The Istoriaphile’s Corner

There’s a reason to read the classics: they’ve proven their worth over time.  There’s a similar reason for reading the award winners: they’re usually pretty good books. That may sound snobbish but since this time on earth is limited, I prefer to read something that’s good.  Of course “good” is more than round characters and a well-paced plot.  To become something special, a story has to hit you where you live, make you turn over old memories and see something new in the world.  It’s not just entertainment; it’s soul-reviving.  Well, I  hunted through the Newbery finalists and boy, did I find a good book! One Came Home is the third novel of Amy Timberlake, a writer who knows something of sisters and small towns.  It’s a mystery involving two sisters, Agatha and Georgina.  Agatha is the older one, adventuresome and pretty.  Georgie is the practical one, good with figures and strong-minded.  Agatha disappears and then the remains of a red-haired woman are found wrapped in Agatha’s best party dress, which leads to this great opening statement: “It was the day of my sister’s first funeral and I knew it wasn’t her last – which is why I left.  That’s…