Fantastical journey!! Ms. Morgenstern has done an outstanding job of creating a truly magical world - sharing each and every incredible detail with the reader until we too are transported along with it's wonderful characters. .. I did not want the book to end and it has stayed with me long after I read (and reread) the last line... Thank you to Ms. Morgenstern for reminding me of why I am a reader!

I found it very hard to really care about the characters or what happened to them. The story lacked any believable passion - whether it was the relationship between Ravell & Erika or Erika & Peter or Erika's rather contrived desire for a child -I don't think Ms. McDonnell developed any of the storylines enough initially. While I think the author did a good job capturing the atmosphere and cultural norms of the early 20th century - her writing was so dry that it made the story and characters feel pretty "flat." I was disappointed as I generally love historical fiction.

Heartbreaking story of profound loss told courageously and honestly.
Through the quality of her writing and willingness to lay bare her deepest thoughts and feelings, Ms. Greenfield allows us to get close enough to truly grasp the pain of the devastating loss that both she and her parents suffered. She shows us how isolating and lonely the grieving process may be - particularly for a child.

Also, I was struck by how the roles of child and parent can become reversed when trying to cope with the aftermath of a tragedy. Throughout the story I was so moved (and sometimes saddened) by the level of maturity she was forced to display and by the insights she provided - about love, loneliness, friendship, grief, hope etc.

While her brother's and best friend's life was cut short prematurely, in so many ways, her own childhood ended at the moment of the impact as well.

Yet in the end, Ms. Greenfield demonstrates that with time and distance (both physical and emotional) one can find peace and forgiveness and hope...

I think that Ms. Goodman did a nice job with character development and maintaining the "gothic" feel to the story. However I felt that the sections which focused on Lily's diary were too long and took away from the smooth flow of the story as well as the feeling of suspense. I also think that while the plot twists were good - there was one too many - making the ending feel a bit contrived and too convenient. I would probably recommend it to book clubs more for a good discussion of some of the themes/symbolism threaded throughout the story - i.e. beech tree, forest, mother/daughter themes,etc.