Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano / one of the most unique stories I read this year

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

Ever since its release, Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano has been all over Bookstagram. And I can see the beauty of it, how well it was written, and the overall brilliance of its composition. BUT I also had the hardest time with this book, and that’s mainly because of the topic.

A TOP BOOK CLUB BOOK CHOICE FOR 2020

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In the face of tragedy, what does it take to find joy? 

One summer morning, twelve-year-old Edward Adler, his beloved older brother, his parents, and 183 other passengers board a flight in Newark headed for Los Angeles. Among them is a Wall Street wunderkind, a young woman coming to terms with an unexpected pregnancy, an injured vet returning from Afghanistan, a septuagenarian business tycoon, and a free-spirited woman running away from her controlling husband. And then, tragically, the plane crashes. Edward is the sole survivor.

Edward’s story captures the attention of the nation, but he struggles to find a place for himself in a world without his family. He continues to feel that a piece of him has been left in the sky, forever tied to the plane and all of his fellow passengers. But then he makes an unexpected discovery–one that will lead him to the answers of some of life’s most profound questions: When you’ve lost everything, how do find yourself? How do you discover your purpose? What does it mean not just to survive, but to truly live?

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

MY THOUGHTS

Dear Edward read like a novel that was comprised of two parts.

One part chronicled the passengers on the flight, from boarding to the airplane crash. And the other part focused on Edward and his journey of finding himself in the years after the crash. The two parts were told in segments throughout the book. That was quite a bit of a surprise for me, because the author dedicated a good part of the book to the passengers, that weren’t Edward or his family. In other words, the reader found out about their backstories, hopes and dreams.

I must admit I struggled with the two timelines, and how they connected. Every time the story switched back to the past, to the airplane, I was pulled away from Edward. It was also hard for me to listen to everyone’s thoughts and hopes, knowing they would never have the chance to live their dreams. Later in the book I realized just how powerful this kind of storytelling was. I never was aloud to forget what happened, or was going to happen. The crash was the center of the story, and the author did a brilliant job of reminding me of this again and again.

The turning point happened in the last quarter of the novel. Years after the accident, Edward finally found something to focus on, besides wanting to live his life in memory of his brother. He found a way to move on, to do something worthwhile, to exist again. Surprisingly this part ended up being much shorter than expected.

Here is what I loved about this book:

Edward and Shay’s friendship – it was THE BEST part of the novel. Shay was so accepting, so easy for Edward to be around. He opened up to her, and didn’t have to hide behind a facade, and she on the other hand listened and guided him when needed. Shay was his protector, best friend, and confidant. And I just loved their relationship.

I also adored Edward’s friendship with his principal and how they together cared for his ferns. It was besides Shay the most uplifting part of the story. Their connection was so easy, no expectations or strings attached. It was another part of his life where he was allowed to heal at his own pace.

Overall, the novel was very well written, from prose to execution. It was as heartbreaking as it was original. And the author’s research made it feel incredibly authentic and real. That’s probably why I had such a hard time with the book. In essence, I don’t want to be on an airplane anytime in the near future. But kudos to the author for crafting such a compelling novel.

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Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano