How I Saved My Father's Life by Ann Hood

I'm a day early!!  I officially feel awesome about myself. 


Anyways... I really enjoyed this book!  It follows Madeline, a 12 year old girl, who believes she has saved her father from an avalanche only to have her parents divorce and her father marry Ava Pomme, a sophisticated New Yorker.  The story mostly follows her during the first year of her parents' divorce as she comes to terms with what happened.

I really like this story because it deals with a theme every person can relate to even if their parents are not divorced.  Madeline has to come to terms with her father, who she thought was perfect, actually left his family for his new wife.  At first, she believes it's all her mother's fault for being so ordinary, but as she spends more time with her father and his new wife, pieces start to fall into place.  The story doesn't end with her having all the answers, but instead with her realizing that even though her father did something horrible, he's still her father and will be a big part of her life.

As someone who luckily didn't have to go through my parents' divorcing, I can't speak to how accurately this book portrays those feelings.  As an adult who has had to come to terms with the fact that my parents are imperfect people though, I loved how the book presented that realization.  Madeline was allowed to hate each of her parents for different reasons but decide at the end that she loved them both.  That's an important realization for teenagers to make... unfortunately too many people get disillusioned with their parents (or other people) and never get past realizing that they are real people.

This book could be the perfect springboard for a discussion between either a parent and their child or an older sibling and younger sibling about how adults aren't perfect, but you have to accept their imperfections and love them anyways.  (P.S. I own this book, but probably won't ever read it again, so if you want the book it's yours!)