Cynthia Rylant stands out in juvenile and young adult literature for her fearless exploration of challenging themes and her vivid portrayal of Appalachian life. Her works resonate deeply with readers due to her sincere depiction of her childhood home, as evident in her Caldecott Honor Books, When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. While these books poignantly capture the essence of Appalachian life, it is in her young adult novels like Missing May, A Fine White Dust, and A Blue-Eyed Daisy that the setting enriches the complexity of her characters' struggles.

Rylant's characters, though ordinary, embody a quiet heroism that resonates with readers. They confront life’s adversities with grace, demonstrating the profound courage found in accepting one's rightful place in the world. These characters grapple with issues that are deeply engaging for adolescent readers: the loss of a loved one, dealing with a parent's alcoholism, navigating hero-worship and intense religious experiences, and confronting the complexities of family dynamics, such as a mother's decision to keep a child's paternity a secret. The tension of how these problems will resolve keeps readers captivated, yet the realization of each individual's intrinsic value within the community offers a deeper, more rewarding understanding.

Beyond her novels, Rylant's extensive body of work includes picture books, poetry, short stories, nonfiction, and early readers. Her storytelling prowess shines in the Newbery Medal-winning Missing May, where she employs a first-person narrative, a hallmark of her style, marked by clarity and simplicity. This narrative approach, first admired in her earlier Newbery Honor Book, A Fine White Dust, engages readers with its vivid and compelling nature, drawing them into the lives and landscapes she so richly depicts.