My Never Ending List

I’m a sucker for book covers and I’ll be the first one to admit it, this one had me. Once I started to read the story, I got drawn up into the life of sixteen-year old Maggie. Her mother seems to fall for men quickly and her latest addiction lands the family in Ireland, way too far from Maggie’s Nanny and Uncle Kevin. Nanny would always be there to soften the blow from mother’s rejected boyfriends and Uncle Kevin being the youngest of Nanny’s children was a constant figure in her life.   Uncle Kevin changed Maggie’s life just before the move from Chicago, he opened her eyes to the world around her, showing her that the world is a big place and she was no longer a child. This experience filled Maggie with the spirit of music, adventure, and opportunity. The move is hard on Maggie and she’s making some bad choices, putting herself in awkward situations. I feel it’s as though she just existing in Ireland, as she tries to connect with the kids that she meets, it’s so sad, where did Chicago Maggie go? From her mind-blowing experience with Uncle Kevin to how she feels and acts now, Maggie’s not the same person. It’s heartbreaking to see her waste away and no one else is noticing it. Uncle Kevin and Nanny arrive in Ireland and Maggie’s spirit is lifted. Uncle Kevin’s band has dissolved and he’s talking about starting up a new one, as that‘s what all great musicians do. His love of music has inspired Maggie but a fight with Maggie’s stepfather has Uncle Kevin packing his bags quickly and hitting the road. The road life takes Maggie on is not paved with gold, nor it gravel. It’s a road with hills and straight-aways where Maggie will learn that there are consequences for your actions and love is just not a four-letter word. For older YA readers only.

I found that it seemed that at times the words that I read were profound, so perfect for the situation at hand, words chosen so carefully and precise. Those words jumped out at me and I slowed my pace so I could reread those lines, as I enjoyed how they were inserted everywhere for my enjoyment.

“Rome was under their nails, in their hair, and Maggie knew that when they awoke, they would never be able to wash it out: and that even if they could, they would never want to.”