ABOUT THE BOOK

About the Book

Valley of Saint Anne

Valley of Saint Anne A story of love, loss and forgiveness — Deirdre Beyer, 12, is inspired to keep a diary when she reads Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl. Dee Dee writes faithfully to Anne, as Anne did to her imaginary friend Kitty, and her diary entries reveal an inquisitive and insightful young mind as she shares the happenings in her life: Changes in her body and her growing curiosity about sex; her first encounter with a boy; her father’s tragic death; her mother’s loneliness; her desire to have a Quinceañera; and the confidence and courage she gains learning to surf. Valley of Saint Anne explores the boundaries of social mores and Dee Dee’s character is central to the story and its moral compass. Her coming-of-age story is one of many stories about people of all ages in this novel set in contemporary Southern California.

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“Dave Gioia’s substantial debut novel, Valley of Saint Anne, tells an unsettling story in an easygoing style that belies the gravity of the themes he addresses…Gioia unflinchingly examines topics often considered taboo for adult discussion, such as domestic violence, alcoholism, and incest…Gioia manages to show a difference between sexually abusive relationships and healthy relationships that nonetheless necessitate breaking some of society’s rules.”

Foreward Clarion Reviews

“Dave Gioia has a written a vast, dramatic, incredibly bold and at times utterly shocking debut novel…The character of Dee Dee is beautifully written and integral to the whole book. She is a perfect innocent antidote to the more sinister and emotionally flawed characters in the book and her letters to Anne Frank had me in stitches!“

Ingrid Hall

“Having read Dave’s second novel, Himba Pond Dance, first, I should start by saying that Valley of Saint Anne is a very different read. The book is far more plot-driven, and what I found most enjoyable was the treatment of time. Scenes exist on different scales of time: some in geologic time, some in perceived time, some in fast-forward, and a few in a space without time. The central theme of the novel is a difficult one to approach, but Dave manages to treat it with the same impartiality, curiosity, and compassion that he showed in Himba Pond Dance. I cared about the characters and wanted as much as the author to understand their motivations and their decisions. Dee Dee, the central character, is one of the most endearing and fully-developed characters I have ever witnessed on the page.“

Goodreads Reader Review

Thoughts about Valley of Saint Anne

I’m a student of human nature. I’ve met thousands of people in my time and have been in my fair share of relationships and I’m always amazed at how unique people and relationships are. This story is filled with people of all ages, dealing with relationships, be they between family members, friends, coworkers or marriage partners.