Little Island by Katharine Britton Review

LITTLE ISLAND CoverKatharine has a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Dartmouth College and a Master’s in Education from the University of Vermont. Her first novel, HER SISTER’S SHADOW, was published in 2011 by Berkley Books (Penguin, USA). Her second novel, LITTLE ISLAND, is scheduled for publication in the fall of 2013 from the same publisher. Her screenplay, “Goodbye Don’t Mean Gone,” was a Moondance Film Festival winner and a finalist in the New England Women in Film and Television contest. Katharine is a member of the League of Vermont Writers and New Hampshire Writer’s Project. She has taught writing at Colby-Sawyer College, ILEAD, and at The Writer’s Center in White River Junction.

 When not at her desk, Katharine can often be found in her Norwich garden, waging a non-toxic war against the slugs, snails, deer, woodchucks, chipmunks, moles, voles, and beetles with whom she shares her yard. Katharine’s defense consists mainly of hand-wringing, after- the-fact.

Little Island by Katharine Britton

Grace

Flowers

By the water

Have fun!

These are Joy’s grandmother’s last words—left behind on a note. A note that Joy’s mother, Grace, has interpreted as instructions for her memorial service. And so, the far-flung clan will gather at their inn on Little Island, Maine, to honor her. Joy can’t help dreading the weekend. Twenty years ago, a tragedy nearly destroyed the family—and still defines them. Joy, Grace, her father Gar, and twins Roger and Tamar all have their parts to play. And now Joy, facing an empty nest and nebulous future, feels more vulnerable than ever to the dangerous currents running through her family. But this time, Joy will discover that there is more than pain and heartbreak that binds them together, when a few simple words lift the fog and reveal what truly matters…

About Katharine Britton Katharine Britton’s first novel, HER SISTER’S SHADOW, was published in June of 2011, by Berkley Books (Penguin, USA). Her second novel, LITTLE ISLAND, is scheduled for publication in the fall of 2013. She has a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Dartmouth College, and a Master's in Education from the University of Vermont. Her screenplay, “Goodbye Don’t Mean Gone,” was a Moondance Film Festival winner and a finalist in the New England Women in Film and Television contest. Katharine is a member of the League of Vermont Writers,NEIBA, and The New Hampshire Writer’s Project. She has taught at ILEAD, Colby-Sawyer College, and The Writer’s Center in White River Junction. When not at her desk, Katharine can often be found in her Norwich garden, waging a non-toxic war against the slugs, snails, deer, woodchucks, chipmunks, moles, voles, and beetles with whom she shares her yard. Katharine’s defense consists mainly of hand-wringing, after the fact. My Review: The message that I got from this book was that siblings are close and take care of each other their whole lives. Twins are even closer. The more important message was how devastating losing a sibling can be. It affects you every day, and everything you do. What happens when there is a secret that threatens everything you thought you knew about your siblings? Would you tell your parents? would you tell anyone?  I have three siblings and I could relate to this book and the closeness of siblings. The secret surprised me and was bitter sweet. I felt for the siblings strongly, but each differently. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.