One Summer in Savannah: A Novel

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness, rape, and death by suicide.

In the opening author’s note, Harris says, “[M]y goal was to challenge readers on the definition of forgiveness and what it truly means to forgive” (ix). The primary theme of One Summer in Savannah focuses on the complex nature of forgiveness. Sara must decide whether to forgive Daniel for raping her, Birdie for defending Daniel and campaigning against Sara, and Jacob for breaking his promise to keep Alana’s identity secret. Jacob comes home to try to heal the schisms in his family, and in the process, he must decide whether he can forgive Daniel and Birdie for what they did to Sara and the way they’ve treated him. Sara also struggles with forgiving Sylvia and Hosea for hiding Hosea’s condition from Sara, as her father is very ill. The process of forgiveness for each character is multifaceted and simultaneously limited by the severity of the transgression. Ultimately, the novel argues that forgiveness is not given for the benefit of the perpetrator but rather for the survivor’s ability to heal.

Sara’s initial act of forgiveness is relatively easy for her because of her relationship with Hosea and Sylvia and the intent behind their choice to keep Hosea’s aneurysm secret.