kristennm1972 's review for:

Crow Lake by Mary Lawson

4.0

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A moving and beautifully told family drama. Mary Lawson demonstrates how the forces of family history and split-second events (whether accidental or deliberate) interact to shape her characters' relationships and paths in life. While the story of the Pye family is a horrific tale of abuse and violence, the Morrisons' tragedy is more layered and poignant. After their parents die in a car crash, the teenage Morrison boys struggle to care for their much younger sisters, making difficult decisions that cause conflict and resentment. Ultimately, Kate, the novel's narrator, is the only Morrison sibling to leave the isolated little town of Crow Lake for a university education and a professional career. Ironically, although she has managed a physical escape, Kate is the most psychologically and emotionally trapped by her past. The interweaving of the stories of her childhood and her preparing to return home to Crow Lake culminate in a lovely reconciliation.