Category: Fiction
Publisher: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
ISBN-13:9781565124721
Pub. Date: August 2008
Date Read: February 2009
"Today is market day. Not because it's Tuesday. Not because fresh tomatoes were loaded into the wooden bins this morning. Today is market day because Daddy sent money."
When the novel opens, Ellie Sanders' father has run off with Tess, the tomato girl, the young woman who brings the tomatoes to his store. Ellie waits for the letters to come, hopefully with money and hopefully with some explanation or idea as to when he'll return. It's Ellie's job to watch for the letters and not let them get into her mother's hands.
Ellie takes us back in time and we see that the eleven-year-old was in charge of a lot of things in her young life. Mainly taking care of her mother who had been sliding into madness over the years. As the story unfolds the reader sees the hardship Ellie and her father have had to endure living with someone who is clearly ill. But, at least Ellie had her father to run to when things were awful.
However, when her father brought the Tomato Girl to live with them to help around the house Ellie sensed a big shift taking place. Although Ellie may be young, she noticed the glances between Tess and her father and before long she realized that her father didn't bring Tess in for help but because he was in love with her.
Tess for her part has also had a difficult life and sees her life with the Sanders as an escape. And, soon Tess and Ellie's father will have to leave town and Ellie behind.
It was hard not to feel sorry for Tess but of course my heartstrings were tugged by this wonderful character author Jayne Pupek created in Ellie. The little girl who suffers guilt, loneliness and fear and still tries to hold it all together for her family.
I wanted to shake her father and I wanted to hug some of the characters that at least stood up and with Ellie. A touching story that will stay with you.