Have You Ever

This is a really, really good song...because I like it so much, I was thinking that is why I kept thinking that Have You Ever Had a Family was the name of the book Did You Ever Have a Family.  It is not.
My sweet friend, Julie, recommended this book to me, knowing that it wasn't too long, even though it is an adult book and I am usually very picky about my adult books.
It was something.  It was unlike anything I had read before, because I don't read much literary fiction.  Okay, I NEVER read literary fiction.  But I really did like this book.
It is sorrowful and hard and painful, but not like watching an accident, rubber-necking at the gore kind of thing.  It was...like an ache.   Yes, it made my heart ache to read it.  But it wasn't overwhelmingly horrible, even though the story of all of this loss is horrible.  It was just told so well and was so mournful.  Hard, but good.  Good.

Jack Gantos...

Jack Gantos is one of my most favorite writers.  In 2003 he came to Sewickley and I was able to hear him speak.  This was such a memorable, memorable evening.  I fell in love with the man and with his works, gobbling them up after his visit.  Joey Pigza stole my heart completely.  And then Jack Henry books were wonderful.  I think I even loved them more!  Listening to this story, read by Gantos himself was moving and memorable.  I loved this man.