Author Spotlight: Mindy McGinnis

Writing is hard work! For years, I aspired to become a writer. I graduated from The Institute of Children's Literature. Yet, I always seemed to taper off in the middle of a novel. Then in 2009, I discovered the National Novel Writing Month challenge. Every November, participants attempt to write 50,000 words. When you target word count, it silences the inner critic. Finally, with NaNoWriMo, I completed 9 manuscripts. The organization only started keeping statistics in 2011. My NaNoWriMo account says I wrote 426,131 words during my final 7 attempts. 

In the beginning, I wrote 5 young adult novels. Despite requests from several agents and publishers, I could not find a home for my Christian YA. Unless your name is Melody Carlson, it can be a hard sell. Thus, I appreciate how challenging it is to write and publish young adult fiction. In my quest to become a better writer, I read a variety of books. Now, I hope to reach out to several talented writers to learn from them. Last fall, I contacted Mindy McGinnis to talk about her books.  

(Photo property of Mindy McGinnis author website)

Mindy McGinnis writes a wide range of young adult fiction (post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, mystery, fantasy, and contemporary). I love that she is down-to-earth and approachable. In 2016, she won an Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel with her book, A Madness So Discreet. Although I have only read two of her novels at this point, I believe her work taps into universal truths. She tackles tough issues and brings them to the forefront for teen awareness and discussion. 

Because her book, Heroine, portrays drug abuse with raw honesty, she has battled censorship. This book hit close to home for me (discover more about this book and read my review here). Despite being a tough read, I'm so glad she is shining a light on this problem. I pray her efforts might save other impressionable young people from venturing down that slippery slope.

Next, I read Be Not Far From Me. I'm always up for a survival read. I appreciate McGinnis' ability to suck you in and draw you into the world of the character. She also excels at nailing a genuine and unique teen voice. (Find my review, with story details, by clicking here.) I'm grateful for her willingness to answer my questions about the novels and about writing.

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Heroine

Q1: This book struck a chord with me, as my son’s prescription for a sport-related injury was a stepping stone on his journey into deeper drug use. In your opinion, why is this an important book for teens to read?

Mindy: It's important because it illustrates how addiction actually works. When you're writing for teens, many people want any type of risky behavior to have immediate negative consequences. A character that does drugs needs to wake up the next morning in some sort of horrible physical condition, or have a terrifying experience. That's not how it works. People do drugs because they make you feel good. It's that simple. The lessons come later, and they're hard.

Q2: Tough issues are hard to write about. In my review of What a Wave Must Be, I complained that the graphic urgent reality of the topic of cluster suicides led me to feel like a test-dummy. Did you struggle to balance making the story believable, accurate, and true without overkilling the subject for the reader?

Mindy: Nope. I don't struggle with anything. I write what needs to be written in order to accurately convey the material. That being said, I am careful - especially with this book - not to be writing a manual or a how-to. You never actually see Mickey shoot up, and the method she uses to crush her oxy earlier in the book would no longer work, as Purdue Pharma changed the formula of OxyContin when they realized people were crushing it to snort.

Q3: In responding to my letter thanking you for writing Heroine, you wrote: “Addiction is truly heinous and can happen to anyone; none of us are immune, and falling prey to it does not make a person weak or evil. That is the message I hope to convey with Heroine, and I believe it is making an impact... although not always in the ways I had hoped. Heroine is, and continues to be, my most banned book. Many schools have been forced to remove it from their libraries, which is where it needs to be in order for the message to be available to those who need it most.” Do you look back with a desire to change anything?

Mindy: Nope. Wouldn't change a thing. This book isn't hurting anyone, but I know it's helped many.

Q4: In my limited experience with launching a book into the world, I have struggled with disappointment at not being able to get my book into the hands that would most appreciate and benefit from my words. How does banning your book make you feel as an author who believes in your message and the story you want to convey? How do you fight discouragement over this?

Mindy: I don't really have emotions about it, to be honest. A lot of people ask me how I feel, and that's not really applicable. The real question is - what do I think and what am I going to do about it? I think that there are plenty of teachers, librarians, and advocacy groups out there doing good work to make sure kids have the books they need, and I support them. What I'm going to do about it is keep writing what I write, how I write it.

Q5: Many banned books are ones I'm grateful to have experienced, despite content I might not enjoy or agree with. For example, I adored Mark Haddon’s skill at voice in his book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. While I didn’t appreciate the excessive use of expletives, I overlooked it because there were redeeming qualities within the book. Indeed, as a parent, I want to know what books my kids are reading, so I can discuss with them any difficult topics where I want my perspectives on the table. I skimmed the Heroine discussion questions you provide for educators (or parents who wish to read this important book and discuss it with their teen before this ugly issue rears its head). I appreciate how you attempt to lead the reader to see preconceived notions they might have already formed about drugs and addicts who are hooked on them. What is the foremost thing you hope young people gain from the process of reading and discussing Heroine?

Mindy: Addiction can happen to anyone. It cuts across all demographics. A person can feel like they've got their situation under control, but in reality, they are spiraling. A greater awareness of how addiction begins, and how quickly risky behaviors can turn into bad habits is what I hope readers take away, along with empathy for addicts. We all have someone in our lives that is either living the experience, or has come out on the other side. Starting from a point of knowing that they are not weak or evil is key.

Be Not Far From Me

Q1: One thing I appreciate (from the two books of yours I have read and from others I’ve read blurbs for) is your ability to branch out into different subjects and styles. You are not a formulaic writer. That’s fantastic. What would you say helps you attack different subjects and styles? Or, to what do you attribute your skill at approaching different content with each book?

Mindy: I'm a really terrible person to answer craft questions, because I don't know the answers. I have no formal training in writing, and I have no specific process or method for any book. I just sit down and write the story as it comes to me. No plotting. No planning. Just go.

Q2: The main character in Be Not Far From Me, Ashley Hawkins, is a tough, self-reliant, hardened individual. How do you, as a writer, get inside the heads of your characters to pull off a distinct and effective voice, as you’ve done for Ashley?

Mindy: I don't really know how to answer that one either. I just hear them.

Q3: One of my favorite parts of the book is where Ashley does an about-face (for her) and simply says, “I need help.” The character has progressed through her trial and become a better person for it. Do you outline as you write, in order to polish the story arc, or are you more of a pantser, plowing through and then going back into the manuscript to hone and clarify that arc of development?

Mindy: I'm completely organic. I don't typically know what's going to happen in a story, or even who is going to live until the end, or who the "bad guy" is if it's a mystery. I just write. It's a simple approach, but it works for me. Again, any type of craft question like character development or arc, is just not something I even think about.

Q4: Toward the middle of the story, we catch glimpses of Ashley’s exposure to religious beliefs at the camp she attended. Indeed, it surprised me when I learned the title for the book comes from Ashley’s interaction with (no, memorization of) Psalm 22. While Davey Beet's instruction at the camp teaches her survival skills, she also learns survival skills through biblical instruction. On page 156, as Ashley recites Psalm 22 to herself, she muses, “I don’t know if I’m saying it because I think there might actually be a God to listen or if I’m just distracting myself, but… I keep going.” What would you say is your perspective? Do you believe God is listening or do you believe Ashley merely took strength from reciting the comforting words of scripture?

Mindy: What I think doesn't matter - what Ashley thinks matters. And I can't really say that I have access to all of her interiority. I think the camp was a good experience for her, and she drew comfort from it.

