Review: Fun mystery AND insightful study of human nature
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 16, 2014
Strange and unsettling things are happening around Jessica and the twins... Scary things, dangerous things.She turns to the twins' father, a man broken and damaged of body and of soul. A man living in isolation on a secluded island.  Except when she arrives, he is not alone; the members of his former band have gathered to attempt making a new recording, in desperation to remedy financial devastations. Furthermore, the too frequent dangerous accidents seem to have followed them to the island.It is a story of love and rejection, isolation and dejection.  Of  overcoming physical and emotional scarring.  Of learning to reach out rather than running away.  Of confessions and forgiveness.  Of learning to love.  Of recognizing a family.  Of  the joys that follow from learning to share, and the tragic consequences from being unable to share.This is a very touching story, beautifully told.  Unfortunately,  I just could not bring myself to give I 5 stars; it is a story that should be available to all readers, but explicit scenes of loving limit the audience.  Since young readers could benefit so greatly from reading this story,  I chose the 4 stars.  In fairness, I was impressed by the way the author described strong passions between characters for the majority of the story, it is only near the end that adult content appears.And I do realize that many of the adult audience in today's market expect  the now-normal no holds barred approach; I further recognize that it is highly possible that a modicum of such content might have been included per editor demand.But this book shares ideas that youth truly need to hear.  Whether intentionally or not, this story addresses the mechanisms behind the social construct of anomie and those feelings that, if left unaddressed, can lead to things like schoolhouse shootings.  It could have provided a gateway for discussion of those feelings.