Buckeye: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel

Buckeye follows two Midwestern families across generations, from World War II to the late twentieth century. In the aftermath of the Allied victory in Europe, Cal Jenkins—a man unable to serve in the war—shares a life-altering moment with Margaret Salt, a woman fleeing her past. Cal is married to Becky, whose spiritual gifts allow her to help the living communicate with the dead. Margaret's husband, Felix, is serving at sea and is believed safe until a telegram suggests otherwise. This fleeting transgression becomes a complex secret that binds all four of them together in unexpected ways. As their small Ohio town experiences postwar growth, the Salt and Jenkins families remain connected, and the long-term consequences of their choices begin to surface, affecting the next generation. The novel explores themes of love, loyalty, sacrifice, and forgiveness through intimate family stories.