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Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers' Favorite
On Groundhog Day of 1975 baby Claire was born prematurely. She was a twenty-sixth week baby. The hospital had never had a preemie this young survive but Claire had an angel watching over her. Millie Rose died in 1922 when her baby Mae Dae was born but Millie's afterlife had been filled with rescue missions and Claire was her newest assignment. Millie willed baby Claire to breathe on her own. And Millie watched over Claire for all of her young life, for Claire's mother Manda and her father Mick were just college students. Millie is there with Claire as she reaches a weight of five pounds and can leave the hospital for home. She remained with her for years, willing Manda and Mick to pay attention as their young daughter romped with the family dog and coped with walking with difficulty and in having to wear glasses to see the world around her. Manda's parents, the Willards, had little to do with their talented daughter because of their unwanted pregnancy, but Mick's family, the Harpers, were much more accepting, especially his aged but delightful aunts, Grace and Gertrude. Claire made her way in the world with Millie Rose at her back, guiding and guarding her. The Vance’s were next door neighbors and Claire grew quite attached to Charlie Vance.
"Need to Breathe" is a delightfully well-written novel of the growing up years of a young girl severely restricted by birth defects. The characters in this story are heartrendingly believable. The dialogue is excellent and the story moves smoothly, with a twist here and there, to a completely realistic conclusion. "Need to Breathe" by Tara Staley is another one of those novels that readers will never forget! There is just something special about Southern writers!
