Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

This was a difficult book to read, not just because of the topic, but also the flashbacks of various characters and current day events seemed so out of synch. Edward is the sole survivor of an airplane crash and the few years afterward is when the bulk of this story take place. However, Edward is not the only one who has flashbacks to life before the crash. Jordan, Edward’s brother, has flashbacks to the girl in NYC he dated and is leaving because his family is moving to California. Edward’s father and mother have flashbacks to before the crash and what their life and careers were like. Several passengers have these flashbacks from prior to getting on the flight. These flashbacks mixed with Edward’s struggle as to why he survived and how to live in this new life he must face without his parents and brother seem so scattered when reading it made it hard to feel connected to any of the characters. Edward’s growth while slow also seems to make jumps at times that seemed forced. Such as when Edward goes back to NYC to see his brother’s girlfriend that he just learned about, because of a letter that Edward read and learns about a tarot reader who he later goes and visits. Even waiting a few days to write this, I am not going to tell someone not to read this, but I would not recommend it randomly to anyone I see in a bookstore looking at it either. The book does deal with death, combat injuries, and the talk of suicide/mental health issues. 

 

 

 

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