When Crickets Cry, at its essence, is a story of redemption. Reese rejects his identity as a heart surgeon after committing what he views as an unforgiveable sin. After taking stimulants to perform multiple heart surgeries, he falls into a deep sleep on the night his wife dies. She cannot rouse him, and despite his attempts to save her when he finally wakes, the delay in treatment results in her death.

When Reese meets Annie, he recognizes that she, a young heart patient much like his wife, represents a chance for redemption, and he begins gravitating toward his old identity. He struggles to embrace the opportunity, however, when he feels guilt over his attraction to Annie’s Aunt Cindy. Because of his failures, Reese feels he does not deserve love.

Instead of helping Annie in the most important way he can—by assisting with her medical care—he helps only in small ways at first. The favors gradually increase in importance until finally, at the climax of the book, Reese performs Annie’s heart transplant. He does so after confessing, to Charlie, his guilt about the stimulants, Emma’s death, and Charlie’s blindness. Charlie’s forgiveness helps Reese see that saving

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