Imperfect Spiral

by Debbie Levy

Overview

Danielle Snyder's summer of babysitting turns into one of overwhelming guilt and sadness when Humphrey, her five-year-old charge is killed suddenly. Danielle gets caught up in the machinery of tragedy: police investigations, neighborhood squabbling, and, when the driver of the car that struck Humphrey turns out to be an undocumented alien, a politically charged immigration debate. Wanting only to mourn the sweet little boy she grew to love, Danielle tries to avoid the world around her, until a new and unexpected friendship with Justin, a boy she meets at the park, helps her find a way to preserve Humphrey's memory, stand up for what she believes in, and find her own path to forgiveness. Readers will be swept away by this heart-wrenching, but uplifting story.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802734426
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	07/26/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
Lexile:	640L (what's this?)
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	12 Years

About the Author

DEBBIE LEVY is the author of The Year of Goodbyes: A True Story of Friendship, Family, and Farewells, which was an IndieBound Next pick, Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2010, a Parents' Choice Award 2010, a 2011 Sydney Taylor Notable Book, a CCBC 2011 Choice, and a VOYA Nonfiction Honor List 2010. www.debbielevybooks.com

Editorial Reviews

The accidental death of a young child touches the lives of others in ways they never expected. When 5-year-old Humphrey dies while in the charge of his 15-year-old baby sitter, Danielle, she wants nothing more than to quietly mourn the loss. However, when the police discover that the driver of the car that struck Humphrey is an illegal alien, Danielle quickly realizes that there are those who would use the tragedy to forward their own agendas. City politics and an immigration debate soon dwarf Humphrey's death. Only Justin, a new friend, seems to understand her desire to honor the little boy's memory. But Justin bears a secret that threatens to change everything. Chapters highlighting Danielle's memories of her precocious charge are interspersed with those cataloging the events following his death. Levy's unflinching look at pain is masterful. The narrative fluidly moves from lighter moments with Humphrey to the darkness of grief, avoiding false sentimentality. Genuine characters, complicated relationships and realistic dialogue will ease readers through the difficult journey. Unfortunately, Danielle and Humphrey's story is overtaken by social commentary. The debate over immigration policies steals the stage, leaching the tale of its emotional impact. This poignant novel loses its way. (Fiction. 12 & up)

Kirkus Reviews