All That's Bright and Gone Eliza Nellums

☆☆☆☆
ebook, 283 pages
Expected publication: December 10th 2019 by Crooked Lane Books
About the Book:
Six-year-old Aoife knows better than to talk to people no one else can see, like her best friend Teddy who her mother says is invisible. He's not, but Mama says it's rude anyways. So when Mama starts talking to Aoife's older brother Theo, Aoife is surprised. And when she stops the car in the middle of an intersection, crying and screaming, Aoife gets a bad feeling--because even if they don't talk about it, everyone knows Theo died a long time ago. He was murdered. Eventually, Aoife is taken home by her Uncle Donny who says he'll stay with her until Mama comes home from the hospital, but Aoife doesn't buy it. The only way to bring Mama home is to find out what really happened to Theo. Even with Teddy by her side, there's a lot about the grown-up world that Aoife doesn't understand, but if Aoife doesn't help her family, who will?

From the first few pages of this extraordinarily written novel, I was hooked. Eliza Nellums has written a book for an adult audience entirely from a child’s perspective, and it’s engaging and mature. My heart went out to Aoife. There were times whilst reading the story that I was afraid of something bad happening to her and times when I just wanted to reach out to her and explain what was happening. Times when I just wanted to give her a hug. I loved All That's Bright and Gone and Eliza Nellums did a superb job in telling Aoife's story. I fell in love with all of the characters.

This is a delicate and moving book exploring the experience of a young girl that shows her confusion and heartbreak as she meets a series of adults who impact her life. The various concerns, interests, behaviour and language of these people are key influences on Aoife. Each character emerges, little by little through the child's eyes, as three-dimensional and engaging. They will stay with you after you've finished the novel.

Thank you NetGalley, Eliza Nellums and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.

#AllThatsBrightAndGone #NetGalley