By Celeste Ng
This book is about a very affluent family that becomes intrinsically involved in the lives of an artistic, nomadic, single mother and daughter who become their tenant.
The Richardsons, led by matriarch Elena, are comprised of four children who enjoy the wealth provided by their lawyer father and journalist mother in the exclusive Shaker Heights neighborhood. Elena’s family has lived in this well-to-do enclave for three generations. She firmly believes that planning and playing by the “rules” earns you your place in society and the wealth she enjoys.
The Warrens, comprised of mother Mia and daughter Pearl, move any time the Muse tells Mia a new project awaits. She is an artist, and only stays in one location long enough to finish a project before moving on, Pearl in tow. This gypsy lifestyle, while keeping Pearl well-rounded and Mia fairly successful, has prevented either from growing roots anywhere. When they arrive in Shaker Heights, Mia promises this will change.
Thus the teens form friendships that weave between the two styles of parenting and life views at some crucial junctions in their lives, and situations that will reverberate through the illustrious neighborhood and leave burn marks in their future.
I enjoyed this book, though it was slow getting “into” it. The text addresses polarizing issues such as abortion, race, nature vs nurture, and heartbreaking ones such as infertility, parenting, and justice. Definitely worth staying until the ending!
Pros & Cons & Potential Spoilers
Pros
- The intertwining of the families does not come from an adulterous affair by any of the adults – a welcome change from the usual
- The fire/flame imagery throughout the text is nice and also foreshadowy
- It is a guilty pleasure to have Mrs. Richardson end up in her bathrobe, on her front lawn, staring at the charred remnants of her house, with none of her children by her side
Cons
- Kidnapping is rewarded
- The teens’ friendships are broken because of adults’ misunderstandings