When her black sheep brother disappears, Amanda Janvier eagerly takes in her sixteen year-old niece Tally. The girl is practically an orphan: motherless, and living with a father who raises Tally wherever he lands– in a Buick, a pizza joint, a horse farm–and regularly takes off on wild schemes. Amanda envisions that she, her husband Neil, and their two teenagers can offer the girl stability and a shot at a “normal” life, even though their own storybook lives are about to crumble. Seventeen-year-old Chase Janvier hasn’t seen his cousin in years, and other than a vague curiosity about her strange life, he doesn’t expect her arrival will affect him much–or interfere with his growing, disturbing interest in a long-ago house fire that plagues his dreams unbeknownst to anyone else. Tally and Chase bond as they interview two Holocaust survivors for a sociology project, and become startlingly aware that the whole family is grappling with hidden secrets, with the echoes of the past, and with the realization that ignoring tragic situations won’t make them go away. Will Tally’s presence blow apart their carefully-constructed world, knocking down the illusion of the white picket fence and reveal a hidden past that could destroy them all–or can she help them find the truth without losing each other?
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"A teenager with a wandering Dad, taken in by his sister, learns about family secrets and how they have held the entire family captive. There are some poignant stories about Holocaust experiences that two men in a nursing home relate that help the family to face their past."
— L (4 out of 5 stars)
" The book has a good message at the end. It incorporates characters who experienced life in a concentration camp and wove the lives of two families together. The weaving was slow. It gives us the name of an angel of mercy and a website to review. "
— Judith, 1/25/2014" Loved it, somewhat Christian fiction, but very engaging, got it done in one day! :) "
— Grace, 1/4/2014" This book was fantastic. I appreciated the multiple plots, especially the WWII element. It was pretty predictable, but I was really needing that at the time I read this book. It filled that void for me. "
— Stefanie, 12/11/2013" Would've gone with four stars if the ending hadn't included such an easy way out regarding the son's storyline. "
— Nicole, 12/11/2013" Very good. I haven't read any by this Author, and really enjoyed this one. "
— Linda, 12/1/2013" Another outstanding Meissner examination of families and presumptions and secrets and histories.... The relationship between Tally and her cousin was the most compelling. "
— L, 11/1/2013" Good . "
— Liz, 10/6/2013" Meissner once again skillfully weaves together contemporary and historical storylines. Her characters are complex and engaging, and her writing is beautiful. "
— Sarah, 9/25/2013" Susan Meissner is now on my "must read everything she writes" list. The ending of this book felt too contrived for me but overall it was agood story, with good writing and gave me much to think about in my own life. "
— Denice, 9/8/2013" I really enjoyed this book, the contemporary story mixed with the impacts of the Shoah was very well done! "
— Lynn, 5/19/2013" Interesting and deep in places, but not one I want to read over and over. "
— Becky, 10/19/2012" While I liked this book, it was not the page turner that "The Shape of Mercy" was. I hope I'll find that some of her other books are a bit more engaging. "
— Sharon, 9/2/2012" enjoyed this book, the author kept things tense, and delved deep into feelings of several characters. "
— Monica, 2/25/2012" A story about a family who appears perfect on the outside, but as usually the case, has their own secrets and demons. A good book, but seemed predictable with a plot line that seemed familiar-as if I've read it already in some other book. "
— Gina, 11/21/2011" I don't know what age group this was written for, probably young adult. But it really kept my interest. Read it for hours and never realized how much time had passed. "
— Loretta, 8/8/2011" It was too predictable. I don't know if I can say I read the book. I skimmed the book after about three chapters. I wanted to know if I was right about the ending. And I was. "
— Marilyn, 2/20/2011" so far i have really liked everything by this author. Will be searching for more of her books "
— Jill, 1/30/2011" Susan Meissner is now on my "must read everything she writes" list. The ending of this book felt too contrived for me but overall it was agood story, with good writing and gave me much to think about in my own life. "
— Denice, 1/4/2011" Meissner once again skillfully weaves together contemporary and historical storylines. Her characters are complex and engaging, and her writing is beautiful. "
— Sarah, 12/22/2010" It was too predictable. I don't know if I can say I read the book. I skimmed the book after about three chapters. I wanted to know if I was right about the ending. And I was. "
— Marilyn, 6/17/2010" This book was fantastic. I appreciated the multiple plots, especially the WWII element. It was pretty predictable, but I was really needing that at the time I read this book. It filled that void for me. "
— Stefanie, 4/4/2010" Another outstanding Meissner examination of families and presumptions and secrets and histories.... The relationship between Tally and her cousin was the most compelling. "
— L, 3/10/2010" The book has a good message at the end. It incorporates characters who experienced life in a concentration camp and wove the lives of two families together. The weaving was slow. It gives us the name of an angel of mercy and a website to review. "
— Judith, 2/11/2010Susan Meissner is a USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction with more than three-quarters of a million books in print. She is an author, speaker, and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism.
Bernadette Dunne is the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and has twice been nominated for the prestigious Audie Award. She studied at the Royal National Theatre in London and the Studio Theater in Washington, DC, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center and off Broadway.