The City Of Invention
The book reviews of UK children's author, Brian Keaney
Tragedy In Small Town Canada
Crow Lake is the predecessor to The Other Side Of The Bridge, which I read first. Set in the same community in rural northern Ontario, it's an equally powerful piece of story-telling, displaying real emotional depth and compelling characterisation.
The story describes the impact of tragedy on a group of siblings, the narrative unfolding through the eyes of Kate, the only one of them to leave her isolated community for the wider world. It's a novel about mistakes, disappointment and the lessons of experience. That makes it sound depressing but it's anything but. Like its sequel, it's an uplifting read that satisfies at a very deep level - the sort of book that stays with you for a long time.
