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There are currently 22 member reviews
for Only Child
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Tracy B. (New Castle, DE)
Every one should read
When I realized the topic of this book I was feeling reluctant about reading this book. Wow was I ever fooled. The impact the school shooting had on every person was vividly captured. I wanted to jump in the book at many different moments; to sooth a person, to shake sense into another so many emotions. Then after the blame game books that the boy was reading changed the way people thought. The boy's constant belief in the " secrets to happiness" helped save the day.
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Kathryn S. (St. Helena Island, SC)
Only Child
This is a very timely book, as it deals with the emotional effects of all-too-often occurring phenomena in our country today - mass shootings in our schools. It is told in the words of a six-year old whose community is experiencing the aftermath of such an event. The family of one of the victims, a 10-year old boy and the family of the shooter both struggle to come to terms with the horrors of the situation and deal with the pressures of the media. I am going to recommend this to my book club as soon as it comes out!
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Carole C. (Frisco, TX)
Wonderful Book!
This was a great book on a really tough subject. It holds your attention from the first page and is a quick read. The author made me really think about various points of view. I felt for all the characters - the brother who was left to deal with life after the tragedy, the parents who are torn apart and the killer's parents. I had to reflect on my own values while reading this book. The author did a beautiful job capturing the voice of a child. An amazing debut novel that will catch on quickly with book clubs.
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DeAnn A. (Denver, CO)
Zach to the Rescue
I thought this book was amazing. While the topic of school shootings is never a pleasant one, Rhiannon Navin does an amazing job with this difficult subject. There are so many facets to this – parents of the slain school children, siblings, grief, the pursuit of justice, motive, and media coverage. The narrator is Zach, a six-year-old, and survivor of the school shooting. Zach works through his trauma and helps the adults in his life do the same – in a way only a child could do. Zach uses art, exploring his feelings, and Magic Tree House books to make his healing journey.
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Jennifer Z. (Hilliard, OH)
Gripping from the beginning
As a teacher and a mother, this book had me hooked from the get-go and reflecting on how I would react in a similar situation. At times it felt like I was experiencing the events myself. It was emotional, thought-provoking, and a true drama. I wish there was a sequel!
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Maureen R. (Alamo, CA)
Only Child: A child shall teach us.
In Only Child by Rhiannon Navin, I was not expecting a page turner, but a page turner I found. Narrated by Zach, a six year caught in the crossfire of violence in an elementary school shooting, Only Child takes the reader on a journey most are afraid to contemplate and have no way of navigating. Zach's innocence proves to be both a safeguard and guiding light; and because he is able to find his way through the complexities of this tragedy, so are we. I found Only Child riveting and enlightening. From first page to last, Zack is our champion, and we are his.
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Carol S. (Mt. Juliet, TN)
The wisdom of the very young
I enjoyed this book, a debut novel of Ms. Navin, which tells the story of a school shooting and the devastating impact this tragedy has on a family and the entire community.
A six year old boy, who survives the shooting but loses his brother that day, tells about his life and his feelings, watching thoughtfully while those around him attempt and fail to cope with the unimaginable. His innocent but wise perspective brought me to tears, to laughter and to a host of other emotions in between. I found myself pulling for him to show those much older and presumably wiser how to go on after such a loss.
This is a great book club selection. It is easy, interesting and compelling reading with an uplifting ending.
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