Stillwater

At the heart of this beautifully rendered novel is the story of fifteen-year-old Jamieson, a farm boy who finds first love with the unforgettable, dreamy Hannah. At the same time, life as he knows it is unraveling around him--his town and four neighboring towns will soon be flooded to create a huge reservoir. In a world facing obliteration, some citizens take refuge in whiskey or denial, some give in to despair, some preach hypocrisy, and others decide to turn a profit on their fellow citizens' misfortunes. As the seasons turn during the towns' final year, events spin out of control. It is Hannah, finally, who opens Jamieson's eyes to wider possibilities and helps him taste a measure of revenge on the men who sold out the valley towns. A significant step forward in William Weld's already notable writing career, Stillwater illuminates nature's magnificence, man's inhumanity, people's courage, and the destiny of place that is characteristic of America.