“SOME KIND OF HAPPINESS,” by Claire Legrand, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, May 17, 2016, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8 and up)
I read a lot. I’ve read so many books that I’ve lost count how many, but it’s safe to say well over a thousand. When you get to that point, it becomes harder and harder to find books that really make an impact. So when you do, you want to shout its praises from the rooftops. Such is the case with “Some Kind of Happiness,” by Claire Legrand.
Finley Hart has never met her grandparents. She doesn’t know why, and up until recently has been fine with it. Fine with it until she suddenly finds herself shipped off to their house for the summer. Finley’s parents are having problems, though they pretend like they’re not. Somehow sending her away is supposed to help with things.
Even before the announcement of her impending trip, Finley regularly experienced “blue days” where life feels overwhelming, and it’s hard to even get out of bed. Visiting her grandparents doesn’t help the situation. In fact, the only thing that does help Finley is Everwood, the forest kingdom that exists in the pages of her notebook.
For Finley, Everwood has always been real, but when she discovers the woods behind her grandparents’ home, she realizes that Everwood physically exists. Everwood takes on new characteristics and holds more mysteries than Finley ever imagined, including a family she isn’t allowed to talk to, trees covered in ash and a house made of bones.
What makes things even more interesting is when Finley’s grandparents make Everwood off-limits. But when something is as important as Everwood, you can’t walk away from it. With the help of her cousins, Finley sets out to save the dying Everwood. But as the mysteries pile up and the frightening sadness inside her grows, Finley realizes that if she wants to save the Everwood, she’ll first have to save herself.
There’s a magic to “Some Kind of Happiness” that goes beyond Everwood. The magic comes in Claire Legrand’s writing. There’s a comforting familiarity to her prose. Finley is immediately likeable and relatable.
Reading “Some Kind of Happiness” I was immediately reminded of “Bridge to Terabitha,” by Katherine Patterson. Legrand’s novel exhibits the same sort of imagination mixed with real-life experience that makes “Bridge to Terabitha” resonate with readers.
Of particular note is Legrand’s treatment of Finley’s depression. Everyone experiences blue periods at some point in his or her life. For some people, these are small blips, for others these periods never completely go away. I experienced antepartum depression while pregnant with my daughter. It was a dark time. Some days getting out of bed was difficult. Like Finley, I found writing (although a different kind) to be helpful. Legrand’s presentation here is profound and deeply moving. Her courage in writing about such a topic for young readers is commendable.
“Some Kind of Happiness” is an exquisite novel of growth, friendship and the power of love. Though I read this as a digital advanced reader copy, I’ve already got a physical copy on order. It’s a book a look forward to reading and discussing with my daughter when she’s old enough.
