#9: Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Every West End parent should receive this book when they register their babies for Kindergarten.  And in some extreme cases, pre-school.  I am fairly certain there are other regions of the US and even the world where the parents of small children could benefit from reading this book, too.  And, sadly, it's not a book about small children.  It's a book about teenagers, but it serves as a warning for parents and could, if parents read this soon enough, save lives of teenagers and young adults.  Teenagers and Young Adults who have not been able to live their own lives, who are not able to pursue their own passions, but are instead forced to live out the unrealized dreams of their parents.

Everything I Never Told You is the story of Lydia Lee and her family.  Lydia is a sophomore who goes missing on page one.  The rest of the story functions to explain her disappearance.  The book, in effect, becomes what she never told anyone.  Of course, it also becomes what her entire family never told anyone, as they all have lethal secrets.

Themes abound in this small, well-written, fully developed book: Asian vs. American, Man vs. Woman, Girl vs. Boy, Smart vs. Stupid, Mom vs. Daughter, Dad vs. Son, Gay vs. Straight, Dead vs. Alive.

This book terrified me from page one.  And I spent the rest of the book second guessing my role as parent.  Does Abigail real want to teach or has this been forced upon her because everyone says she's so good with children?  Does Emily really want to take Latin or does she feel compelled because if she does pre-law in college (3 years away), she will have to? What presents have I given them over the years that are things I wanted myself and not really things they wanted at all?  And, the biggest question of all--is what I see/hear from my girls the truth?  Or the truth they want me to see?

See.  This book is scary.

But, if you are a parent, I think this is a must-read.  It will make you think about your kids and how you parent them, for sure.

In the end, when we learn what really happens to Lydia, my heart ached for her and for her family.  Every disaster is preventable.  You just have to be alert and aware.

And for God's sake, please teach your children how to swim.  Please.

Happy reading, everyone!
-Dodie