Emmy Rane is a young mother whose baby has disappeared. Her cruel and abusive husband Peter, suspecting Emmy herself lost the baby, manages to get Emmy committed to a mental institution. As bleak as it is there, however, there are bright spots: a street person Emmy met while looking for her baby sends her a handmade present (he is the only one who corresponds with her), and her roommate, named Autumn, loves Emmy enough to give her the ultimate gift.
In alternate chapters we meet Sophie Marks, a young girl of 14, who is home-schooled and never allowed out of the house. Her mother has moved her around frequently, always claiming the “No Good” is after them. While her mother goes to work, Sophie gazes longingly out the window wishing she could go outside and feel the sun and be under the blue sky. Her mother says outside is too dangerous, but one day Sophie can no longer resist, and sneaks out to meet her neighbor Joey Rudd, who begins to share his loving family with her.
Both young women are imprisoned, and both receive hope and support from the kindness of strangers. It is clear both of them will come together somehow, but for most of the book, we only know that they are each so sorely deprived of love that they gravitate to its promise like moths to a flame.
Discussion: There are some wonderful characters in this book, my favorite of whom are Joey’s two “aunts” who have a boundless store of wisdom and love to share. But there are some bits in the book that don’t make sense to me. In the beginning, the police seem totally oblivious to Peter’s physical threats – made right in their presence! – toward Emmy. In addition, with Kephart I often get the sense that the beauty of words can take precedence over meaning (or at least, the meaning is lost on me). Take this passage, for example:
A room that isn’t mine. The sound of toss and dream, and sheets like the fried bottom of a pan. At the far end of the room, in a square: sun like it’s been poured into a glass of milk and swallowed – a blank face in a square space of scratch and rake and air clot.”
I have no idea what that means.
Nevertheless, it’s a book you won’t soon forget.
Evaluation: Another lovely and poignant story from an author who is so popular among book bloggers for good reason.
Rating: 3.5/5
Published by Egmont USA/Laura Geringer Books, 2011
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I’m looking forward to reading this book, especially with all the praise Serena has given it. I wasn’t wowed by Dangerous Neighbors, but I did find Kephart’s writing to be beautiful so I’m definitely open to reading more of her books.
I still say that you must read Undercover!
I think Kephart’s poetic language is beautiful and the meaning may be harder to discern at first glance, but I think that’s why I take my time with her books. I sit with it and become absorbed in the words I am reading. I tend to slow down my reading with her books, which in and of itself are a blessing.
I’m glad that you liked this one. Did you enjoy each voice equally or one more than the other? I’ve heard that some find Sophie’s voice speaks to them more than Emmy’s.
Serena, I also liked Sophie the best, and I agree that Undercover is my favorite Kephart book!
Yes, Undercover spoke to me on a visceral level. I was that girl in high school…at least for the most part… It is one of my favorites. I liked both voices equally….I’m not sure why that is…but I guess I could understand the breakdown of Emmy and why she was as she was in the book.
About the quote – wha????
I’m presuming that the quote is from Emmy’s POV in the asylum? And she’s taking an assessment of her surroundings, the sounds of heavily starched sheets as her roomy tosses and turns…that kind of thing…seems like a fuzzy mind waking from sleep
Kephart’s language is beautiful – I’m not sure I understand that passage. Maybe I would if I read it in the context of the book. I’m anxious to read this book.
I read that quote 3 times. Still don’t get it.
Nope, lost on me too. But her writing is so gorgeous, so mesmerizing, I just get lost in it, and walk away more with an emotion than a complete understanding. I need to read more of her…
I loved this book – a lot. It was my first Kephart. Sounds like I should read Undercover next. As to the quote: I believe this was Rose speaking while she was in the mental hospital. I figured it was something she was imagining or seeing in her muddled mind. Her story was so sad.
I don’t know what it means either … and I share your dislike of pretty words that don’t seem to really say anything. That being said, so many readers seem to love this author. I suspect I shall have to give her a go at one point.
OMG – that quote had me laughing. I’m sure the book is great though – I’ve heard tons of good things about that author.
Ok, I didn’t get that quote either, and it kind of made me scratch my head in perplexity. I do want to read this book though, after having heard so many wonderful things about this author and her work. I will have to let you know what I think. That quote though, well, just…wow…
This sounds like a great story! Definitely putting this on my TBR list.
I haven’t read this one yet but that little bit you added had me scratching my head!
As a homeschooling mom, it drives me crazy that whenever we see homeschoolers in film or fiction it’s an uber crazy situation where the kids aren’t allowed out of the house.
*LOL* That said, it isn’t this author’s fault. And the book does sound intriguing to me. I’m adding it to my list.
I had to laugh at that because I don’t know either! I know this author is so popular with book bloggers though. This story does sound good.
I can’t say I know what that means either
But I do enjoy her writing a lot.
I fully intend to read this one soon! I’ve heard so many good things about her books that I have to experience one for myself.
While I admire Kephart’s writing, I don’t always get much of an emotional punch from it. This book was stronger in that regard than others but still not as much as I’d like. Beautiful words but not quite what I wan.
I often wonder if the beauty of her words isn’t lost on her audience…. There is no doubt that she’s a skilled writer though.
Well, that writing is just like a Neil Young or Led Zepellin song lyric. You may love the song but what the hell do the lyrics even mean? Not sure I want to read a whole book like that, though.
Given all t he love from book bloggers I do want to read Kephart, but that passage worries me a little.