Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Bookworm9

Looking back, "The Rain Catchers" seems like a very unrealistic book, but I also remember how good it was. Teenager Greyling lives with an assortment of older women (including her grandmother) in an idyllic house where stories are told over tea and rain water is collected for washing hair. Along with her best friend, Colleen, who has an awful home life, Greyling learns plenty of life lessons but still longs for her widowed mother, who lives by herself in San Francisco. When Greyling goes to visit, she discovers a story that has long been wondered about over afternoon tea, and must make some decisions of her own.

Like I said, many parts of the plot seem unrealistic (including Greyling randomly trying to purchase a gun on the streets of San Francisco...), and the mom is one of Thesman's usual bad-mother stereotypes, but the story is still an enjoyable teen mix of romance, family relationships, and life lessons.