THE SUMMER WE FELL APART

Author: Robin Antalek ISBN: 9780061782169 2/2010 FICTION Publisher: HARPER

The children of a once-brilliant playwright and a struggling actress, the four Haas siblings grew up in chaos—raised in an environment composed of neglect and glamour in equal measure. When their father dies, they must depend on their intense but fragile bond to remember what it means to be family despite years of anger and hurt. These brothers and sisters are painfully human, sometimes selfish, and almost always making the wrong decisions, but their endearing struggles provide laughter through tears—something anyone who's ever had a sibling can relate to.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THE SUMMER WE FELL APART is the story of a family unlike any family I’ve ever known. Still, in the intimate glimpses of the life they lived, the lives they presently owned, and their dreams for futures not yet realized, I recognized bits and pieces of people I knew—or ones I imagined I knew—in the collective story of the Haas siblings. Theirs is a tale of reconciliation and resilience, told so well I experienced a gamut of emotions while reading this book. The best part is, I never once felt bored or disconnected.

Each sibling gets a chance to tell part of their life story, which gives the reader a unique point of view in that it’s possible to “see” the story from all angles. Amy begins their tale, and sets the stage on page one by stating the obvious, that there was no way for her to understand her parents—especially her scarf-wearing mother.  Theirs is a tangled relationship; I quickly realized that the tangled condition of the Haas offspring wasn’t something to which Amy was the sole owner.  Kate’s desire to be the apple of their father’s eye, George’s search for self-acceptance, and Finn’s destructive spirit add to the family chaos, each rendering part of an explanation for the Haas turmoil.

I was intrigued by this story and the depth of emotion of the characters. It is a satisfying read in that it ends just as it should, and leaves the reader feeling richer for having had the experience of delving into the minds of four very different minds. Nicely done!

Kay James