This book was like nothing else I have ever read I liked the characters and the plot was kind of really depressing but it was really emotional Eddie A 12 year old was the only person out of 191 people that survived a plane crash.

A meditative book on grief and loss and the necessity of communication. When Edward, 12, is the sole survivor of the plane crash that killed 191 other people--including all of his immediate family--he's taken in by his distant aunt and uncle. He soon builds a family of his own, though, and eventually discovers why his own family has been so remote. While Edward's story progresses, the stories of the rest of the passengers on the flight also move forward in small minutes and large actions, until we understand that they too--like us all--need to be able to communicate with one another. The dreamy and fairy-tale like qualities of the writing sometimes deflect from the harsh realities that the characters face, but I think most readers will want that gentleness, given the subject matter.

Loved the structure of this humane, tense novel about the sole survivor of a plane crash and the people who love him, as well as those who feel that his survival has some sort of benign and magical force. The writing is beautiful and the plotting is really terrific, building to an inevitable and emotionally satisfying ending.

What a book!

This book is about Edward, or Eddie as he used to be known. Edward is the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed 191 people.

This story bounces back and forth between Edwards current life and the time line of the crash. It shows how he feels, how he deals with his injuries and the loss of his family and regular life. It shows how much pressure we as a society put on survivors of traumatic events.

It is well written and thought provoking. It showed me a side of this type of event that I wouldn't have thought about. This book will go on my all time favorites. I will definitely be purchasing this one for my shelf of amazing books.



I was given this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

2.5/5 Stars

Twelve year-old Edward is flying with his family from New York to LA for his mom's new job, so he's already prepared for the world as he knows it to change dramatically. What he couldn't have predicted was that the plane would crash, killing 191 of the people on board and leaving him as the sole survivor. His aunt and uncle take him in and try to help him recover and move on as best he can. His father used to homeschool him, so he's never been to school with other kids before. He can't sleep and he can't fathom eating. The survivor's guilt is killing him. It doesn't seem fair that he lived when everyone else on that plane didn't. His neighbor, Shay, becomes his only friend as he attempts to navigate this new world where strangers hail him as "The Miracle Boy." He's drowning in the expectations people have for him to do amazing things to honor those who died. Can Edward find a way to pay it forward in tribute while also making his life his own?

Interspersed with Edward's recovery are brief snippets about some of the other passengers on the plane, as well as their experiences together on the flight before it crashed. I've read some other reviews that found this jarring as it separated the reader from the story of Edward's recovery, but I quite liked learning about some of the other people around Edward that day and how many of them were connected. Instead, my issue was that we only learned about 4 or 5 of them. I realize that it wouldn't have been possible to detail the lives of 191 people, but just a handful didn't seem like nearly enough. In addition, what few were described were given tiny little snapshots that seemed to focus on odd things (like the fact that one of the hot-shot execs in First Class joined the Mile High Club with a flight attendant in the bathroom) that were kind of impersonal and didn't really tell who the people were.

This shouldn't be an easy book because there's a lot of heartbreak and grief in the story. I was fully prepared to be too emotional to get through it, but that didn't happen at all. The voice is so very removed from the events, and everything is described in a cold and detached way. While I understand that Edward may have needed to numb himself initially to deal with what happened to him, the entire book didn't need to be so devoid of feeling. I was really disappointed because it made it so hard to connect or empathize with the characters. You know in your head that they're dealing with difficult things, but the emotions just didn't come across at all.

This was an interesting premise, but it just fell flat for me. I didn't feel emotionally attached to any of the characters. It was like it was being told about strangers from a great distance, not about people the author wanted you to care about. The resolution at the end wasn't really worth the slog to get there. I loved the concept, so I'm disappointed. I wanted more.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!**

This was a really well written novel and I really enjoyed all the characters, but man, it was a pretty depressing read.

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano is a heartwrenching read about tragedy and loss, but at the same time is both hopeful and life-affirming. Kudos to the author for finding the perfect balance by allowing us to really get under the skin of these characters. They are flawed, they are complex, and they could be any one of us.

On a summer's day, Edward boards a flight in New York with his family who are enroute to a new life in Los Angeles. The plane crashes, killing all onboard with the exception of Edward, the sole survivor. Edward, at only twelve years old, must not only face the loss of his family, but must deal with all of the emotions associated with survivor's guilt. What is Edward's redefined place in the world, and why has he been spared, if not to accomplish great things? And what is Edward's responsibility to the victims' families, who are desperate for him to not only provide information about their loved ones' final moments, but to fulfill their unrealized destinies, as well as his own?

This is a tale of tragedy, certainly, but it is ultimately one of optimism and hope. There is a way out of the darkness if we are willing to look for it. Recommended,

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, and The Dial Press for this ARC.

