Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano a novel books review
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It can take years to learn to deal with memories, good ones are a no brainer, it is the traumatic, the tragic memories that burn into your soul. In this novel we travel with Bruce as he lives out his memories with us. On a day, Bruce and his brother, Jordan, and his mom and dad are flying to California where his mom will start a new job .This is the job of a lifetime, and as they all get on the plane, after Jordan has had his song and dance about going through the Newark Airport’s body scanner, the family is happy, off to a new start.
As the flight progresses, they meet some of the 188 passengers and flight attendants, when suddenly over Colorado, the airplane goes down. Bruce, 12, at the time is the only survivor. He had been found still strapped this seat shouting, ‘I am her, I am here,’ After a time in hospital, he goes to a new home of an aunt and uncle he hardly knows. He is ensconced In an old nursery that had never been used. It was uncomfortable, and Bruce was not able to sleep in this room. He struck up a friendship with a girl next door, Shay, and slept in her house until he was a teenager.
We are with Bruce throughout this time, his PTSD, his reactions to the loss of his family, particularly! Jordan,, his brother. He lives day to day to day, the best he can. The author has developed a process of present day with Bruce, then back to the passengers on the plane. We learn about their past lives, the gay soldier, the beautiful flight attendant who lived for the significant looks from other people, a woman who remembered past lives. In this manner the characters do come alive, particularly when Bruce receives the hundreds of letters from relatives of the passengers who died. Bruce is their closest memory of the people they loved. All of these memories help Bruce to recover physically from his injuries, but most importantly emotionally. Shay becomes the presence he needs by his side.
This is a book of such severe consequences for so many people. The characters are all part of the healing, and they give credence to the back stories and emotions that envelop and overwhelm Bruce at times. Trying to clear his head through this fog, gives Bruce purpose, and it gives us understanding. A timely book for all of us who have suffered anxiety and despair particularly through this time, but also a pathway to the future.
Many of us know what it feels like to grieve the loss of loved ones, but how unimaginable to lose your whole family at twelve years old as the sole survivor of a plane crash. Who is there to understand what Edward Adler, this young boy, broken physically and emotionally, is feeling? Is there anyone to help him heal, to find his way through the trauma and horrific loss? Perhaps it’s his Aunt Lacey, who has not only lost her sister, but suffers her own personal losses. Or maybe her husband John, who is determined to protect Edward from those who may want to exploit him, from any more hurt. Or maybe his therapist, Dr. Mike. Maybe it’s the young girl, Shay, who lives next door and becomes a source of solace for Edward. Maybe it’s his principal who helps nurture Edward by having him nurture the plants in his office. Maybe it’s the families of some of the others who have perished in the crash. Perhaps it’s all of them. It takes a village.
This is such a heartbreaking story and I cried for Edward multiple times as he grieves the loss of his family, particularly at the moments when he thinks of his older brother Jordan, with whom he shared a special bond. The sadness I felt was not just for his family, but for a number of other passengers that we meet in alternating narratives which reveal their personal stories and why they are on the flight. We learn what his parents and brother are thinking about and also an injured soldier, a dying man, a pregnant young woman, a flamboyant woman who believes in reincarnation, among others. Later in the story we get a glimpse of the grief of their loved ones in a stunning way.
It’s thought provoking in a number of ways - how does a young boy bear his grief, this loss, the trauma of what he has experienced but it made me consider how little we know of the burdens that people whose paths we cross might carry. This book is full of sadness, without a doubt, but it is also filled with shared sorrow, love, friendship and caring. A beautiful story.
A compassionate and realistic look at a young boy confronting paralyzing grief and survivor guilt. His family, moving from New York to LA, are on an airplane, when the plane crashes and Eddie, 12, is the only survivor. Taken in by his mother's sister and her husband, a couple that has suffered their own private grief, he no longer feels as if he fits in his own skin. Shay, a girl his own age, his new neighbor may be the door that allows him to find a way to move forward.
In alternating chapters we meet some of the people on the doomed flight, a look into their personal lives and hopes for their future and regrets from their pasts. Such great characters, this author has created, people who try to help Eddie and people who his life touches. The way to healing is hard, but Eddie is never alone, something he needs to realize for himself. Fate is not in ones control, and a tragedy such a this touches many, not only those involved. This emotional novel does a fantastic job showing how essential human connection is, and how it can be of benefit if one can open themselves to acceptance. Friendship, love, and hope. The ending had me teary eyed, despite the sadness, I loved watching these characters heal and grow.
It’s been a long time since I read a book where the story and the characters took hold of my heart and wouldn’t let go. Anyone who has followed my reviews for any amount of time knows that I don’t typically like child narrators. This is the exception. It’s a stunning piece of storytelling. I love a story that delves into psychological issues, and how one heals from unbearable tragedy is the ultimate psychological challenge. I had the pleasure of buddy reading this with my good friend Marialyce, and it’s a book we both loved and tore through in record time.
