I just read a book about a woman who talks to a cow and discovers that she can learn something from this cow and this city born and raised girl liked it. Well, it's not really about only that, although Big Red and her steer Lucky are a big part of the story, it's about so much more. It's about poverty and infidelity and a gift - a little boy named Emerson Bridge and the strength that one pulls from deep within when you can't see that it's there. It's about some devious people as well as good people and about friendship, about love and what constitutes family.

Sarah Creamer lives a hard life . It's the early 1950's in rural South Carolina. Her husband drinks his paycheck, her best friend gives birth to her husband's baby and Sarah is left with the little boy, feeling an obligation to care for him even though she has the feeling that she doesn't have "one good mama bone" in her body. Her priority becomes to make sure she can feed Emerson Bridge and keep a roof over his head even though she thinks, "I don't know how to be no good mama" - Sarah was wrong. She discovers that if she can get a steer, it would provide a buddy for her son as well as make some money if the steer wins a contest. Problems arise when others have their sights on the same prize, problems that make for an unexpected ending.

I'm not surprised that it was selected by Pat Conroy for Story River Books imprint . This is a well written debut and certainly a story of the south, but mostly a story whose themes are shared no matter where you live. I will definitely watch for more from McClain.

I received an advanced copy of this book from University of South Carolina Press (Caitlin Hamilton Marketing) through NetGalley .