The best book I read last summer

Nella thinks she knows her family until tragedy strikes their neighborhood.

Jennifer Minicus | Nov 3 2016 | comment

Every Single Secondby Tricia Springstubb
written for ages 11-14 | recommended
published in 2016 | Balzer + Bray | 368 pages

Nella has lived in her close-knit Italian neighborhood since she was born twelve years ago. Everyone there knows everything about everybody. Or so Nella thinks.

In primary school, before her beloved St. Amphibalus parish school closed, life seemed much simpler. Her best friend and secret sister, Angela, practically lived with Nella’s family in spite of all of Nella’s annoying but loveable little brothers. Angela’s big brother Anthony looked out for the girls, and Nella idolized him. He even managed to endear himself to Nella’s cantankerous great-grandmother.

Then Clem comes to town. Nella is ready to branch out and make new friends, but Angela is not so assertive and Clem is a bit possessive. As the “secret sisters” drift apart, something tugs at Nella’s conscience. Meanwhile, Nella starts to hear rumors about her father’s past. Could everything she ever believed about him be false?

Gradually Nella realizes that people, and life, are more complicated than she had thought. Anthony takes a job as a security guard to help support his family and accidentally kills a man. Accusations of racism fly, but Nella knows better. Now she must decide if she has the courage to forgive, be forgiven and do what is right.

Tricia Springstubb’s novel about family ties, friendship and neighborhood rivalries is hard to put down. Nella ‘s family is heart-warming: a mother who loves unconditionally; a father who is willing to do whatever it takes to provide for his family; lots of little boys to keep Nella on her toes; and a classic matriarchal great-grandmother whose strength inspires.

While the publisher recommends the book for 9-12 year olds, the content is really more appropriate for readers 13+. The questions of accidental death, including that of a child, racism and puppy love are handled well, but call for an older audience.

While Americans are on the edge of their seats over next Tuesday’s election, New Zealanders like myself are steeling themselves for the annual ordeal we have to suffer for being a former colony of Britain. I mean Guy Fawkes night, November 5. I know I have complained about this before, but I really need to impress on you how awful this mindless, meaningless anniversary is.

You see, it goes on not just for one night, but for weeks, because once the pyromaniacs have got their stash of fireworks in, they are merciless. Just as you are settling down to sleep in your quiet suburb they emerge into their backyards and let off explosives that, for noise, would not be out of place in Mosul or Aleppo. And the odd night you get to sleep first, they wake you up at midnight with the loudest banger they can lay hands on. Night after night!

There. I’ve done with complaining. But be warned, if you ever plan a trip to our South Sea Paradise, DO NOT COME IN NOVEMBER.

Some people complain that the United States electoral system is too complicated, but it seems to me that in something so important complexity is a virtue. Anyway, that is my conclusion after reading Graham Walker’s case for “throwing the election to the House”. It offers a ray of hope for a president who is neither Hillary or Donald.