Q5: As much as I’ve read about prizing a good beginning, I believe a satisfying end leaves you with completion and a jumping off point for taking the story further. You accomplish this in both books. At the end of Heroine, the reader must decide what Mickey picked up to use later (allowing the reader to determine the course of the rest of the story). The end of Be Not Far From Me is beautiful: “I’m going to find Davey Beet. I’m going to bring home the boy who showed me how to survive. Then I’m going to live every day remembering that’s what we’re all doing, each in our own way. But nobody wants to do it alone. I hike up my pack and square my shoulders. And I go back into the woods.” Some writers say they write the ending before even starting the beginning. Is that true for you? Did these endings come to you prior to the beginnings? How much work did you do to hone your beginning and ending passages?

Mindy: Again, no. I have no idea how the books are going to end. I just write them. I really don't do a ton of work or honing. I'm fortunate that good beginnings and good endings organically happen for me. I'm not really doing the work, I'm just writing down what's being channeled to me.

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I wish to express a giant thank you to Mindy for taking her time to answer my questions. If you are seeking gritty and real young adult literature, Mindy's books offer honesty and authenticity, great world-building and character development. If you are a writer, seeking instruction, Mindy offers expert advice on her blog, Writer, Writer, Pants on Fire. Subscribers receive a free synopsis writing guide. Mindy also offers editorial services and query critiques. 

Book Review: A Christmas Spark

I think I read more Christmas books this past December than I usually read during the holidays. Perhaps it was an escapist venture. I don't know. A Christmas Spark, by Cindy Steel, is a clean novella, perfect for an evening by the fire, maybe even while vacationing at a cabin somewhere. Of course, I don't have that option, but the tale whittled away my treadmill time for a few days, anyway.

A Christmas Spark follows a typical rom-com plot line. Penny is heading to her sister-in-law's family cabin to hunker down and meet a writing deadline. When she arrives, she finds she will not be alone. Her brother's best friend, Chase, is already occupying the cabin and the blizzard conditions mean neither will be going anywhere. While he's drop-dead gorgeous, he will not let go of her middle school nickname, Blister. Back then, Penny was interested in Chase. That is, until she overheard Chase dis her to his friends, saying his dog is hotter than Penny. 

I could totally relate to this part of the story line. Penny, cut by the offhanded comment, has carried it around with her in her heart for years. When I was around ten, I had a crush on a boy at church. I passed him a note to say I liked him. He wrote back on the outside of the note (which everyone read as it travelled down the row), "The first time I saw you was on the front of a Mack truck." Of course, a bulldog is on the front of a Mack truck, I learned. That comment has never faded in my psyche. This line from the book resonated: "Now, I'm left wondering who has cracks in their foundation from a thoughtless comment made by me?"

The questions are simple. Can Penny forgive Chase and start again when he continues his playful banter? Will he ever let go of her pimple-reference nick-name? Will their honesty clear the air or merely open her up to further teasing? Alone in a cold, secluded cabin, Penny may just have to rely on Chase for warmth. This was a sweet, easy read that is perfect for any cold weather month.

Book Review: This Must Be the Place

Sara Brunsvold recommended This Must Be the Place by Jami Nato. Sara's words were a siren song to me: "It’s the kind of book that you have to sit with. And it’s the kind of book that will always guide you from dark places back to laughter and hope." She offered a warning about the mild use of profanity, but I was game to see how my own bread crumbs in life lead me back to the purpose for which God has formed me.

Sometimes, things in our lives seem incongruent with God's plan. We think to ourselves, as Jami did, "Surely God couldn't want marital infidelity! Divorce can't be within God's plan." Or my question, "How could God allow a broken leg and the prescription for opioids?" Descent into addiction must be a departure from God's will and plan. Right? It would be wonderful if we could always say with certainty that God's will  is only for good paths and not bad ones. Jami Nato is not saying God causes marital infidelity, divorce, opioid use, addiction, or any other trial we encounter, as His divine will. Only that God allows these negative blips in our life stories to shape and form us into exactly who He wants us to be. If we trace the paths we have crossed, we often come to see a vision and purpose that God is shaping us for within those negative influences.

