I found this softcover in this Scrabble-decorated Little Free Library in Salem NH while dropping off some books of my own.

It's about a boy who's the sole survivor of a plane crash, with the story alternating between his family and other passengers aboard the plane in the hours leading up to the crash and his post-trauma recovery. Has something of the vibe of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, in the sense of a boy meeting with similarly-bereaved adults in hopes of finding some clarity for the trauma he's suffered - though Dear Edward places that as more of a background event. [The book also has a lot in common with other airplane-disaster books, with the multi-character cast having elaborate back stories revealed piecemeal - a format I rather like when it's done well.]

The depictions of the stages of trauma and grief feel very real, though some aspects of the story are a bit of a stretch - including Edward's "adoption" by the next-door neighbor of his aunt and uncle; on his first sleepless night at their house he wanders away, and finds comfort sleeping on the floor of the neighbor's daughter's room. (That family is aware of the situation and are remarkably charitable and loving, though eventually there are some boundaries that need to be established there!)

The tone and pacing of the book is interesting - the long, slow recovery has a "notes of a solo bassoon" aspect, with increasing levels of liveliness as Edward gradually regains himself, while the on-plane scenes thrum with tension, as the reader knows what's going to happen but not precisely when or why.

Guidelines for safely visiting and stocking Little Free Libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic, from the LFL site here.

I left this book in the charming Little Free Library; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2021 What's In A Name challenge. ***

*** Released for the 2021 D for December challenge. ***