Labor Day by Joyce Maynard

If you are in the mood for a love story along the lines of Bridges of Madison County then this is a good book for you.  The narrator of the story is a 13 year old boy who lives alone with his mother since the divorce of his parents.  Henry is a loving, self sacrificing boy who is more than forgiving of his mother's eccentricities.  They live far removed from everyone in their town; they rarely leave their house; they have long rambling talks over their TV dinners that are entirely too embarrassing as far as Henry is concerned.  From the beginning the reader knows something is terribly wrong with Henry's mother, Adele, but we only find bits a pieces of information along the way to help us understand her fear of anyone or anything outside of her house.  Henry and Adele's lives change completely though because of a chance encounter at the market.  Henry meets Frank while looking at the magazine racks and without really thinking, agrees to let Frank come home with him.  Frank, we learn early on, is an escaped convict thought to be dangerous and willing to harm anyone who gets in his way.  Thus begins the weekend that changes all their lives.  Maynard tells her story with a sense of mystery and a compassion that pulls you in even when you are questioning the plausibility of the plot line.  The characters are believable and so human that you feel you might know them.  Each character has such a strong need for love and understanding. In the end, love wins out which is the way we usually want our love stories to end. As Frank says, "when you follow the instincts of love---a person is likely to respond favorably.....(even) people so damaged by life in the world that there might seem no hope for them, only there may be.  It is a good reminder for all of us.  Love can conquer many things.