A review by macloo
A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet

4.0

This was a super-fast read, and very enjoyable. I avoided reading about it in advance, so everything was a surprise to me. I think that was good. I liked the voice of Evie, a roughly 16-year-old kid who's spending the summer at a large rented house with several other families. I loved the way she looked after her 9-year-old brother, Jack. Jack loves to read, and one of the adults at the house gives him an illustrated children's Bible, which he and his same-age friend Shel interpret in fun ways, since they've apparently had zero religious instruction or experience. That is not the main plot of the story, but it makes a very neat centering element (and commentary) for what's going on.

Spoiler

The hurricane was believable for me, as a Florida resident, and I loved it when the kids set out of their own. Oh, and earlier, I loved the interlude with the visiting "yacht kids" because it put into context that "our" kids, while very privileged, were not of the 1 percent. I was terrified the whole time the men with guns and camo were at the cottage. I was so desperately hoping no one would be killed — it brought home to me how much I cared about this little group. I found Burl and the angels ambiguous, and the owner — well, that bit about her healing Red's leg really thrust this into the realm of fantasy, although I don't think the author needed to go that far. I also liked it that their parents simply disappeared one day. I don't care if it was fully believable or not.

Although I never expected the world to be saved in this book, I did feel very sad when Jack got sick at the end, and it brought home to me that it is too late — the damage is done and cannot be undone. Quite a downer! But I would recommend the book anyway, for so many reasons.