David Chesney has been haunted for twenty years by the memory of the ghostly lady he saw at the ruins near his grandfather’s home.  Digging into the historical archives, he uncovers the name of his ghost, Brandy Lee McBride, and the horror of her death at the hands of her husband in 1853.  David wants to help Brandy and her daughter, Pennie, but there is nothing that can be done in the modern day to save her from her fate.  Or is there?  See what happens as David steps back into the past to a time when the California Gold Rush is on and women are merely possessions….

SOMETIMES IN SEPTEMBER is a beautifully written time travel.  Cassidy McKay demonstrates a real gift at producing an emotionally wrenching and very powerful story.  Brandy’s plight is one that will bring tears to your eyes but it is the heroism of David that makes SOMETIMES IN SEPTEMBER such a gem.  His selfless and caring attitude and actions make David one of my all time favorite male characters.

Part of the magnificence of SOMETIMES IN SEPTEMBER is how the reader is transported back to a time long past.  Cassidy McKay expertly weaves a tale in which the reader is so drawn into the story that it is as if you are there.  The Gold Rush has never been one of my favorite periods in history but in the hands of the gifted Ms. McKay, I wanted to know and see more as she brought this time period vividly to life.

SOMETIMES IN SEPTEMBER is a sweet tale of love and hope despite all odds.  While there are elements of violence due to the nature of the time period, each aspect is sensitively addressed making this tale appropriate for mature young adult readers as well as adults.  Highly recommended!

Reviewed by Debbie

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Posted April 2007