>Summer of Light by W. Dale Cramer
Bethany House Publishers; paperback; 400 pages; © 2007

Dale Cramer is a relatively new author in the Christian fiction genre and one of my favorite discoveries as a church librarian. His fresh novels are always a delight to read. Men, in particular, may enjoy reading about the struggles and escapades of Cramer’s male protagonists. Cramer has a knack for telling anecdotes that are so funny or so unbelievable that the reader feels they must be rooted in truth.

Summer of Light is a delightful novel about Mick Brannigan, a high-rise construction worker who suddenly loses his job and becomes a stay-at-home dad. Mick’s family life has its challenges, including a special needs child. And his compulsion to provide financially for his family makes his new role all the more challenging.

As Mick bumbles along—sometimes hilariously—in his new role, he learns important lessons about photography, fatherhood, and faith.

The Brannigan family is far from ideal and readers may not agree with every facet of child rearing depicted, but that aspect of the novel is eclipsed by the larger message of looking for light.

Recommended for personal reading, especially for men, and for placement in church libraries.