This is a children’s title, although it is wise and painfully true for adults as well. Raised in a London ghetto by an abusive mother, a young crippled girl and boy are sent to the English countryside during WWII. Their new caregiver, who is tender and loving, helps them adjust to their new reality. She creates a space of love and healing that allows the young girl to thrive and literally walk into a new life of possibilities. It’s a difficult story, that shows the strength of the human spirit in a way that feels absolutely true. A moving story.

This is a book about families, and how they fall apart and come back together again. Ann Patchett is a masterful writer, and I must admit this book touched something deep in me about my own experiences with loss and family. I devoured the story and it changed the way I perceived my own role as a daughter. It is a true gift of a book.