Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
When daughter Izzy burns down the Richardson family home in beautiful Shaker Heights, Ohio, the fireman says it was caused by little fires set everywhere in the house. The title of this excellent book also refers to the "little fires" burning in the family's life that sparked Izzy's desire to burn it all down and start over.
The Richardsons seem to have to perfect life. Dad is a lawyer, mom a reporter for the local small newspaper. Lizzie and Trip are popular teens. Brother Moody is quieter but has a circle of friends. Youngest daughter Izzy was in a fragile state at birth, which has caused her mother to be hypervigilant ever since (which Izzy sees as being hypercritical). But life goes on its merry way in the well-ordered suburbs until artist Mia and her teenage daughter Pearl rent a home from the Richardsons and become completely entangled in their lives. And nothing will ever be the same again for any member of the Richardson family.
The main plot is intertwined with a custody battle over a little Chinese girl adopted by a friend of the Richardson's--whose biological mother is a coworker of Mia's. So battle lines are drawn.
This would be a great choice for a book group. It would generate an interesting discussion on what is best for a child? What constitutes a family? And how well do we really know our own family members?
The Richardsons seem to have to perfect life. Dad is a lawyer, mom a reporter for the local small newspaper. Lizzie and Trip are popular teens. Brother Moody is quieter but has a circle of friends. Youngest daughter Izzy was in a fragile state at birth, which has caused her mother to be hypervigilant ever since (which Izzy sees as being hypercritical). But life goes on its merry way in the well-ordered suburbs until artist Mia and her teenage daughter Pearl rent a home from the Richardsons and become completely entangled in their lives. And nothing will ever be the same again for any member of the Richardson family.
The main plot is intertwined with a custody battle over a little Chinese girl adopted by a friend of the Richardson's--whose biological mother is a coworker of Mia's. So battle lines are drawn.
This would be a great choice for a book group. It would generate an interesting discussion on what is best for a child? What constitutes a family? And how well do we really know our own family members?
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