Customer Reviews

Someone Else's Child: A Novel

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was swept away by this book; it puts you into the lives of the characters in a deep and profound way. I did not at all view it as a "light summer read", but rather as a purveyor of some deep and interesting truths.

So often our society villifies young people who've made a dreadful and tragic mistake, as Matt did. In this novel we can see from his point of view how ready he is to agree with the town, and how little he deserves that villification, and also how Jen is able to give him some small relief from that hatred and start him on a path of healing. At the end, however, the reader finds one, of several, reasons why the title is "Someone Else's Child". Jen's ultimate loyalty has to be to her own. And although, in using Jen and Matt as the two voices of the novel, the author keeps us a step removed from the horrific pain the parents of the dead girls feel, it is still acknowledged and woven thoroughly into the story.

As an inveterate reader, I highly recommend this book!

Someone Else's Child explores the feelings of those affected by the tragedy of teenage death in a mature and knowlegable way that had me saying, "I've felt like that." I wanted to know about the continuing lives of the main characters long after I turned the last page. There could be another whole book by this author relating the continuing "fall-out" from the accident, and I would read it!

Someone Else's Child is the kind of book you live in for a little while. After reading the first few chapters, I attempted to go back to my reality but found it nearly impossible. I was stuck in Connecticut, in early summer, trying to sort through the pieces of my life. The narrative flows smoothly between the two main characters, Matt and Jennie, and I found myself frustrated at being allowed only a passive presence in this story. I wanted to act out, I wanted to change the course of events, I was angered and embittered...I was completely hooked.

The story has so many tangents that at times I was annoyed, almost skimming paragraphs to find what I was most interested in. However, Woodruff ties it neatly together midway through the book, and lets you figure some things out for yourself before confirming them in the final chapters.

Nancy Woodruff has written a piece of contemporary literature with an Oprah's Book Club accessibility. I did not falter in my reading of this book, but I did go back to read paragraphs that sang with prose. I read a lot, about a book a week, and rarely am I so engrossed that I miss my favorite TV shows. (Sad but true.) Many a night found me curled up on the couch, nearly eating this book until I was finished. It is a quick and delicious read, and a book I know I will go back to when I am temporarily bored of my existence. Highly recommended.

This book is what I refer to as a razorblader (that's a good thing). Matt is 15, and new to the ritzy community of Sheldrake, Connecticut. He has been making friends with three local girls-all of whom are 16. One Friday the girls ask him to go out with them, and he agrees. Tara really likes Matt, and it was her idea to ask him out with the group. But when she gets home, she discovers her mother is in labor, and she is expected to go the hospital with her parents. Matt goes out to a party with the other girls where they proceed to drink too much, and the driving responsibility falls on the too-young-to-drive Matt. Tragedy, of course, strikes. This is about the summer of grief that follows the accident, and how the town & particular individuals handle it. I truly felt the grief and healing through Nancy Woodruff's words and phrases. I'm already waiting for her next one.

I started reading this book one evening, and at 3 a.m. I had to force myself to stop (so that I wouldn't get fired from my job for lack of sleep). I promptly finished the book at 2 a.m. the next night. What caught me was not just the story, which is riveting, but the narrator's wonderful voice which is heartfelt and warm and does not have a trace of sentimentality. I was raised in a smug, well-to-do community like the one in Woodruff's novel and I was so gratified to see someone capture the dark underside of civic pride. I also found Woodruff's portrayal of family life to be dead-on -- she portrays family love in a way that is honest, kind and never, ever saccharin. I hope Woodruff is a fast writer because I can't wait for her next book, and I feel great envy for those who have yet to read it -- they have a really wonderful reading experience ahead of them.

The characters telling the story, Matt and Jennie, have a touching, hopeful tale to tell. Matt is lost after the accident. Even though Jennie is unclear about her current position in life, she is still able to help Matt start to put his life back together. Doing this helps Jennie find her compass as well.

A first rate novel. It makes you wish we all could find the Jennie in ourselves.

