In the spring of 1954, Tamara Anderson is fifteen when her family moves into the pretty farmhouse across the road from the tar-papered house.  Tamara is the oldest of three children.  Her father is a painter whose landscapes require new locations for inspiration.  The family moves yearly arriving weeks before the end of one school year and leaving weeks before the completion of the next.

Some things that stay is a coming of age story in which Tamara faces more than the standard fair of parental misunderstanding, sexual awakening and sibling confrontations.  Raised in an extremely liberal, atheist family, Tamara has of none of the body/sex hang-ups so many of us grew up with and her sexual awakening is refreshingly guilt-free. Moving constantly, she dreams of stability and a more-than-fleeting connection into society.  In the course of the story, she tries out the Baptist church with the neighbors who are more than the junky cars littering their front yard.  In light of her atheistic upbringing, Tamara’s contemplation of God, organized religion, prayer and fate vs faith adds an interesting layer.  She faces ethical dilemmas, maternal illness, paternal selfishness, and, of course, sexual awakening. 

A deep, meaty story, Sarah Willis’ Some things that stay is a great book club selection.  My book club read it and loved it.  The concepts raised yielded plenty of spirited conversation.  I recommend it.