The How & the Why
by Cynthia Hand
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: November 5th 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Synopsis:
A poignant exploration of family and the ties that bind, perfect for fans of Far From the Tree, from New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand.
Today Melly had us writing letters to our babies…
Cassandra McMurtrey has the best parents a girl could ask for. They’ve given Cass a life she wouldn’t trade for the world. She has everything she needs—except maybe the one thing she wants. Like, to know who she is. Where she came from. Questions her adoptive parents can’t answer, no matter how much they love her.
But eighteen years ago, someone wrote Cass a series of letters. And they may just hold the answers Cass has been searching for.
Alternating between Cass’s search for answers and letters from the pregnant teen who gave her up for adoption, this voice-driven narrative is the perfect read for fans of Nina LaCour and Jandy Nelson.
Favorite Quotes
Normalcy. That’s our goal. We’ve gotten really good at acting like everything’s fine.
Then I sit watching the rise and fall of her chest, trying to commit every part of her face to memory.
Which breaks a sacred rule between us: friends before mens.
About the Author
Cynthia Hand is the New York Times bestselling author of several books for teens, including the UNEARTHLY trilogy, THE LAST TIME WE SAY GOODBYE, MY LADY JANE and MY PLAIN JANE (with fellow authors Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows), THE AFTERLIFE OF HOLLY CHASE, and the upcoming novels THE HOW AND THE WHY and MY CALAMITY JANE (also with Ashton and Meadows). Before turning to writing for young adults, she studied literary fiction and earned both an M.F.A. and a Ph.D. in fiction writing. She currently resides in Boise, Idaho, with her husband, two cats, one crazy dog, two kids, and mountain of books.Review of The How and the Why
Review (4.5 Stars): This story absolutely broke my heart as Cass finds out more about who she is and where she came from. Cass was just this amazing character who was just try to find out more about her birth mother and I loved how the letters played into this epic story. This book will definitely pull at your heart-strings and bring tears to your eyes. Such a great story!
Debra Branigan
A colorful cover for a emotional read. This novel sounds intriguing and I look forward to reading it. My favorite genre is fantasy, but I like to read a great YA coming-of-age story.