Jami Nato wants us to see that our past, present, and future can serve as a compass. She suggests a deep look at where God has been, where He is, and where He is going before you. As I reiterated to my prodigal son after listening to this book, "Nothing is an accident! Every positive and negative in your life is leading to God's gifting you in perfect ways for the ministry He desires you to fulfill." I wanted to go back into the e-book version so I could answer the questions provided at the end of each chapter and chart out a deeper understanding of what God might shape me to do. As I've said before, our God wastes nothing! He will take what looks like the worst thing (I'm remembering that minor story in The Wright Brothers) and turn it into the best thing to mold you for His purpose.

Content caution: 📒 - language

Book Review: How to Age Disgracefully

I read How to Age Disgracefully for my book club. The date fell earlier than I realized, so I ended up reading this on the morning of the 2 p.m. scheduled meeting. Thankfully, it was a quick read, and I didn't give up on it (despite a bit of raucous content). The book is similar to The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, in that it focuses on old age and requires a heavy dose of the willful suspension of disbelief. However, I liked the Frederick Fife book more than this one.

The book features a slap-stick crew of characters. Daphne, depressed to be alone on her 70th birthday, joins a senior citizens group. Sadly, all they seem to do is craft projects. She's suspicious of an older man who is a failed actor with a shoplifting problem. The quiet woman who is constantly knitting must be up to something, too. Then they learn the childcare facility where they hold their meetings is due to be shut down. The group sets out to save the day. Hopefully they can do so before their pasts catch up to them.

I guess I had a harder time willing myself to believe the unbelievable. Moreover, I didn't feel any sense of redemption took place. It didn't lead to much stimulating conversation, either. Oh well. Not every book is going to be my cup of tea. 

Mid-month Mention: Fasting

One of my goals for 2025 is to fast more. I have spent time in prayer and fasting in the past, especially when issues grew intense with my addicted son. I'm not good at fasting. Still, I believe God is pleased when we not only bow our head to praise and petition Him, but also forego food to intensify our attentions. Indeed, I feel it is essential to pull down strongholds Satan may have on our loved ones.

When I was a teen, I babysat for a couple of children living in a Christian commune house in Chicago, near my home. I think there were two families and two single men, all sharing one roof. If my memory is correct (who knows), one of the single men talked with me about his fasting routine. He fasted one day a week. This is what I hope to build up to. It would be so cool to speak with him now, though I doubt he's still living there and may not even be living at all, as he was at least ten or fifteen years older than me.

To begin with, I am reading a chapter every other day in a book I had on one of our many bookshelves (oh, the purging that needs to be done there, sigh). I must have picked it up at a thrift store for the whopping price of 50 cents. May it be worth far more than that to my soul! It is called God's Chosen Fast: A Spiritual and Practical Guide to Fasting by Arthur Wallis. With a copyright of 1968, it is almost as old as me.

I recently took notes from Wallis' chapter on regular fasting. I want to avoid turning my regular fasting into a thing of legal bondage, as the Pharisees did in Luke 18:11-12. Wallis warns, "There is always the danger that any spiritual exercise that is done habitually becomes an empty form, a ritual devoid of any spiritual content." I will strive to fast without show and with focus on using the extra time for prayer for my sons. It was encouraging to read Wallis' example of the benefit of a public fast called for by the King of England in 1756, and again in the Second World War. Wallis observes, "Wherever in Scripture we read of a public emergency being met by a national call to fast, we find without exception that God responded in deliverance." May this bolster my heart! As Wallis states, "Fasting is calculated to bring a note of urgency and importunity into our praying, and to give force to our pleading in the court of heaven." We have seen awesome results of importunate prayer in the past. Now, again, may my humble prayers on behalf of my sons be fervent and effective.