Nancy Woodruff spins a very good tale in her debut novel. In fact, she has a best seller on her hands until page 230, when an implausible plot line takes an abrupt turn south and crashes the story, the characters and the author's credibility. Woodruff's story begins with the Breeze family of Sheldrake, CT. Jennie Breeze has a pretty good life as a wife and mother in the tony suburbs. Her husband runs a landscaping business and their teen-age daughter, Tara, is making it through the difficult years with relative ease. As Tara's school year ends, the family is also awaiting a new addition, and unlike Tara, who was not planned and not expected, this baby is welcomed and wanted. When Jennie goes into labor, she insists that Tara be with her at the hospital, thus spoiling the girl's plans to go out with her two best friends and the 'new' boy in town, Matt Fallon. Tara's absence doesn't stop the three other kids from heading off to an unsupervised teen party. The girls get wasted, leaving driving duties to the ever-responsible, but inexperienced Matt. A horrific accident occurs when Matt's limited driving skills fail him, and Tara's two best friends are killed. Matt walks away, but is left with some very serious psychological wounds. When school lets out, no one enjoys the summer break. Jennie is suffering from the new baby blues. Her start-up business that plans high school reunions is not as organized as she would like, but she just can't seem to find the time or the energy to deal with the new baby and plan a party. Jennie's husband is headed into his busy time of the year and can offer little relief. Tara is inconsolable over the loss of her two best friends. Matt is ostracized by the community, who holds him responsible for the tragedy. Jennie knows something about being an outcast. She graduated valedictorian of her class, but wound up pregnant and married before she turned 19. Realizing Matt's situation, she offers him a job as her assistant for the summer months. Though tenuous at first, the boy and the woman work well together. Jennie has a lot of basic maternal instincts and a knack for knowing how to help Matt deal with his guilt. In turn, Matt gets Jennie organized for the summer's events and, with Jennie's care, he begins to find his way back from a self-imposed purgatory. Woodruff's debut was stunning until page 230, when she throws in what I think is a very inappropriate plot twist. Besides having an element of sheer surprise, the author raises issues that are just too complex to resolve before the story ends at page 256. I finished the book feeling ambushed, exhausted, and cheated out of a good story. Woodruff has a gift with prose and probably has a bright future as a writer. I just hope she's gotten the surprise element out of her system and settles into a more realistic style of plot development. Recommendation: Stop at page 229 and write your own ending!

Terry Matthews, Reviewer

I enjoyed Nancy Woodruff's novel. I waited for it eagerly, and it lived up to my anticipation. It's a good summer read, nice for book groups.

Nancy Woodruff spins a very good tale in her debut novel. In fact, she has a best seller on her hands until page 230, when an implausible plot line takes an abrupt turn south and crashes the story, the character and the author's credibility.

Woodruff's story begins with the Breeze family of Sheldrake, CT. Jennie Breeze has a pretty good life as a wife and mother in the tony suburbs. Her husband runs a landscaping business and their teen-age daughter, Tara, is making it through the difficult years with relative ease. As Tara's school year ends, the family is awaiting a new addition, and unlike Tara, who was not planned and not expected, this baby is welcomed and wanted.

When Jennie goes into labor, she insists that Tara be with her at the hospital, thus spoiling the girl's plans to go out with her two best friends and the 'new' boy in town, Matt Fallon.

Tara's absence doesn't stop the three other kids from heading off to an unsupervised teen party. The girls get wasted, leaving driving duties to the ever-responsible, but inexperienced Matt. A horrific accident occurs when Matt's limited driving skills fail him, and Tara's two best friends are killed. Matt walks away, but is left with some very serious psychological wounds.

When school lets out, no one enjoys the summer break. Jennie is suffering from the new baby blues. Her start-up business that plans high school reunions is not as organized as she would like, but she just can't seem to find the time or the energy to deal with the new baby and plan a party. Jennie's husband is headed into his busy time of the year and can offer little relief. Tara is inconsolable over the loss of her two best friends. Matt is ostracized by the community, who holds him responsible for the tragedy.

Jennie knows something about being an outcast. She graduated valedictorian of her class, but wound up pregnant and married before she turned 19. Realizing Matt's situation, she offers him a job as her assistant for the summer months. Though tenuous at first, the boy and the woman work well together. Jennie has a lot of basic maternal instincts and a knack for knowing how to help Matt deal with his guilt. In turn, Matt gets Jennie organized for the summer's events and, with Jennie's care, he begins to find his way back from a self-imposed purgatory.

Woodruff's debut was stunning until page 230, when she throws in what I think is a very inappropriate plot twist. Besides having an element of sheer surprise, the author raises issues that are just too complex to resolve before the story ends at page 256. I finished the book feeling ambushed, exhausted, and cheated out of a good story.

Woodruff has a gift with prose and probably has a bright future as a writer. I just hope she's gotten the surprise element out of her system and settles into a more realistic style of plot development.

I had high hopes for this novel. The premise (which has been explained in the other reviews here so I won't repeat) is a great one, with built-in tension and drama. Unfortunately, the author failed to capitalize on this opportunity. The writing was weak, bland, and at times boring. The dialogue was dull and did little to forward the story. I did a lot of skimming. I honestly don't know where the climax was, that one moment where I'm holding my breath eager to find out if the characters will win or lose.

The plot twist around page 230 was okay for me, and I can see how this "situation" could occur were this a real scenario where a young man's life and future are on the brink and emotions are pulled to an extreme. It would have been better, in my opinion, if the author had play up this aspect earlier and stronger.

This book failed to evoke strong emotions from me or a deep connection to the characters.