The library will most likely purchase this title as it has been marketed well, but I was not a huge fan.

The premise of this book is so simple, Eddie is the sole survivor of a plane crash that kills his parents, sibling and another 188 people. He is taken in by his aunt and uncle and forms a life-saving relationship with the girl next door. Heart wrenching and beautiful, this is one of those books that lodges itself in your heart and soul as you ache fo the loss and yet the promise of tomorrow.

You're twelve years old, the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed your parents, brother, and nearly 200 others. One second you're traveling from New York to Los Angeles for your mom's new job -a trip you dreaded as it meant leaving behind your friends and the only home you've known-and the next second your world has literally come crashing down around you. In addition to overwhelming grief, you're "famous"-hounded by the press, relatives of the other victims, and strangers who want to touch the "miracle boy" and hear about the last seconds of the doomed plane. Thus is the life of Eddie Adler in the heartbreaking, but ultimately inspiring novel, Dear Edward. Even though we know the fate of flight 2977 from the first page there's still that fleeting hope it's all just a bad dream. Ann Napolitano alternates chapters on Eddie's new life with his aunt and uncle in suburban New Jersey with flashbacks to the build up to the crash-pages that are poignant glimpses into the lives of the other passengers. It's hard to know who to feel sorrier for-Eddie who bares the crushing weight of survivor's guilt in addition to devastating loss, or the poor souls who have no idea their lives are about to end. Despite the tragedy, where Dear Edward really shines is in the smallest details. Eddie meeting his brother's girlfriend he didn't know existed before the crash; the tentative friendship he builds with the girl next door; seeing his aunt and uncle put their own lives on hold so Eddie can rebuild his. Dear Edward is sweet but not sappy-a lesson on how to not only survive, but thrive- and appreciate every moment we are given.

Dear Edward is the story of a plane crash, and its single survivor. Eddie is 12 when the plane carrying his family towards a new life in California crashes, killing everyone on board, except Eddie. The novel tells the story of his recuperation, and his search for the meaning behind why he survived. The writing is a bit uneven, even a little overblown in parts, and the stories about the plane passengers felt forced and clichéd. Because the book moves back and forth between Eddie’s story and the unfolding of events on the plane, the emotional impact of the story is mostly lost. The author missed an opportunity to deepen the story by leaving out so much of the interactions between Eddie and his Aunt and Uncle. Eddie’s friendship with Shay was touching, but again, it felt shallow and unfinished. I’ve given this one 3 stars, but it really is more like 3.5. I liked it, but not as much as I had hoped I would.

Dear Edward is the story of 12 year old Eddie and the flight that changed his life forever.

Eddie and his family are moving across country and half of the book is set during this flight. We get to see a unique dynamic not only with Eddie’s family but also other passengers on the plane.

The other half of this novel is from Edward’s perspective, overcoming the tragedy of being the only survivor of that cross country flight. He feels that after the crash he can no longer be Eddie but is now Edward and that he needs to find a way to cope with the loss of his family. He is now forced to live with his Aunt and Uncle who have issues of their own, aside from now taking in a 12 year old broken child.

Edward’s journey to heal himself and become the person not only his family but also the other passengers families want him to be is a unique tale worth reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC, which will be available for purchase January 14, 2020.

Dear Edward is about a boy who is the sole survivor of an horrific plane crash, in which he lost his family and everything that was familiar to him. I really enjoyed reading this book! I was doubtful whether to continue reading after the first 2 chapters, but then I got sucked into the story and finished it within a day. I was pleasantly surprised that the story was not only about Edward's journey of physical and emotional recovery, but it was intertwined with stories of the other passengers and what happened during that fateful flight. This novel was beautifully written about how an tragic event can affect us in so many ways and how everyone has a different way to cope.

I received an ARC of this title from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book!
It grabbed me from the start of the ill fated flight, and kept me going with Edwards survivor guilt, "fame" as a miracle, and the carefully woven web of characters both on and off the plane.
It is written in alternating chapters from the flight itself to present time in Edward's world which also kept me hooked. I wanted to find out more about what happened on the plane, as well as what Edward was going through so I loved this writing style.
I am a regular flyer and the details of this flight in general really spoke to me. I am a quiet passenger, who relishes the "alone time" on the plane, and now I almost wish I had been talking more to my fellow passengers. It has changed my outlook on those moments in life that we sometimes take for granted. Loved loved loved this book.

"Since death is certain but the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing" - Pema Chodron

Ann Napolitano has writtten a graceful book about boy Eddie who deals with the horrific aftermath of a plane crash. Eddie ("Edward") Adler is the sole survivor of 191 passengers on a flight from NYC to LA. He is moving with his family - brother Jordan, mother and father - to a new life in California. He is 12 years old at the time of the crash and 18 by the end of the book. Ann Napolitano has written a thoughtful book about Eddie's recovery from the trauma - intercut with scenes from the flight until its final moments. There is no real tension around the plane crash and its inevitability. The real focus is on Eddie's development into Edward - a moving celebration of the life spirit even during life's most traumatic moments. Edward's growth and development from scared and scarred little boy to a man who encompasses all his life's experiences - both sadness and joy - is special and moving. This book is life affirming and a unique reading experience.

Ms. Napolitano is a skilled writer and captures Edward's character and growth beautifully. Eddie becomes Edward a new person - but someone who has grown from his past. His budding friendship and relationship with his neighbor's daughter Shay is one of the most real and touching parts of the bok

My only problem with the book - is that I did not find the stories of the various passengers on the plane to be very compelling- with the exception of Eddie's family - and his aunt and uncle who take him after the crash. The book spends a lot of time discussing the different passengers on the flight and their dramas - and it is just not very compelling. Still this does not detract much from the book''s flow and development.

I received an advance copy of Dear Edward from Netgalley #DearEdward #NetGalley
www.netgalley.com

I received this an an ARC through NetGalley.

The book's main character is 12-year-old Edward Adler, the sole survivor of a horrific plane crash. The structure of the book fluctuates between the plane ride and Edward's recovery from surviving the crash.

I will say it made me emotional to read about characters that you knew were doomed (this is not a spoiler, the start of Edward's recovery is right at the start of the book).. Some of the characters on the plane were more well-defined than others but they all still have humanity. I don't think Edward's aunt and uncle (who took him in after the crash) were as well-thought out as much as I would have liked. They seemed a little shallow and I would have liked at least one or two chapters from their viewpoint.

But that is a minor quibble. I admit I liked Edward's recovery and healing chapters better than the plane chapters. Watching Edward grow and heal with the help of Shay, the next-door neighbor girl, is handled very well and in a realistic fashion.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC. This 5⭐️ read definitely goes on my all time favorites list. Put this on your January TBR. It’s a beautiful (and of course at times heart breaking) coming of age journey of a 12-year old boy who is the sole survivor of a plane crash. The author also focuses various alternating chapters on his brother, parents, and about a half dozen other plane passengers over the course of their six hour flight. Each character’s story was exquisitely written. Every character in this story including Edward’s aunt and uncle, therapist, school principal and next door neighbors fills your heart. Highly recommend for men and women. Loved this one! But don’t read on a plane!

An absolutely astounding read. While it took me a while to get used to the shifting points of view in the book, Ann Napolitano tells the story of Edward, the only survivor of a deadly plane crash, to superb effect, weaving together not only the various passengers' stories, but moving back and forth between the present day and the hours and minutes leading up to the crash, building the suspense to an almost unbearable degree while also grounding the story in Edward's experiences and gradual recovery in the present. She writes about trauma sensitively, realistically, and very well, with keen insights and many moving turns of phrase, exploring the nature of grief among a wonderful and memorable cast of characters all struggling to make sense of a devastating tragedy. This is a plum example of how character development should drive a story, as I came to feel so deeply for everyone and couldn't put the book down once I started reading. This is sure to be a standout title of 2020.

Dear Edward tells two stories. First story follows the a cast of characters before their plane crashes. The second story follows Edward, a twelve year old boy who is the only survivor of the crash and has lost his parents and older brother.

While this book was tragic, I loved it. Giving the victims of the crash their own story was a great take and gave the book so much more depth than if it was just Edward’s story.

The main plot follows Edward as he moves in with his mom’s younger sister and her husband. The couple had been trying to have a baby but that is suddenly put on hold after Edward moving in with them. He quickly befriends Shay - a neighborhood girl who becomes his best friend and he navigates dealing with both physical, mental and emotional trauma from the crash. He isn’t the only one dealing with it either - the families of other passengers who didn’t make it aren’t doing to well either. Throughout the book, some visit or write to Edward, wanting to know if he saw their loved ones before they died.

Overall, I really enjoyed Dear Edward. The book is sad but not hopeless. Edward comes along way from the twelve year old kid we first encounter who couldn’t sleep and had two broken legs. On a side note, I also love the cover of this book, which is what attracted me to the book in the first place.

Dear Edward was not an easy story to read. We have a twelve year old boy who was the sole survivor of a plane crash. The story takes us through two timelines. One is where we see Edward deal with the aftermath of this tragic event where he lost his family and the other is where we get a glimpse of some of those 191 passengers who lost their lives.
It is Edward's timeline that was the most heartbreaking to read. It was difficult to read how he was copping with his loss and how at times he wasn't too open about what he was feeling. Luckily he is surrounded by family and a friend who never leave him alone, but it was all those "Dear Edward" letters that he received that helped him get better.