Review by Booklist Review
Becker's debut follows four generations of women with magical healing powers. Louise Winston, a new graduate heading for college, is in a road accident with her dear friend Peter. When Louise brings Peter back from death--seemingly out of nowhere--she is shocked. Her mother, Bobbie, and her grandmother, Camille, decide it is time to bring Louise into the fold. The women do not generally stop people from dying, but they help people move on when it is their time; Peter is an exception. Camille, as a hospice nurse, has leveraged her gifts, while Bobbie ran away from them. As Louise comes to terms with who she is and what she's done, she reads her great-grandmother's journal. Helene's story plays out in flashbacks, showing how she used her own powers to heal and help in WWII France. While Helene's point of view is fascinating, Louise's journey is the true focus. Like many new adults, she is still finding herself, and she must decide what she is willing to lose to shape her future. A lovely, moving novel.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Becker's enchanting debut tracks the magical healing abilities passed down through one family for several generations. In 1942 Rouen, France, Helene works at Hôtel-Dieu, a convent turned military hospital. Already uncertain in the innate skills as a healer she's inherited through her maternal line, Helene encounters an unforeseen obstacle to using her gift in the form of her devout cousin, Cecelia, who also works at the hospital and believes that their powers come from the devil. But in the aftermath of the disastrous Allied landing at Dieppe, Helene cannot resist using her magic to save one of the soldiers from the brink of death. In 2019, Helene's great-granddaughter Louise is driving home from a party with her best friend, Peter, when they get into a car accident, sending Louise's life reeling in a direction she never expected. Family secrets come to light as Louise's and Helene's paths begin to mirror each other. Becker skillfully braids the timelines to create a powerful ode to the strength of those who have dedicated their lives to healing and caregiving work. The magical elements are light enough that this is sure to have crossover appeal. Fans of Heather Webb and Alice Hoffman ought to take a look. Agent: Jessica Felleman, Jennifer Lyons Literary. (Feb.)
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