Who Would Like This Book:
This is a heartbreakingly tender novel about surviving unthinkable loss, following young Edward Adler - the sole survivor of a devastating plane crash - as he navigates grief, unwanted fame, and the slow journey to recovery. Ann Napolitano masterfully weaves together Edward’s coming-of-age story with intimate glimpses into the lives of the other passengers, making the tragedy deeply personal. Readers who love character-driven, emotional novels and are drawn to themes of healing, resilience, and hope after trauma will find this book especially compelling.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers felt the book’s writing style was too emotionally detached, making it hard to fully connect with the characters. The alternating timelines - between Edward's recovery and the last hours aboard the doomed flight - can feel jarring or overly bleak. Others found certain side stories a bit cliché or thought the novel’s pacing was slow. If you’re looking for a fast-paced plot, or if stories centered on grief are tough for you, this might not be your favorite read.
About:
'Dear Edward' by Ann Napolitano tells the story of 12-year-old Edward Adler, the lone survivor of a plane crash that took the lives of 191 people, including his family. The book alternates between Edward's life after the crash and the moments leading up to the tragic event, exploring his journey of healing, relationships, and self-discovery. Through poignant storytelling and character development, the author navigates themes of grief, resilience, and the impact of tragedy on individuals' lives.
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Triggers include stories of plane crashes, death of family members, survivor's guilt, and themes of trauma.
From The Publisher:
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Featured on Today
A "dazzling" novel that "will break your heart and put it back together again" (J. Courtney Sullivan, bestselling author of Saints for All Occasions) about a young boy who must learn to go on after surviving tragedy
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post
Parade
LibraryReads
"A reading experience that leaves you profoundly altered for the better . . . Don't miss this one."-Jodi Picoult, bestselling author of Small Great Things and A Spark of Light
What does it mean not just to survive, but to truly live?
One summer morning, twelve-year-old Edward Adler, his beloved older brother, his parents, and 183 other passengers board a flight in Newark headed for Los Angeles. Among them are a Wall Street wunderkind, a young woman coming to terms with an unexpected pregnancy, an injured veteran returning from Afghanistan, a business tycoon, and a free-spirited woman running away from her controlling husband. Halfway across the country, the plane crashes. Edward is the sole survivor.
Edward's story captures the attention of the nation, but he struggles to find a place in a world without his family. He continues to feel that a part of himself has been left in the sky, forever tied to the plane and all of his fellow passengers. But then he makes an unexpected discovery-one that will lead him to the answers of some of life's most profound questions: When you've lost everything, how do you find the strength to put one foot in front of the other? How do you learn to feel safe again? How do you find meaning in your life?
Dear Edward is at once a transcendent coming-of-age story, a multidimensional portrait of an unforgettable cast of characters, and a breathtaking illustration of all the ways a broken heart learns to love again.
Praise for Dear Edward
"Dear Edward made me think, nod in recognition, care about its characters, and cry, and you can't ask more of a novel than that."-Emma Donoghue, New York Times bestselling author of Room
"Weaving past and present into a profoundly beautiful, page-turning story of mystery, loss, and wonder, Dear Edward is a meditation on survival, but more important, it is about carving a life worth living. It is about love and hope and caring for others, and all the transitory moments that bind us together."-Hannah Tinti, author of The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley and The Good Thief
Ratings (38)
Incredible (9) | |
Loved It (15) | |
Liked It (8) | |
It Was OK (3) | |
Did Not Like (1) | |
Hated It (2) |
Reader Stats (77):
Read It (38) | |
Want To Read (32) | |
Did Not Finish (2) | |
Not Interested (5) |
3 comment(s)
I wanted to like this book more, but I just do not get the hype. If I am reading a sad book, I want it to still provide entertainment through the story…and this one just didn’t appeal to me. I read about it half of it then gave up. Had no interest in continuing it.
Poor Edward survives a tragic event and then has to somehow live with it, very heart moving book
A refreshing break from my typical genres predictable romance and murder tropes. This story was a bit slow and sad, but it was well written and had strong characterization. My heart ached for Edward throughout the story. Everyone needs a friend like Shay.
What can you read after
Dear Edward?
About the Author:
Ann Napolitano is the author of the novel Within Arm's Reach. She is a graduate of Connecticut College and received her MFA from New York University. She lives in New York City with her family.
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