SAVING CICADAS by Nicole Seitz
SAVING CICADAS
By Nicole Seitz
Reviewed by Jennifer L. Vido
The power of family and faith.
Janie Doe is an eight year old whose life is less than ordinary. Living in a dysfunctional family in South Carolina, she does her best to cope with her unpleasant circumstances. With no father around, a mother coming apart at the seams, and a seventeen year old sister suffering from Down syndrome, her hopes and aspirations for living a normal life live quietly in her dreams.
When her mother Priscilla discovers that she is unexpectedly pregnant, she decides to take the family on a road trip in order to clear her mind. With no job or means in which to support her family, she packs up her daughters with her mother and father in tow and heads nowhere in particular in hopes of coming to terms with the unfortunate hand that she has been dealt.
As life sometimes does, she makes a full circle by heading back home to her childhood house. Upon her arrival, she reconnects with her brother Pastor Fritz which helps fill the familial void she’s been carrying around for the better part of her life. Hoping to find Janie’s dad Harlan so that they can once again become a family, she embarks on a journey to put her life back in order.
Within no time, Priscilla makes peace with her new set of circumstances. With a new job and a roof above her head, she finally feels as if she can provide a nurturing home for her girls. If only she could turn back the clock and do away with her unwanted pregnancy. Then, her life would be complete. Yet, would destroying an innocent unborn baby’s life in order to better provide for the children nestled in her arms truly be unjust?
SAVING CICADAS is a powerful novel by the very talented Low country author Nicole Seitz who dares to ask the question about the validity of an unborn child’s right to life. Through vivid and unforgettable characters, she reminds us all of the sheer beauty in the miracle of life. From start to finish, Seitz’s story is truly a gem.