Assessment:

Plot/Idea:  Grotticelli delivers a moving account of a tumultuous childhood spent between a violent family, orphanage, and unloving foster care, and the powerful bonds formed between found siblings.

Prose: The author's language is plainspoken and vivid, with a clear and immediate prose style that will particularly appeal to readers who have similarly struggled to find security and family connection amidst upheaval and uncertainty.

Originality: This story successfully explores the nuances of an atypical story of an unhappy childhood.

Character Development/Execution: The author's often painful memoir is well-told, though the work may benefit from broader variety in terms of tone.

Date Submitted: November 10, 2021

Assessment:

Plot: This memoir is based on a strong foundational narrative. Its sharp focus on the experience of fostering children and the nuances of building family, is deeply compelling.

Prose/Style: The prose in this memoir is straightforward, with few errors. While it is not poetic or philosophical, it illuminates all of the major happenings in the mixed family.

Originality: This is quite original material, and the family at its center is decidedly unique. Few authors write about the experiences of foster children. While this personal tale is interesting and effectively developed, the book may appeal most strongly to a niche audience.

Character/Execution: The reader gets to know the author quite well, and the character of the father is also drawn quite clearly. The mother and the other foster children are detailed and explored in some detail, but as there are numerous characters, emotions, attachments, and losses are not made entirely vivid.

 

Date Submitted: October 08, 2020