It is a telephone call every parent dreads. No parent wants to hear the phone ring in the middle of the night, or see the flashing lights and hear the knock at the door. Yet, that is the telephone call that Catie Hartsfield received one late spring day. Home getting ready for a graduation party, Catie was tense...as if something was not right. Trying to unwind by taking a quick swim, Catie was quickly catapulted into a tragedy that would shake her to her core.

While away on a camping trip, her middle son, Bryant, falls over 180 feet off of a cliff at the Gorge. It is not known exactly how long he laid there until found by his younger brother in the morning. Rescued by his younger brother, a friend and a boy scout troop, Bryant is not expected to survive.

The Year of the Cicadas is a heart wrenching story of anguish while at the same time a story of hope and promise. The story is not only that of Catie Hartsfield, but of her entire family. Told through journal entries and recollections of her husband and other children, The Year of the Cicadas tells the miraculous story of Bryant's recovery as the family pulls together. Leaning on God and on each other, they draw closer together. A marriage on the rocks begins to heal alongside the healing body of a young man. Through it all, Catie finds her voice and is able to express deeply suppressed emotions as God heals her heart. The miracles and promises of God are extraordinary.


Reminiscent of Swimming Solo by Susan R. Rava, The Year of the Cicadas contains just as much raw emotion. Both books will make you cry as you feel the pain of the families involved. If you enjoyed Swimming Solo, pick up a copy of The Year of the Cicadas.

Disclaimer: The Year of the Cicadas was provided by Catie Hartsfield in exchange for an impartial review. Compensation was not offered, and the opinions expressed herein are those of the reviewer.

The Year of the Cicadas can be purchased from online retailers such as www.amazon.com.



For those who missed Susan R. Rava's story of dealing with Alzheimers when it originally posted, Swimming Solois still available at www.amazon.com. I encourage you to pick up a copy today.