Description
Leona Haley's dream of becoming a famous astronomer like Edmund Halley has faded after having a child out of wedlock and then entering into a marriage of convenience; however her dreams in which she rides a magical comet through the heavens continue. When not riding on Haley's Comet, her wits and the help of a mysterious giant American Bald Eagle assists her journey through life––the same eagle that miraculously kept her from drowning when she was a 5-year-old. Unfortunately, Leona is forced to live with obnoxious in-laws who treat her and her child Marcy like dirt because "they're not blood," and often treat Leona's other children just as bad, forcing the frustrated, yet fearless woman to shield her children from the in-laws as best she can by continuing the Haley tradition of storytelling to keep them laughing, and by joining them in other fun and often adventurous activities.
Some of the activities Leona uses to entertain her children include snow sledding, and climbing the Walker Rock—a house-size glacial rock deep in the woods of West Glenburn—all the while keeping them from the prying eyes of their cantankerous grandparents. There's just one problem: her children love playing on that huge rock so much that Leona has to invent a 'scary story' to keep them from going there by themselves. In addition, she also has to deal with everyday problems ranging from trivialities to tragedies. One involves little Marcy, who has a traumatic experience that causes her to stutter, which requires Leona to use her wits to find a cure. Other times she uses her wits to outfox wild animals to protect her kids; in addition, there are numerous other opportunities for Leona to experience the ups and downs of motherhood.
Perhaps the most troubling time for Leona, however, is when her brother Wally is sent to fight in WWII. Although his letters help to keep her spirits up, she constantly worries that he won't make it back alive. She is able to cope with these things and others thanks to the support of her family; the strength she inherited from her mother; and interactions with her old friend Crazy Charlie, a hermit who most people fear, but whom Leona now thinks of as family, even trusting her children with him.
So once again join Leona on her amazing Journey With the Comet, and also tag along on her earthly journey to see how she navigates the ups-and-downs of life, and whether her dream of seeing Halley's Comet with her own eyes in 1986 comes true.