Behind These Hands

July 1, 2018

Gr 6 Up-Until now, 14-year-old Claire Fairchild's life has been simple. A gifted pianist, she's the beloved child of educators and the adored sister of rambunctious, six-year-old twin boys. Claire thought getting ready for an acclaimed musical competition would be her most intimidating challenge to date, but nothing prepared her for the medical condition now ravaging her brothers-Batten disease. As Claire and her family try to come to terms with this reality, Claire finds that her passion for the piano eludes her. She is lucky to have Juan, one of her closest childhood friends and a fellow musician, reminding her of who she was before Batten and helping her navigate a "new normal." Claire's process of grief will feel relatable, and her family's responses are likely to resonate. The novel falters only on a couple of points; in a few places, the language feels dated or unrealistic, and there is a saccharine sweetness in the reactions of Claire's friends. The denouement and conclusion feel overly tidy and rosy. Nevertheless, for its validating emotional content, it is a worthy addition. Give this moving novel in verse to readers coping with a health crisis close to home. VERDICT A solid choice for middle and high school shelves.-Melissa Williams, Berwick Academy, ME

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 1, 2018
When devastating news hits, a 14-year-old piano prodigy questions her place in her family and the world in this novel in verse.Claire Fairchild was born to make music and has been preparing for an elite competition that could have a tremendous impact on her future. When both of her little brothers, Trent, 6, and Davy, 7, are diagnosed with Batten disease, a rare, incurable illness that leads to physical and mental deterioration and then death, Claire's carefully outlined world collapses: "Batten has rearranged our family / like pieces of familiar furniture / placed awkwardly in a new setting." Music is no longer important: "I don't feel the music in me at all. / It feels dead." She feels "dirty inside" for worrying about the impact this news has on her competition prep. How can she continue to make music when her brothers are dying? With the support of her friends, Juan and Mia, Claire finds hope--not that her brothers will live, but that she can use her music to celebrate their lives, no matter how brief. Free verse evokes the myriad emotions brought up by the story's numerous well-balanced themes. The result is a richly woven, unforgettable symphony of feelings and words. Claire and her family are white, as is Mia; Juan is Cuban.Brings awareness with sensitivity and grace to a rare, always fatal disease. (author's note) (Fiction. 12-17)

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