Extra Book - Dear Edward

 Book: Dear Edward

Author: Ann Napolitano

Pages: 352

This is my 64th read for the year

This is the story of a young boy named Edward.  He and his family are flying across the country to California for a big family move when their plane crashes killing everyone on board except for Edward.  His story captures the country and he struggles to figure out what to do now that his whole family is gone.  Taken in by a loving aunt and uncle who never had children, he is not sure how to fit in.  

He meets the girl next door, and they form an instant bond.  Together with his aunt, uncle, his friend and his counselor, Edward starts to move forward.  The book goes back and forth between the few years following the crash to the people who are on board the plane.  Edward tries to figure out how he - as the only one who survived - can help all of the families of the other passengers.

I had actually started a book for my Read The World Challenge, and had pulled Dear Edward for my "book to read at night".  But I started this book and couldn't put it down, so I quit the other to finish this one.  IT was a great book.  I was so tense knowing that the plane crash was coming, and how it was going to play out in those final moments before it hit the ground.  And when the crash finally happens, I found myself overwhelmed with feelings about how that must have been for those people on board.

The book is well written and flows well between the past and present.  You feel Edward's struggle with what to make of all the attention and the loss of his family at the age of 12.  He has lost everything he knew.  And it takes him years to finally come to terms with what his life would be life from now on.  You can feel his turmoil.

I highly recommend.  It was a great read.

Stars: 4 1/2