Fine, Anne. Blood Family. Simon & Schuster, 2017 (previously published in the UK). $17.99. ISBN 9781481477734. 291 pgs. Ages 13+. P7Q6.
When Edward is four years old, he and his abused mother are locked up in an apartment by the angry alcoholic boyfriend, Harris. Three years later, they are rescued when a neighbor notices something wrong. The story, which is told from the perspectives of various characters, really begins at this point. Smart, sweet Edward is put in foster care, and the book tells the story of his adjustment to “real life,” two sets of foster parents, and the difficulties he has during his teen years. The big crisis of the book comes when Edward, years later, sees himself in a picture of Harris, and he realizes that Harris is his father. He can’t cope with the idea that he might be like Harris in more than appearance. Edward starts to drink and do drugs and his life spirals out of control, but the book ends with some hope that he might get his life together. I began to lose interest in the book about half way through- I couldn’t connect to Edward as a teen, or even like him very much. I wanted him to learn something from his experience and to see his character developed more, but was left feeling disappointed.
VERDICT: Though the book isn’t strongly written, some teens might find the subject matter interesting, though depressing.
September 2017 review by Carol Schramm.
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