Edward, his brother, and his parents board a plane to start a new life in California. They don’t make it, as the plane crashes midflight. 191 die while Edward is miraculously the only survivor.
Edward’s emotional struggles with the loss of his beloved family, the burden of survivor’s guilt, as well as his sudden notoriety as the “miracle boy”, is dealt with in such a compassionate and authentic way that I wondered more than once as I read if the author has experience with grief. She knows you never get over a loss, and there is no timeline or “closure”. But there is life after loss, although it’s a different life.
After Edward heals from his physical injuries he goes to live with his aunt and uncle, and does the hard work of learning how to live again. How do you move forward when you’ve lost everything, including yourself, the person you were before the loss? He befriends Shay, the 12 year old girl next door, and it is one of the most delightful friendships I’ve had the pleasure of reading.
All of the adults in Edward’s life, from his aunt and uncle, to the school personnel and his therapist have a part to play in his recovery and all were incredibly knowledgeable and insightful, even when dealing with their own struggles. They were all terrific characters that felt realistic. But Edward still struggles until he makes a discovery that, along with Shay’s help, serves as the catalyst for his healing.
The story alternates between Edward’s chapters and chapters that highlights the other passengers on the flight, from the quirky to the serious. Learning their backstories put the losses into perspective but thankfully the author doesn’t manipulate the reader into an emotional response. They simply add interest and depth to the story.
This sounds unbearably sad but it is a beautiful, heartfelt story that is never maudlin or manipulative. The ending brought tears through my smiles. This is a book that is ultimately hopeful, a story that restores faith in the human spirit, and one that will stay with me a long time to come. Highly recommended! 5 stars for how this book made me feel.
• I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
As the flight progresses, they meet some of the 188 passengers and flight attendants, when suddenly over Colorado, the airplane goes down. Bruce, 12, at the time is the only survivor. He had been found still strapped this seat shouting, ‘I am her, I am here,’ After a time in hospital, he goes to a new home of an aunt and uncle he hardly knows. He is ensconced In an old nursery that had never been used. It was uncomfortable, and Bruce was not able to sleep in this room. He struck up a friendship with a girl next door, Shay, and slept in her house until he was a teenager.
We are with Bruce throughout this time, his PTSD, his reactions to the loss of his family, particularly! Jordan,, his brother. He lives day to day to day, the best he can. The author has developed a process of present day with Bruce, then back to the passengers on the plane. We learn about their past lives, the gay soldier, the beautiful flight attendant who lived for the significant looks from other people, a woman who remembered past lives. In this manner the characters do come alive, particularly when Bruce receives the hundreds of letters from relatives of the passengers who died. Bruce is their closest memory of the people they loved. All of these memories help Bruce to recover physically from his injuries, but most importantly emotionally. Shay becomes the presence he needs by his side.
This is a book of such severe consequences for so many people. The characters are all part of the healing, and they give credence to the back stories and emotions that envelop and overwhelm Bruce at times. Trying to clear his head through this fog, gives Bruce purpose, and it gives us understanding. A timely book for all of us who have suffered anxiety and despair particularly through this time, but also a pathway to the future.
Many of us know what it feels like to grieve the loss of loved ones, but how unimaginable to lose your whole family at twelve years old as the sole survivor of a plane crash. Who is there to understand what Edward Adler, this young boy, broken physically and emotionally, is feeling? Is there anyone to help him heal, to find his way through the trauma and horrific loss? Perhaps it’s his Aunt Lacey, who has not only lost her sister, but suffers her own personal losses. Or maybe her husband John, who is determined to protect Edward from those who may want to exploit him, from any more hurt. Or maybe his therapist, Dr. Mike. Maybe it’s the young girl, Shay, who lives next door and becomes a source of solace for Edward. Maybe it’s his principal who helps nurture Edward by having him nurture the plants in his office. Maybe it’s the families of some of the others who have perished in the crash. Perhaps it’s all of them. It takes a village.
This is such a heartbreaking story and I cried for Edward multiple times as he grieves the loss of his family, particularly at the moments when he thinks of his older brother Jordan, with whom he shared a special bond. The sadness I felt was not just for his family, but for a number of other passengers that we meet in alternating narratives which reveal their personal stories and why they are on the flight. We learn what his parents and brother are thinking about and also an injured soldier, a dying man, a pregnant young woman, a flamboyant woman who believes in reincarnation, among others. Later in the story we get a glimpse of the grief of their loved ones in a stunning way.
It’s thought provoking in a number of ways - how does a young boy bear his grief, this loss, the trauma of what he has experienced but it made me consider how little we know of the burdens that people whose paths we cross might carry. This book is full of sadness, without a doubt, but it is also filled with shared sorrow, love, friendship and caring. A beautiful story.
A compassionate and realistic look at a young boy confronting paralyzing grief and survivor guilt. His family, moving from New York to LA, are on an airplane, when the plane crashes and Eddie, 12, is the only survivor. Taken in by his mother's sister and her husband, a couple that has suffered their own private grief, he no longer feels as if he fits in his own skin. Shay, a girl his own age, his new neighbor may be the door that allows him to find a way to move forward.
