Oh man. Saving Noah, by Lucinda Berry, was an awful book, but in a good way. If that makes any sense.
A family is ripped apart when the older brother, the star athlete, is a pedophile. The dad and mom separate, with the younger daughter going to live with the father. The father is not supportive at all. Doesn’t want to help his son and can’t understand why his wife is doing so much for him.
The mom, who is trying so hard to make things as they were, can’t see that they’ll never be. She doesn’t understand what her husband’s problem is and just wants them to be a family again. Especially for the daughter who misses her brother and doesn’t understand what’s happening.
I kept thinking about what I’d do if this were Devin. A star athlete loved by everyone turns into a pedophile. One who can’t stop, no matter how many facilities he goes to.
I felt the mom went too far to make things right. But the dad went too far to absolutely wash his hands of his only son. But assisted suicide? I don’t know that I could do it. No matter what.
A phrase from the mom stuck with me: “If you did everything right and it still turned out wrong, then what was the point?” That one hurt. Because it’s really your worst fear as a parent, as a mom. You try to do everything right. But what happens when it still turns out all wrong?
This was such a great book, but I bawled so much that I don’t think I could read it again. I recommend it, but grab a box of tissues.