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Amy Hatvany
Washington Square
Press
March 4th 2014/ ISBN 9781476704418
Fiction / Women
Reviewed
by Elise Cooper
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Amy
Hatvany’s latest book, Safe With Me, is compelling
and thought-provoking. She delves into a number of intense issues
including death of a child, organ donation, abuse, and self-respect.
She brilliantly takes the reader on a mysterious ride with her
potent story and characters.
The plot begins with a single mom, Hannah, hearing the screeching
sound of tires. The next few scenes quickly move to Hannah grieving
with the news that her child is brain dead, and she must immediately
decide if her child will become an organ transplant donor. In
an unexpected twist, Hannah and the Bellsm one of the donor-recipient
families, later cross paths, with the Bells learning that their
daughter Maddie survived through Hannah’s daughter’s
gift of life. This small-world coincidence allows for a friendship
to develop between Hannah, Maddie, and her mother Olivia Bell.
These three women learn from and help each other as they navigate
through a life filled with tragedy and hope.
Readers will be able to identify with the well-developed characters.
Olivia is a mother trapped in an abusive relationship, unable
to leave for Maddie’s sake. She is forced to stay with
her husband because of his financial support and is afraid he
will use his powerful connections to take Maddie away from her.
Maddie, a teenager who was given a second chance at life, must
now face the real world instead of the pretend world of the
Internet. Finally, we meet Hannah who exemplifies both dependency
and strength.
She gave a heads up about her next book, which deals with loss.
The plot has a woman falsely accused and examines what she goes
through emotionally. She struggles with trying to prove she
is innocent while everyone else thinks she is guilty. As in
all her books, author Amy Hatvany does not just examine one
issue. Another issue she explores is the dynamics between a
son and a father who has early dementia.
Safe With Me is a very touching and heartfelt novel
about death, life, and overcoming hardships. The characters’
decisions and emotions are readily identifiable. Hatvany writes
the story in a way that allows the reader to sympathize and
understand the circumstances of these three women. It is a very
powerful read, but a word of warning: keep tissues handy. |
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