I Would Put This Alongside "True Grit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                 Having loved Davies' short story collection, "The Redemption Of Galen Pike," I was curious to see how she would handle the novel form.  Her book's length is as brief as its title--a mere 149 pages--but the economy of construction which seems to be Davies' primary skill allows for a story with as much, if not more, scope, than many novels of epic length.

                                   The juxtaposition of widower Cyrus Beller, who leaves his daughter, ten-year-old Bess behind, with his sister Julie and her neighbor Elmer Jackson, plays out like a morality play.
Beller is on the quest for the remains of mastodon-like creatures, or the remains thereof, he believes are West of his home in Pennsylvania, so he heads out, while, at home, Bess matures, Aunt Julie flirts with danger, and Bess is saved, in time, from predatory danger.

                                   Sounds impossible?  In lesser hands, yes; in Davies' this is as good as novel writing can get.  Is it too early for me to say this could be an end of year contender?  I don't think so!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Davies' works that I have read are nothing short of remarkable.  But I sense she has yet to write her breakout book.  What a marvel that will be, when it happens.

                                    Don't miss this one, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!