Pocketful of Names by Joe Coomer

Hannah Bryant is living secluded on a granite quarry island off Maine. She’s content to work on her paintings and other art on the island she inherited from her great-uncle Arlo.

Hannah is happy her artwork is selling and providing her with a good living.  She has lived like a hermit for six years but one summer day a dog washes up with the tide.  Next, a teenaged boy is sent to her by her half-sister.  Will is on the run from his abusive father.  With two living things dependent on her for survival, Hannah finds she must put her work aside and deal with the outside world.  With Will’s presence come more people intruding on Hannah’s isolation.  Hannah befriends Zee, the local boat delivery service girl and Zee’s father and grandfather.  The last to show up is Hannah’s half-sister Emily. She is pregnant by Will’s manipulative father and looking for a place to hide until the baby is born.  Hannah faces emotional challenges as a series of family secrets are uncovered that intertwine this group of people together.  Hannah begins to question the way she has lived her life and understands the difference between solitude and loneliness.

She weighs the solitude against the meaning of home and connection.  This is a story about losing faith and finding love.

The characters are not perfect but start to reveal him or her self, each becoming more realistic.  The island has its own personality and evokes the sights, smells and sounds of the ocean effortlessly.  This is a powerful well written novel that the library will be using for its July book discussion.  Come join the group.