I found a few other books on our shelves to tackle: R. A. Torrey's How to Pray, and Andrew Murray's The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer. A third book is written by a man I deeply esteem and love, Dr. Lyle Wesley Dorsett. I'm somewhat surprised my copy doesn't have his autograph. I have mentioned before that the Dorsetts took me under their wing during my time at Wheaton College. When I walked into the Wade Center to apply for a transcriber job, Lyle interviewed me and suddenly asked if he could take me next door to the Special Collections to introduce me to his wife, Mary. When I met her, Lyle spoke up. "Mary, doesn't she look just like our Erika might have looked one day?" They had lost their 10 or 11-year-old daughter just a few months before. I spent many happy afternoons in their home and they even took me along on an oral history interview trip in Scotland after my stint with the Wheaton in England program. Lyle's book, E. M. Bounds: Man of Prayer, must have been in his heart and mind during my association with him, because it was published in 1991, just four years after I graduated. As I read and as I pray, I will continue my intercessions for Lyle and Mary, who are battling dementia and cancer, respectively.

If you are interested in fasting, Bill Bright has a 7-step article on the Cru website.

Someone named Vlad Savchuk is encouraging a 21-day fast this month. I found this introductory YouTube video on his Fast Forward Challenge. Or you can watch his video of a Beginner's Guide to Fasting.

Have you incorporated fasting into your prayer time? Do you have a fasting testimony? Who knows, maybe sharing your testimony of victory through fasting might spur another individual on in their quest to seek God's forgiveness and healing in dire circumstances.

Book Review: The Wright Brothers - Highly Recommend

What a fascinating book by David McCullough! I highly recommended this to my son, Sean, who plans to pursue aeronautical engineering. I even read bits aloud to him and shared a story from Wilbur's youth that resounded with an important life lesson. As a teen, looking forward to attending Yale University, Wilbur encountered an accident that altered his life for three years. A neighbor boy (by intent or accident is unknown, although that boy proved in later years to be a serial killer) knocked out Wilbur's upper teeth with a hockey stick. He could not go away to school. Complications and emotional alterations held Wilbur hostage. During that time, he read voraciously, no doubt studying much that he would one day use in his invention. I observed to Sean (and later told Trevor), sometimes the worst things to happen to us can end up being the best thing to happen to us because it turns into something productive we could never have imagined.

Wilbur and Orville Wright, the famous Dayton, Ohio, brothers, dreamed of creating some means of flying. Many scoffed, imagining this an impossibility. It surprised me that the United States seemed disinterested in the brothers' advancements. Although the initial test runs took place in North Carolina, most of the introductory flights occurred in Europe. The French were especially interested in flight and several French aeronautical engineers were also working on making this dream a reality. Equally surprising, I learned Orville suffered an accident that claimed the life of his passenger (the first death associated with flight).

I enjoyed this dip into the history of flight. The dogged pursuit of these mild-mannered brothers was inspiring. Refusing to listen to naysayers, they quietly and persistently worked to understand the mechanics involved. Their invention changed our world. Even if you are not interested in exploring history, this book provides a human interest story full of inspiration and hope. Most of us will live ordinary lives of little to no consequence, but the Wright brothers deserve every accolade for their determination and courage.

December 2024 This and That

Somehow I didn't finish a re-cap of events in December in time to post at the end of the year, so bear with me as I look back now.

POEM:

Early in December, my sister (who is an officer in The Salvation Army) requested I write up a poem for her to use for her 3rd Sunday in Advent when she would preach on the wise men and the shepherds seeking. Initially, it was merely a poem. But just before I sent it to her, my devotional mentioned the song, "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing." What good fortune! It fit the meter and rhythm perfectly. So, they sang my poem, "Longing for Christmas," to that tune on the 3rd Advent Sunday.

