By Celest Ng
Penguin Press, 2017. 338 pgs. Fiction
In Shaker Heights, a prosperous suburb of Cleveland, life is fairly calm with everyone keeping the status quo. Then visionary artist and single mother Mia arrives with her teenage daughter, Pearl. Elena Richardson thinks it would be a kind gesture to rent a house to Mia and Pearl for very little cost in exchange for some basic housekeeping. Such close proximity to the Richardsons builds a tight relationship, but when a family friend tries to adopt a Chinese-American baby and the distraught birthmother finds out, a custody battle ensues that divides the town, the family, and prompts Elena Richardson to look into Mia’s past, uncovering secrets she has been running from for years.
This is the type of novel that reminds me that perspective is everything. Only the reader sees the complexities of everyone’s lives, while each character struggles with their own limited understanding. Little Fires Everywhere is intricate, moving, and thought provoking. I found myself often cheering for one character, while simultaneously feeling heartbroken for another. If you’re looking for a weighty read that will stick with you long after you close the book, this is definitely something you’ll want to check out.
ACS
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