Starred review from December 7, 2015
Adelman’s debut novel is a moving story of grief, resilience, and self-actualization. Since suffering a traumatic brain injury at the age of three, Lucy has felt misunderstood by her peers. She prefers to spend time with animals, drawing them with unusual skill and empathy. At 27, Lucy feels like she is simply existing rather than living: she resides with her father in her suburban childhood home outside Manhattan and has fallen into a complacent routine. But when her father dies unexpectedly, Lucy is forced to leave a familiar life behind and move into her younger brother’s studio apartment in New York City, where she is thrown into a series of unfamiliar circumstances that lead her to discover her strength. As Lucy becomes more self-aware, she begins to better understand those around her, most poignantly her brother, whom she previously imagined to be perfect. Adelma fully inhabits Lucy’s voice, and the resulting tale is as realistic as it is uplifting.
June 1, 2016
Adelman's debut offers a poignant coming-of-age story revolving around themes of belonging, expectations, and love. Twenty-seven-year-old Lucy, experiencing executive function difficulty from a traumatic brain injury at age three, is messy, disorganized, and unable to hold a job, but she also is funny, loving, a talented artist, and a keen observer. She has a special relationship with animals, particularly Gus, the polar bear at the Central Park Zoo. She has a routine and a fairly happy life living in the house where she grew up, with her father, who encourages her to live as normal a life as possible while also smoothing her path. All this changes when her dad dies suddenly and her younger brother Nathan has to leave college. Nathan moves Lucy and her cat into his small studio apartment in the heart of the city. Nathan is burdened with responsibilities he's never had to face, while Lucy and the cat must learn to navigate a far more complex urban environment. She tries very hard, and these are the sweetest scenes in the book. Lucy starts exploring her neighborhood, particularly a coffee shop where she finds friends, of sorts, and a love interest. Lucy's journey of maturation peaks when she has to live alone in the apartment for three weeks and begins to see her "perfect" brother, and herself, in a more realistic light. Tavia Gilbert captures expertly the characters' voices. VERDICT Recommended for listeners who enjoy gentle, realistic coming-of-age stories, particularly of differently abled people. ["Lucy's narrative is sensitive, witty, and illuminating; her innate connection to Gus, the Central Park polar bear, is excellently drawn": LJ 11/15/15 starred review of the Norton hc.]--Judy Murray, Monroe Cty. Lib. Syst., Temperance, MI
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