GUINEVERE'S CHILD

An abandoned daughter searches for the truth about her birthparents in this novel.

The story opens in 1921 in San Diego, California, with the striking Guinevere “Gwen” Dierks walking through the working-class neighborhood of Ocean Beach with her 5-year-old daughter, Mary Jane. Holding back the tears, Gwen takes Mary Jane to the home of Edith and Gilbert Beeler, telling her that she must stay with this family for a while. After Gwen leaves, the distraught Mary Jane is told by Edith: “I am your new mother….You don’t have that other family any longer.” Mary Jane’s upbringing with the Beelers is a difficult one. Dad Beeler is a kind man, whereas the tyrannical Mother Beeler punishes Mary Jane at every opportunity—on one occasion, cruelly holding the child’s soaking wet panties in her face for not making it to the bathroom in time. At 9, Mary Jane is informed by Mother Beeler that her birth mom has died. Growing older, Mary Jane develops an intense desire to understand why she was given away and, despite Mother Beeler’s attempts to impede her, discovers that her father was a high-ranking naval officer. As Mary Jane’s search intensifies, Gwen’s own motivations for leaving her daughter become clearer. Based on a true story about the author’s family and illustrated with photographs from various sources throughout, the intricate narrative flips between Gwen’s past, detailing her troubled romance with a married commander, and Mary Jane’s journey into womanhood. The details of Gwen’s life leading up to her separation from her daughter are revealed incrementally, making for a tantalizing read. Evans (String of Pearls, 2012) is an observant writer, although her descriptive passages can appear stiff and laconic: “The interior” of the Beelers’ home “perpetually smelled of furniture polish and cleaning fluids. The furnishings were formal and of good quality.” These portions would benefit from further embellishment. But this is compensated for by an intriguing plotline and realistically stinging dialogue—at one point, Mother Beeler asks Mary Jane: “Why ever would you want to try to find your family? You come from trash and you’ll go back to trash.” Readers will root for Gwen and Mary Jane as they navigate a cruel and deceitful world in search of a sense of belonging.

Strong, deftly intertwined narratives make this family tale a winner despite minor imperfections.