WHITE PICKET FENCES

The Janvier family of four lives an idyllic life until 16-year-old Tally, a distant cousin, moves in. Hidden secrets are revealed when 17-year-old Chase, who feels responsible for a childhood tragedy, collaborates with Tally on a high school project that involves interviewing Holocaust survivors. The teens see similarities between the survivors and their own family members who refuse to talk about the long-ago tragedy. Bernadette Dunne captures the story’s multifaceted undercurrents with skilled nuances and subtle sensitivity. Her textured characterizations suggest the blame and guilt that threaten the family and eventually force acknowledgment of the past. Dunne convincingly portrays a family in search of truth and healing. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2010]