Nikki Sheehan

I confess. I agreed to review this for a purely superficial reason. We share the same last name.

I have no idea if it’s HER name or she married into it (mine came via DNA and a father who ensures I know the history). I’ve never met her and as far as I know we’re not related but then my father once told me all the Sheehans are related in one way or another because there really isn’t that many of us. That’s why I said Yes because out of ‘family name’ loyalty.

THANKFULLY her book doesn’t suck so I don’t have to lie out of that same loyalty or this could have been awkward.

I’ve always adopted shelter pets because I can’t stand to see the animals in cages as if they’re criminals locked up waiting for a pardon or a death sentence in some cases and with Clear the Shelter coming up in a couple of days this book brings on even more meaning and emotions. I already have 2 labs and a black cat but now I feel the need to add to our family.

She really knows how to hit you in the gut, and your conscience, with this beautiful but sad story about adoption, love, family dynamics and most importantly the relationship between a boy and a dog.

Be prepared to have the Kleenex ready and consider checking out the schedule for your local shelter event.

Despite the emotional turmoil you’ll go through reading this JC is such a strong, amazing character you want to stay glued to the pages as if your mere presence will somehow seep through and give him hope, let him know there are caring people in this world.

The writing style is easy to get through, great for a younger audience and the pace is on point with no big areas that drag making you regret picking this up. Despite the obvious sadness I’ve referenced repeatedly there are bright moments with humor and hope that help keep this from falling over a cliff of pure depression.

I could easily see this being made into one of those emotionally powerful movies Hollywood needs since it is a unique story with a great voice.… (mais)

It took me a long time to review this book because I kept processing it over and over...how can a book both heartbreaking yet full of Hope when talking about only the main character. JC was rescued from a life so horrifically unimaginable that he seemed almost thankful about his present day abusive relationship with his father figure. JC was so desperate for any relationship that his bond with Boy seemed magical. The heartbreak that I felt over and over reading this reminded me of the reality of how some people in our world are treated. It also reminded me that even though our motives are good, we can be so out of tune with reality, as was the mother figure in the book. How can she keep striving to do more and more yet be black and to what was going on at home. The ending was a great conclusion -the happy without tying everything up with a bow and being overly saccharine. I immediately passed this book on to be read by many others and recommend it to many.… (mais)

Exquisitely written, but for me, exquisitely unsettling. Goodnight Boy is the story of JC, who was separated from his family at a young age, separated from life as he knew it when the earthquake shook his world in Haiti. He comes to the US as the adoptive (sort of) child of an American couple, whose own world was shook, and destroyed, not by an earthquake, but by the happenstances of life.

Told in flashbacks, and current musings, by JC to his Dog (named Boy) as they are locked together in a kennel by JC's adoptive father, the story unfolds in stops and starts, the writing varied on the pages. It is haunting, it is heartbreaking, and in it's own way, it is beautiful.

Thank you to the publisher and to librarything for sending me this copy.… (mais)