Stork Bite is a powerful and riveting story. Told in two parts, the first being David, the second told bye Mae and Cargie, L. K. Simonds delivers us a tale that is told over the years with complex characters and an enthralling story. The history, the detail, the layers, I devoured each page. 

From the beginning, we follow David’s story as he inadvertently kills a Texas Ranger. My heart was racing through this entire scene, as David not only loses his companion (his dog Huck), but in the commotion kills a man that was trying to arrest him for wanting to use a boat that was designated for whites only. David then does what he needs to, he hides the man’s car, takes his lifeless dog home, and tells his family. 

Reading David’s story, I couldn’t help but feel like I was right there with him, going through the emotions with him, the turmoil, the injustice. Stork Bite is raw and real and true Texas grit. From the first couple of pages, I knew I was hooked and had to figure out how David  was going to survive through this incident. 

One thing that I have to mention is how beautiful L. K. Simonds’ writing is. It’s descriptive and captivating and has quite the voice to the story. My favorite of the two stories is David’s story, and my only complaint was the switch between the two stories. However the story does have a really great ending. I really enjoyed seeing how the two stories come together.

The characters in Stork Bite are layered, complex characters, each with their own mistakes and mishaps. And the mystery in the story is what really drives this tale home for me. 

This story is one of redemption and one of reflection. It’s thought provoking and deep. A story that really makes you think. And I love that about it. It’s emotional and rich, and a story that will stick with me. I would definitely give this book a 4/5 and I look forward to reading future books by L.K. Simonds.