Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
Genre: fiction
Review: Some books are enjoyed because of plot, some because of characters, others because of the tone or style of the language. One might recommend this book for the plot, which moves along, or possibly even the style, which is engaging, but probably not for the characters, most of whom seem more to become fully colored in, more than they grow throughout the book.
But there are plot points aplenty. The book nominally centers around the matriarch of the family, who has a stunning revelation to share with her three grown children. Her middle child, and only daughter, has a very different revelation of her own, and her eldest son is struggling with a weighty decision. Her granddaughter is struggling with a new school, and the reason she left her old school. There's more than enough here to keep us turning the pages.
My biggest issue with this book is the fact that they are not, in fact, all adults. The most compelling parts of this book come from children. Eighth graders, to be specific, as they navigate the difference between secrecy and loyalty, and what it means to really be someone's friend. It is these parts of the book that had the most meat to them.
FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.
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