I posted the lyrics on Facebook. A friend who lives in another country took me to task, saying I only shared part of the story. This person argued the emphasis should not be on the birth, but always upon the death of Christ, because that provides atonement. They said the Bible doesn't emphasize Christ's birth or provide a date. While I agree that atonement only was possible because our Savior died on the cross, I celebrate His birth, because without it, we would still be in darkness (and indeed, it often feels as if we are still in darkness in the current state of this world). I will give this more thought (couldn't during preparations for Bryce and Elizabeth's Christmas visit). Perhaps I will add a fifth verse to emphasize the Light willingly entered darkness and separation from the Father on our behalf to reconcile us to God when we trust Him and accept His gift of salvation from sin (as purchased through His death on the cross).

PURCHASES

Our old navy couch set was becoming unbearable because the pressure of reclining had caused the foundation to sag. In 2023, a friend and her chiropractor husband visited. He couldn't even bear to sit in our loveseat. He jumped up and made an excuse to stand during the visit. Thus, on Black Friday, we snagged a holiday deal. I'm thinking now, the pressure for a snap decision, within the sale window, was detrimental. 

I went in with two options in mind, but neither were available to sit in and try out (no floor models for those less expensive sets, of course). The sales clerk led us to the pricier models and encouraged us to buy a set with power reclining (our previous was a manual recliner). When I sat on the loveseat of the one we settled on, I could not believe the softness of the fabric. It was a lighter color than I'd wanted and more expensive than I wanted. Still, the window was closing, and we needed to decide. Because of the extra expense, my husband vetoed the protection plan. I'm a catastrophizer. The whole drive home, I had images of the dog vomiting on the couch or someone spilling a drink on the loveseat. But what's done is done.

The set was due for delivery on Friday the 13th. Hmm. What a fright we received when only the couch arrived. I again jumped to worry, envisioning our holiday visit with only seating availability for 3 people. Thankfully, my husband called and arranged the loveseat delivery on the Thursday prior to Bryce and Elizabeth's arrival. Once both pieces were in place, we realized the set didn't blend well with our carpet. We ordered an area rug, but it did not arrive until after Bryce and Elizabeth returned to Dallas. I'd love to say I feel no regrets, but I'm not sold on this new arrangement. Since the couch is so tall, my feet cannot touch the ground when I sit on it. The power reclining requires longer to right itself than when you just pull a lever. The color is not what I had hoped for. Again, what's done is done, sadly.

PUZZLES

In December, with extra time out of school, Sean and Claire and I worked on two puzzles. The first was a 1000-piece one with cereal boxes. Claire has wicked puzzling skills! If I couldn't figure out where a piece belonged, I'd hand it to her and within seconds she'd be popping it into place.

Our second puzzle was 3-dimensional and more difficult (I hardly helped at all). Here's the box and the final product of the Harry Potter Knight Bus:

PRESENTS

I received some fun presents this year. My husband gave me 2 purple t-shirts with phrases about reading, a book about C.S. Lewis's brother Warnie, and gift cards to my favorite fast-food restaurants. Bryce and Elizabeth gave me a wedding memento mouse pad, and a beautiful framed family photo (plus some chocolate - yum). Sean gave me a Harry Potter puzzle, so I see more puzzling on the horizon, but maybe not until spring break. Claire gave me a Harry Potter Monopoly game, which we played one day during the break (Sean won, but we all had fun, I think).

PARTIES

After Christmas, I went to a birthday party at a tea shop about a half hour away. They offer a British high tea and other such options. How thrilling to get a scone with clotted cream. We all wore tiaras, which was fun!

PROJECTS

I have gone back and forth about a project for the year. It feels empty, not picking up the prayer project I tackled two years in a row. I decided against printing out the whole Bible. My wrists can barely manage my morning pages (daily free association writing/journaling I do after my devotions each morning). Perhaps I could type a Psalm a day. That idea falls flat for me, too. 

Another goal is to spend time in fasting and prayer for my sons. I am starting slow, with liquid fasting (allowing only liquids). Then, I plan to build into more complete food fasting, until I'm fasting one day a week for the whole day. Again, I'm not sure I have the discipline and fortitude to see it through, but I hold the goal, nonetheless. Nothing is more important than lifting my children to the Lord.

