Our main character is 19, she has moments when her age does catch up to her but she is well read, with an older age charisma. If it was not pointed out she was 19 I would not have guessed this about her until later. However, those moments that point out her age are important. This whole book is about coming of age, and Margaret Whitaker chose one tough way to get through.

I also really love the ending, although others may not. They may even be heartbroken, but it’s a real worthy ending, with words that make the title of this book come altogether. There was an epilogue afterward, but personally, I like to imagine it without the prologue or epilogue.

This book is a real winner. Although it’s a short 1-2 day read, there are parts that are going to remind you of bad times, good times, and times in between. It takes you back to when you were in that time of discovering yourself. It also might make you happy that you didn’t get yourself into as much trouble as Margaret Whitaker did during this time in your life.

Or maybe you did? If so, you’ve got some memorable memories no doubt you’d remember ’til your 80!

How could I not love a book that had rings the main character made being named after beloved characters like Jack London, Atticus Finch, and Rhett Butler?

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Gray, by Rachel Karns, is an interesting story about a girl trying to find her place in the world. She makes a lot of mistakes, but keeps going. The novel is aptly named, not just because of the wolves in the book, but also because of the gray areas in Maggie Whitaker's life that she is struggling with.

I must admit, when I first started reading, I was immediately reminded of While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman. I cringed a bit, but it didn't turn out to be a rehash of the movie. Some of the things that happen seem a bit implausible, but if you suspend belief, the story is enjoyable.

The characters are believable. I liked Maggie, even though she seemed foolish at times. It was obvious she was a young woman learning about life and growing from her mistakes.

It was interesting learning a little about jewelry making and gray wolves. I like it when an author sneaks some learnin' in on my pleasure reading without me realizing it!

All in all, this was an enjoyable story for young adults. Give it a try! ( )

Maggie is a young woman who is coming into herself. She is learning to make decisions about herself and life. One major decision is to work in her family’s jewelry business rather than attend college. Her parents are away on an extended trip, leaving Maggie to manage things at home.

While Maggie is establishing her role in the business, she is drawn to a newspaper story about a “John Doe”. It seems the man has no known identity and is comatose. She follows the news stories, feeling a strong draw to his complicated story and to him.

However, following John Doe’s story leads Maggie to telling a lie that she cannot take back. This changes everything for Maggie. Not only does she learn things about John Doe, but also about herself and life.

Ms. Karns writes of the beauty and history of the Northwestern United Sates, including the important yet controversial reintroduction of the Gray Wolf. These aspects make this book more than just a novel, but rather an interesting and pleasurable read. ( )

Peter Delano is a mountain man, spending most of his time in the mountains studying the gray wolf for the Idaho Fish and Game commission. Margaret Whitaker is a high school graduate who designs jewelry and forgoes college to work at the family jewelry store.

Peter longs for a woman in his life. Margaret wants to save people in trouble.

Three years ago Peter had been dating someone who suddenly realized that she wasn’t cut out for the solitary, roughing it life. He recently began emailing a woman who seemed more amenable to life in the wild and agreed to meet her. While crossing the street to the drug store for shaving cream and a razor to look presentable on his first date, Peter is hit by a pizza delivery truck. Struck unconscious and having no ID, the local media reported him as a John Doe, asking for anyone with information to come forward.

Margaret, reading about the John Doe in the newspaper, has this urge to visit him in the hospital. Since only family is allowed, she states that she’s his fiancée (a la the movie While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock—I highly recommend it). Credited for helping him recover against the odds, she falls in love with him, despite the fact that he’s twelve years older.

Gray, Rachel Karns’ debut novel, takes the reader through Maggie’s struggle with her feelings towards Peter, her hesitancy to stay involved once she gets involved and the pair’s struggle to understand what, if anything, they mean to each other. While the story’s premise is interesting, there is something lacking. I’m not sure whether it’s the storyline, the characters or the writing, which is not overly descriptive. Whatever the issue, I was not drawn into the story and found myself skimming to get to the end. ( )