In alternating chapters we meet some of the people on the doomed flight, a look into their personal lives and hopes for their future and regrets from their pasts. Such great characters, this author has created, people who try to help Eddie and people who his life touches. The way to healing is hard, but Eddie is never alone, something he needs to realize for himself. Fate is not in ones control, and a tragedy such a this touches many, not only those involved. This emotional novel does a fantastic job showing how essential human connection is, and how it can be of benefit if one can open themselves to acceptance. Friendship, love, and hope. The ending had me teary eyed, despite the sadness, I loved watching these characters heal and grow.
It’s been a long time since I read a book where the story and the characters took hold of my heart and wouldn’t let go. Anyone who has followed my reviews for any amount of time knows that I don’t typically like child narrators. This is the exception. It’s a stunning piece of storytelling. I love a story that delves into psychological issues, and how one heals from unbearable tragedy is the ultimate psychological challenge. I had the pleasure of buddy reading this with my good friend Marialyce, and it’s a book we both loved and tore through in record time.
Edward, his brother, and his parents board a plane to start a new life in California. They don’t make it, as the plane crashes midflight. 191 die while Edward is miraculously the only survivor.
Edward’s emotional struggles with the loss of his beloved family, the burden of survivor’s guilt, as well as his sudden notoriety as the “miracle boy”, is dealt with in such a compassionate and authentic way that I wondered more than once as I read if the author has experience with grief. She knows you never get over a loss, and there is no timeline or “closure”. But there is life after loss, although it’s a different life.
After Edward heals from his physical injuries he goes to live with his aunt and uncle, and does the hard work of learning how to live again. How do you move forward when you’ve lost everything, including yourself, the person you were before the loss? He befriends Shay, the 12 year old girl next door, and it is one of the most delightful friendships I’ve had the pleasure of reading.
All of the adults in Edward’s life, from his aunt and uncle, to the school personnel and his therapist have a part to play in his recovery and all were incredibly knowledgeable and insightful, even when dealing with their own struggles. They were all terrific characters that felt realistic. But Edward still struggles until he makes a discovery that, along with Shay’s help, serves as the catalyst for his healing.
The story alternates between Edward’s chapters and chapters that highlights the other passengers on the flight, from the quirky to the serious. Learning their backstories put the losses into perspective but thankfully the author doesn’t manipulate the reader into an emotional response. They simply add interest and depth to the story.
This sounds unbearably sad but it is a beautiful, heartfelt story that is never maudlin or manipulative. The ending brought tears through my smiles. This is a book that is ultimately hopeful, a story that restores faith in the human spirit, and one that will stay with me a long time to come. Highly recommended! 5 stars for how this book made me feel.
• I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Ann Napolitano's melancholic novel depicts the coming of age of Edward Adler, who at the tender age of 12 loses the life he is familiar with along with the loss of his family, his parents and his beloved older brother, Jordan, in a tragic plane crash in Colorado, in which almost 2oo others die. Edward is the only survivor, the boy who lived becomes the centre of a storm of public and national interest. A traumatised Edward with his unbearable burden of grief and sorrow goes to live in West Milford, New Jersey with his Aunt Lacey, having to handle her own losses, and his protective Uncle John. Having been home schooled, he has to come to terms with going to school, getting used to other children, socialising with them. His greatest solace comes with his neighbour, a girl of his own age, Shay, and the close friendship he develops with her.
In a narrative that goes back and forth in time, we learn about the wide ranging lives and stories of the other passengers on that plane, their families, and the letters that bulge with their hopes and expectations of Edward. We follow Edward as he endeavours to initially just survive and then to forge a new path in life, and the response and support he receives from a community. This is a beautiful, moving, emotionally heartbreaking and tearful novel of what it is to be human, for sadly grief and loss is an integral part of what it is to live, and the importance of reaching out, connecting, and supporting each other. Edward is so young to be weighed down by such all consuming loss, guilt and grief, having to endure, and I could not help but feel for him, the enormity of what he must handle, until gradually glimpses of hope and joy begin to appear in his life. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Penguin UK for an ARC.
In a narrative that goes back and forth in time, we learn about the wide ranging lives and stories of the other passengers on that plane, their families, and the letters that bulge with their hopes and expectations of Edward. We follow Edward as he endeavours to initially just survive and then to forge a new path in life, and the response and support he receives from a community. This is a beautiful, moving, emotionally heartbreaking and tearful novel of what it is to be human, for sadly grief and loss is an integral part of what it is to live, and the importance of reaching out, connecting, and supporting each other. Edward is so young to be weighed down by such all consuming loss, guilt and grief, having to endure, and I could not help but feel for him, the enormity of what he must handle, until gradually glimpses of hope and joy begin to appear in his life. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Penguin UK for an ARC.
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