I guess my primary goal is to purge excess junk throughout the year. I started off the first 3 days well and then fell off the wagon, forgetting to find 10 to 20 items to purge. On day 6, I managed my goal, only because I purged items as I put away the Christmas decorations. This is why a plan with structure is so important. I am trying to note how many items each day, so perhaps that will help me maintain the momentum.

How about you? Favorite presents? Puzzle exploits? Writing accomplishments? Goals or projects for 2025? I'd love to hear them. It might jumpstart my discipline and commitment.

Book Review: Positively, Penelope

How grateful I am to Pepper Basham for providing another light-hearted, uplifting, clean romance! After enjoying Authentically, Izzy, I gave the second book in the series a go. Positively, Penelope returns to the same sibling set, but you could read it as a stand-alone novel. What a delightful and upbeat character! Penelope shines in a dark world. Since my world has had its own gloom, it was thrilling to enter this alternate reality and have Penelope's words "turn my frown upside down." (Ha! My husband's frequent complaint. He says I always frown. He's not alone. When I was in high school and concentrating on something I was learning, the teachers would often stop to say I looked like I was in pain. Oh my! I need to channel Penelope from now on!)

Penelope Edgewood loves musicals and all things theater. When she takes a temporary internship at the Darling House Theater on the island of Skymar, she brings her love of magic and fairy tales and princesses along. Is her positive spirit strong enough to battle the darkness of the owners (still reeling from several losses), the mystery of an idea thief, and her own bout with homesickness? Can she remain positive when life threatens to pull her down?

I had forgotten my intention of seeking a hard copy of the book for this second installment. Others complained about the awkward inconvenience of listening to each epistolary entry read aloud. It is true. Epistolary novels, especially if involving emails and texts, read better on the physical page. However, I love a good epistolary novel, so I put up with the email subject lines and text tags. This is a delightful series with fascinating and quirky characters, light-hearted romance, and other-worldly settings. I look forward to exploring the next book, Loyally, Luke.

Book Review: The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife - Highly Recommend

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife has been called a "funny and moving," "charming and clever," "sweet, touching life-swap adventure you won't want to miss." It is a great debut novel, billed as perfect for fans of two of my favorite novels, A Man Called Ove and Remarkably Bright Creatures. I'm a sucker for redemptive stories and this one was a good one. The willful suspension of disbelief, while taxed, was worth it for this zany tale of mistaken identity. Kindness goes a long way in a world full of hurt and pain.

82-year-old Frederick Fife is in a rough patch. He misses his deceased wife. His money and his house paid for her cancer treatments. He is facing homelessness when an odd series of events thrusts him into a world he doesn't deserve. Bernard Greer and Fred bear an uncanny resemblance. Thus, when Bernard disappears at a park outing, nursing home nurses take Fred home, thinking he's Bernard. Fred tries to set the record straight, but because Bernard typically responded with dementia-addled comments, nobody will believe Fred. Thus, he settles into Bernard's life, loving the care he receives at Bernard's nursing home. Bernard was grumpy, blind, and incontinent. Fred is endearing, lucid, and well-meaning. He is a man of integrity and kindness, intent upon remedying Bernard's blunders from the past. But how long until his mistaken identity comes to light? And is he really not hurting anyone by his deception?

I related to the issues Anna Johnston addressed within these pages: "grief, dementia, social isolation, cancer, and addiction (as quoted in the author's extensive and interesting acknowledgements)." I loved how the story lines merged. The beauty of Fred's intervention in broken lives made me wish for a Fred in my life. This was a lovely, feel-good story, even when things seemed beyond belief. Readers will root for Fred and his willingness to ride the fortuitous wave in order to help others around him. The book illustrates how older adults are often invisible or overlooked. It highlights the deep need we all have to belong and to forgive. It is a tale of second chances and redeemed brokenness. Magnificent! When they make this into a movie (some hints within the closing pages), I'll be there in the first row!