Books like Torch by Cheryl Strayed

Teresa Rae Wood, host of the local radio show Modern Pioneers, lives by the mantra “Work hard. Do good. Be incredible!” Her life takes a dramatic turn when a terminal cancer diagnosis at 38 forces her and her family—her children Claire and Joshua and their stepfather Bruce—to confront the fragility of their intertwined existence. Through intimate, human portraiture, Cheryl Strayed examines the complexities of grief, forgiveness, and the enduring question of how to keep living when the world feels like it is unraveling. The narrative centers on a contemporary family in Minnesota, navigating the emotional, financial, and relational demands that arise when an unexpected death threatens to tear them apart. Themes of motherhood, female empowerment, and the power of community support in the face of illness are woven throughout the story.

First publish date: 2005