The Singing Trees - by Boo Walker (Paperback)

About the Book

"Maine, 1969. After losing her parents in a car accident, aspiring artist Annalisa Mancuso lives with her grandmother and their large Italian family in the stifling factory town of Payton Mills. Inspired by her mother, whose own artistic dreams disappeared in a damaged marriage, Annalisa is dedicated only to painting. Closed off to love, and driven as much by her innate talent as she is the disillusionment of her past, Annalisa just wants to come into her own. The first step is leaving Payton Mills and everything it represents. The next, the inspiring opportunities in the city of Portland and a thriving New England art scene where Annalisa hopes to find her voice. But she meets Thomas, an Ivy League student whose attentions--and troubled family--upend her pursuits in ways she never imagined possible. As their relationship deepens, Annalisa must balance her dreams against an unexpected love. Until the unraveling of an unforgivable lie. For Annalisa, opening herself up to life and to love is a risk. It might also be the chance she needs to finally become the person and the artist she's meant to be"--

Book Synopsis

A young artist forges a path of self-discovery in an enriching novel about forgiving the past and embracing second chances, from the bestselling author of An Unfinished Story.

Maine, 1969. After losing her parents in a car accident, aspiring artist Annalisa Mancuso lives with her grandmother and their large Italian family in the stifling factory town of Payton Mills. Inspired by her mother, whose own artistic dreams disappeared in a damaged marriage, Annalisa is dedicated only to painting. Closed off to love, and driven as much by her innate talent as she is the disillusionment of her past, Annalisa just wants to come into her own.

The first step is leaving Payton Mills and everything it represents. The next, the inspiring opportunities in the city of Portland and a thriving New England art scene where Annalisa hopes to find her voice. But she meets Thomas, an Ivy League student whose attentions--and troubled family--upend her pursuits in ways she never imagined possible. As their relationship deepens, Annalisa must balance her dreams against an unexpected love. Until the unraveling of an unforgivable lie.

For Annalisa, opening herself up to life and to love is a risk. It might also be the chance she needs to finally become the person and the artist she's meant to be.

Review Quotes

"Walker's (An Unfinished Story) beautifully written coming-of-age novel is set during the Vietnam War...Ideal for book groups and for readers who enjoyed Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones & the Six, Susan Elizabeth Phillips's Dance Away with Me, or Nicholas Sparks's novels." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A heartwarming read." --Historical Novel Society

"The Singing Trees is a beautifully crafted coming-of-age story set in working class Maine during the seventies, a time of intense turmoil and transformation in America. It is a heartfelt, complex tale of chasing your dreams without forsaking your roots, and I was swept away by Boo Walker's deft storytelling and incredibly complex characters. Soulful but also full of sharp dialog and humor, The Singing Trees is exactly the sort of book you get lost in then mourn when it is over." --Suzanne Redfearn, #1 Amazon bestselling author of In an Instant

"The Singing Trees is more than a poignant coming-of-age story; it is a deep exploration of the intricacies of personal growth, family ties, and that most elusive and extraordinary of human gifts, forgiveness. Walker's lively cast of characters centers around the young artist, Annalisa, whose vibrant, yearning nature lights up this story. I cared for her from the first page as she struggles, as we all do, to protect herself from heartbreak only to find that an open heart is a necessary condition for her art, and, ultimately, for happiness. Book clubs will enjoy second-guessing Annalisa's choices, and readers everywhere will be enthralled by this clear-eyed journey into the lessons of the heart." --Sonja Yoerg, Washington Post bestselling author of True Places and The Family Ship

"Boo Walker is that rare writer who is both a master storyteller and wordsmith all at once. Set against the backdrop of small-town Maine, The Singing Trees is an uplifting story about the juxtaposition of love and great art, and the possibility of second chances. This is a book to bring you to tears but leave you with a light in your heart." --Eoin Dempsey, bestselling author of White Rose, Black Forest

"Boo Walker's The Singing Trees filled my heart with a song that echoed inside me long after I'd read the last sentence. With his skill at storytelling on display, Walker deftly takes the reader on a journey through the choices and sacrifices facing those who are caught in creativity's siren call in this tale of love, sacrifice, and ultimately forgiveness. Bring tissues because there will be tears, but the good kind--the kind that let you know you are alive." --Emily Bleeker, Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author