Bouillabaisse — Stacey Sauter

What happens when a fifteen-year old girl awakens one morning to find an abandoned baby in her bureau drawer, then becomes his surrogate mother? For Gail Kenealy, whose family is rapidly deteriorating from domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, this discovery marks her abrupt passage into adulthood as she's forced to care for the newborn, plus his orphaned siblings �" including  his special needs sister. 

It is 1967 and Gail has the happy, carefree, small-town family life that many kids her age enjoy �"  lots of friends, a tight-knit family, and the innocence of adolescence are bright rays of light for her. But life has a certain unpredictability that can strike at the most joyful of moments. For Gail, that sudden shift happens when her Aunt Cate dies giving birth to her fifth child. But not before making Gail's mother, Mary Claire, promise to keep the children safe from their abusive father, Francis. With five children of their own, Mary Claire and her husband, Joe, are forced into a dire situation that transforms their once wholesome household into a den of chaos and frustration. With Joe largely absent trying to make enough money to keep everyone under one roof, and her mother falling into an alcoholic depression, the newfound stress marches the family towards a breaking point thus forcing Gail to hastily trade her adolescent life for the responsibilities of motherhood. 

In a rich coming-of-age tale, Gail and her oldest cousin, Frankie, become the de facto parents in her modest house. Frankie, an abused child who is deeply grateful to have a roof over his head and his siblings together, finds much for which to be grateful.  For Gail, however, the harsh setbacks cause her to angrily question everything around her �" especially God whom she perceives to be absent in their lives. Soon, however, Gail is propelled by a surprising spiritual awakening; in part while drawing upon Frankie's examples of forbearance, personal responsibility, and tenacity. 

They are aided by a pair of well-meaning nuns, one of whom is a gourmet chef capable of firing up a passion for cooking among the children �"  something Frankie takes up with great success. Another surprising source of inspiration arises from Frankie's hero, superstar football coach Vince Lombardi. For this family of bewildered and bereaved children, football not only becomes a means to work out their pain, but competitive cooking brings a sense of communion where even the stew known as bouillabaisse becomes a salve for their wounded souls. Through this heartwarming story, readers will likewise commune at the table with this clan of misfits as they learn lessons of survival, forgiveness, love and redemption.

“Bouillabaisse” is a timeless story when it comes to facing life's immense and unexpected burdens, and of finding hope and triumph in the love of family.