Crow Lake

Crow Lake by Mary Lawson

On the library stacks: Adult fiction
AR Reading Level: 5.5
Award: Alex Award for Adult Books for Young Adults

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This gorgeous novel is set in a small farming community in northern Canada. Kate is just 7 when her parents are killed in a car accident. Her two older brothers make it possible for the family to stay together, including raising baby Bo. Her oldest brother sacrifices his teaching career so that Kate's favorite brother Matt can go to college. But a twist of fate leaves Matt in their small town for good.

Kate tells the story of the family, alternating between past and present. She is now a successful zoologist, struggling in her romantic relationship with a fellow professor. A trip homes brings all of her feelings to the surface, especially those regarding her disappointments in Matt.

I really enjoyed this novel. It's rich and atmospheric and so well written. I loved getting into the guts of the characters--their motivations, choices, and psychology. While it's mainly a character-driven novel, the plot certainly moved along enough for me that I didn't want to put the book down. Although I didn't read it for mine, I think it would make a fantastic book club choice.

Also reviewed by: In the Pages... ~ Your link here?
Source: BookMooch