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jjaylynny 's review for:

Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy
4.0

I really picked this up on the basis of the intriguing plot; figured it would be a diverting action-y read. It was, though the plot is a bit too farfetched and though propulsive gets a little tiresome. There are too many stupid bad guys-- those kids'd be doomed in real life.

What did surprise me were the musings on parenthood. The way the four parents (who I have to say were not very well drawn overall; I kept getting them mixed up) tried to articulate their fear and grief were good. One passage in particular, where a mother reflects that in the instant she thought that maybe her children were dead, it brought her a feeling of peace and calm. The joy and fear in becoming a mother were intertwined and inescapable.