All We Can Do is Wait

Starred review from November 27, 2017
Lawson’s empathetic, wrenching debut zeroes in on five teenagers from various demographics and family situations, who meet in the waiting room at Boston General Hospital, seeking news about whether their loved ones survived a bridge collapse. Chapters shift among Lawson’s complex and carefully drawn characters, offering distinct points of view and providing aching insight into the personal pain that colors their perspectives. For Alexa, a wealthy high achiever, the accident triggers guilt and rekindles an old grief; her brother, Jason—stoned, closeted, and miserable—suffers with guilt and grief of his own. Skyler, of Cambodian heritage, fears facing the world without her strong, dependable sister, and working-class Scott waits for information about the girl he loves. Meanwhile, Morgan deals with a private tragedy while the world focuses on the public catastrophe. Debut novelist Lawson, formerly of Gawker and current film critic at Vanity Fair, builds suspense as readers learn information the characters don’t know, while twists and revelations about the teenagers’ motivations for coming to the hospital result in a gripping and emotionally invigorating story. Ages 12–up. Agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House.

Holly Linneman narrates this story of Boston teenagers who are brought together by an unthinkable tragedy. On a cloudy November day, the Tobin Bridge collapses, plunging cars into the Mystic River or Charlestown. Victims are rushed to Boston General Hospital, and there Scott, Skyler, and siblings Jason and Alexa meet as they anxiously wait for news about their loved ones. Linneman delivers a mostly flawless performance, save for an uncertain but sparingly used Boston accent. With a keen ear for teen dialogue, Linneman makes every interaction, from the mundane to the emotionally explosive, sound authentic. The bridge collapse is an attention-grabbing plot device. But Linneman especially shines as the story reveals itself to be a thoughtful character study punctuated with moments of high drama and surprising revelations. A.T.N. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine