Rachel Morse navigates through her life while those around her crumble. A horrible tragedy befalls Rachel and her family.
A young boy who witnessed Rachel’s tragedy in Chicago, tries to make sense of what happened. He goes to see her at the hospital and meets Rachael’s father who is staying by her unconscious side. The father tells the young boy, all about their life together, even sharing another horrible tragedy. The boy has renamed himself Brick. Brick promises to tell Rachel the stories her father has told him. The father leaves believing that Rachel is better off without him.
Rachel’s paternal grandmother, who she has never met, comes and whisks her away to live in Portland, Oregon with her and her aunt. As her injuries heal and she begins her new life she has issues of prejudice to deal with. Rachel is a mulatto and isn’t necessary accepted with either race in her high school.
In Portand, Rachel has so many different situations to overcome including more death and disappointment in the people who are supposed to be her guardians. It seems most of the adults in Rachel’s life have let her down, if not been actually dangerous to be around.
The author uses different narrators to tell Rachel’s story and that creates an interesting insight into her life from different angles.
Most of my book club liked this book. I did not. I wanted to see more reaction from her about her environment – I didn’t feel her.
I think the book has value and there are several topics for discussion, including the racism by both races, dealing with tragedy and what’s expected of family.
Rating: 7.0