I found this book on someone’s lawn – a sidewalk giveaway. It smelled musty, like it had been stored for a long time in a basement. I really enjoyed Mitchard’s book ‘The Deep End of the Ocean’ and having recently read ‘Losing Jessica,’ a true story about a custody battle, I thought it would be interesting to read a fictional account of one.

The story revolves around the custody battle over a young child after the death of her parents. Both the paternal and maternal grandparents fight for custody, though the maternal parents have had primary care of the child since birth (their daughter was dying of cancer before dying, along with her husband, in a car wreck). The child’s bachelor uncle puts in a bid for adoption, but it’s refused because he himself is adopted (so he and his sister are not blood relatives).

It comes down to a court battle between the uncle and the child’s godparents. The ending is unexpected and sweet. The most intrigueing chapter of the book was the epilogue, in which the little girl, now much older, tells her own story.

This novel isn’t a work of great literature or anything, but it was entertaining and held my attention. The characters invited empathy and I do give Mitchard credit for offering the viewpoints of all the characters. She doesn’t place her characters up on a pedastal either – they all demonstrated typically human foibles and they all had sufficient redeeming qualities that you want to like them.

It was okay. I wouldn’t read it again, but it was free. I’ve already given it away to its next reader.