Carol Warner Burdick Pens THE ONE CONSTANT

Carol Warner Burdick brings us the tale of three friends in Upstate New York in the 1960s.

'The One Constant' is the story of Diane, Debbie, and Christy, girls growing up in homes typical of the times, full of love and rules, yet also of innocence and freedom. Eventually each girl has her bubble of innocence burst by one form or another of betrayal. A coming-of-age novel, this is a good read for those who enjoy reminiscing about the nostalgia of their youth, and those who celebrate triumphs over tragedies and traumas. Each girl is keeping a secret, whether by choice or by circumstance, and individually and as a group, they learn how poisonous keeping secrets can be. The story line follows our universal need for friendship, love, and support.

The novel plots the protagonists' stories against an ever changing landscape as war and assassinations fill the news. Suddenly life isn't so innocent and simple, and everything starts to change from black and white to shades of gray as the world continually becomes more turbulent. President Kennedy is assassinated, shocking the world. The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show and revolutionize the music of our youth, and the grim realities of the Vietnam War begin to awaken the country's social conscience. The latter affects Diane directly when her boyfriend Billy is drafted, but she is in for a rude awakening which has nothing to do with him being sent to Nam. Secrets culminate into something even worse, and her maturity is tested over and over again.

Debbie also faces upheaval and pain in her life. Her beloved grandfather becomes deathly ill, and while she is trying to prepare herself for the worst, she has to deal with another even more personal and violent trauma. Christy faces a widening emotional distance with her parents, who are good at "sweeping under the rug" any unpleasantness or indiscretions in the family. They choose to pretend everything is normal even as Christy is facing a life-changing situation. While being forced to keep her own secret, Christy learns another even more shocking secret, which eventually becomes the key to understanding and forgiveness.

'The One Constant' is one of those books that is hard to put down. On one hand, the reader can't wait to see what will happen next. On the other, it's the type of story you won't want to end. The reader will laugh and cry with the heroines as they navigate their way from high school into college and adulthood, and will come away with a renewed warmth regarding their own friendships.

Carol Warner Burdick is a retired Realtor and cancer survivor. She grew up in the 1950s and 1960s in Upstate New York. She now resides with her family in North Carolina. 'The One Constant' is her first novel.

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