When Crickets Cry is an extraordinary book written by Charles Martin. The writing style paints a picture of life in the South and without a huge narrative I felt like I already knew the characters. Set in a small town in Georgia, seven-year old Annie is raising money for her own heart transplant. Nearby, Reese is reading a newspaper and thinking about the boat he is restoring. A strong wind, a bread truck out of control and Annie chasing her money into the street will change everything for both Annie and Reese. Uncovering the past and healing old wounds encompass Reese's struggle to help Annie. I took this book on vacation with my family and it was a good thing I had some free time so I could finish the book in two days. I did not want to put it down. The characters are so rich I felt like I had met them at dinner somewhere. I began bawling mid-way thru the book and didn't stop until the final page, but it was a good cry because I felt like these characters were my friends and that I had a vested interest in what happened to them. I feel that Charles Martin had a great story to share and I look forward to reading any other books written by him.