Aug 5, 2010
Bill Parrish and his wife are trying to come to terms with the death of their 11-year-old son, Nathaniel. Bill agrees to coach a Little League team and hopes to exorcise his grief by surrounding himself with boys and girls who were his son’s friends. A mysterious boy joins the team, however, and Bill is disturbed by his similarity to his child. Lucky is mute, doesn’t go to school as far as anyone can tell, and is evasive about where he lives and who his parents are. Bill and his wife Harper, are drawn to the boy, as well as repelled by him. One of his early books, this Bohjalian offering is full of grief and joy along with beautiful descriptions of the Vermont area where the author lives and about which he writes.