Books & Java

The Edge of Lost

by Kristina McMorris

 

Synopsis:

Almost two decades earlier and thousands of miles away, a young boy named Shanley Keagan ekes out a living as an aspiring vaudevillian in Dublin pubs. Talented and shrewd, Shan dreams of shedding his dingy existence and finding his real father in America. The chance finally comes to cross the Atlantic, but when tragedy strikes, Shan must summon all his ingenuity to forge a new life in a volatile and foreign world.

Skillfully weaving these two stories, Kristina McMorris delivers a compelling novel that moves from Ireland to New York to San Francisco Bay. As her finely crafted characters discover the true nature of loyalty, sacrifice, and betrayal, they are forced to confront the lies we tell—and believe—in order to survive.

My Review:

This is the first K. McMorris I have read and it was a wonderful experience. Her writing is inviting and cozy. This is the kind of book that you snuggle up with and want to read for hours without interruption. 

This is the story of Shanley Keagan. An Irish boy who is orphaned after the death of his mother. He is left with his uncle and the uncertain story about an American father who was not the father he had known his entire young life. He and his uncle leave for America in the hopes to start a new life and Shan's hope to find his birth father. On the voyage, Shan bonds an unexpected friendship with an Italian-American boy who changes his life forever. Upon arriving at Ellis Island, Shan finds that his uncle has died in his sleep. His fear of being sent back to Ireland and being raised in an orphanage, Shan seeks out the help of his new friend (Nick Capello) and his family. In a happy turn of events, Shan becomes like a son to the Capello's. Even assuming the identity of their dead son - Tommy Capello. As a Capello, Shan/Tommy, makes a life in New York. His natural talent to entertain puts him in the path of a questionable but wealthy and respected Italian club owner. Nick, as Tommy's brother, also becomes involved in the dealings of the club owner. However, Tommy's involvement is strictly based on his talents of entertainment while Nick gets involved more deeply and in a more questionable manner. An unfortunate turn of events, implicates Shan/Tommy and he ends up in Alcatraz to serve a sentence for murder. I will not disclose any more of the plot as it would spoil the reading experience. But rest assured that the twists and turns in the story make this book hard to put down. Shan is a good character in that he is pure, honest, kind-hearted and simply seeking what we all aspire to have - a life filled with people we love and trust. 

This is such a tender immigrant story that is not like many I have read (as those are my favorite historical fiction stories). Instead of focusing on the experience of one ethnicity (the Italians, the Germans, or the Irish, for example) its main character's ethnicity becomes secondary to the shared experience ALL immigrants face upon arriving in America at a time our melting pot was being formed. This is a satisfying read with a fantastic twist at the end that will make the reader's experience that much better. Enjoy!