one of the properties given to the two girls. Here she discovers the natural wonders of the surrounding forest and the incomprehensible number of stars in the deep night sky. The twofold mystery of The Garland is revealed near the end of the story. One part of the mystery makes complete sense to Sunny, while she is astonished by the second more personal meaning.’
This is a most impressive publication debut and signals the arrival of a particularly sensitive new voice in YA books. Highly recommended.
December 26, 2018
The Garland by Martha Keltz is a wonderful coming of age story that features Sondra, otherwise known as Sunny, and her younger sister, Amanda, who goes by Mandy. Sondra is eighteen years old and inherits some property in Maryland. After settling there with her young sister, Sondra grows and matures as she takes on the responsibility of raising her much younger sister, and fostering her budding ballet career. With a highly descriptive style of writing, which is almost lyrical in places, Keltz renders this short novel with tenderness and realism. A coming of age story that will appeal to many in the YA audience, but suitable for older readers as well, this book is a must read for anyone looking to escape for a while with a meaningful and thoughtful story. Taking place during the 1980's the story reflects those times accurately, creating a real sense of place. Highly recommend for an inspiring read.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews