A review by mjenae
The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

One third an exploration of the unexpected, and where we go after we lose everything.
One third magic, the creative imagination of children and the intricacy it can create in every element of life.
And one third a study of the “delicate cobweb link[ing] us all, silky lines trailing through the air.”
Once again, Ms. Creech loops together a riveting story, linking the complexities of love and trauma to the simplicity of step-by-step, of how every minute, day, year falls into place with the next one. The two settings—small-town Southern and countryside Ireland—were spread in vivid color across the pages. I felt as if I were there; and I wouldn't mind going back.

“I thought about all the things that had to have spun into place in order for us to be alive and for us to be right there, right then. I thought about the few things we thought we knew and the billions of things we couldn't know, all spinning, whirling out there somewhere.”
Expand filter menu Content Warnings