Magic Hour
Book Review

MAGIC HOUR BOOK SYNOPSIS

This is a quest to save a desolate child, against a backdrop of raw emotion and mystery.

Dr. Julia Cates, a well known child psychiatrist, moves back to her home town in Washington State to mend after a shocking tragedy ruins her career. When the little wolf girl walks out of the woods mute and more animal then human, the drama begins.

She is suffering from extreme fear and isolation. Julia and her sister, Chief of police Ell, along with the whole town begin to rally around this child as she tries to gain her trust and insight into the poor creature's life.

A love story on so many levels, Alice will creep into your heart. The struggle for Alice, as well as Julia, to find a home again.

QUEENIE B SAYS

Awesome characterization. I loved the book!

Feral Children Must Learn to Assimilate
The whole concept of the little girl Alice, who is more wolf then girl, definitely steals your heart. There really are feral children who are lost, abandoned or forgotten, who survive in completely isolated conditions. I like the way author Kristin Hannah develops the personality of Alice and integrates the reality of where the child has been into the story. Teaching Alice the basics, washing, brushing teeth, using the toilet, it all was reminiscent of the Helen Keller story to me. Julia Cates says Alice is "...more a part of nature than of man, more connected to the natural world-sights, smells, plants, animal than to us" (268). The child walked out of the woods and into the hearts of the townsfolk and forever changes all their lives.

An emotional journey of joy and hope, the author writes from the heart. I'm excited to read Kristin Hannah's new book Firefly Lane.

MAGIC HOUR DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Who do you think would be the better parent for Alice? Julia or George?
2. Do you think Julia Cates was at all responsible for the killing spree of her adolescent patient?
3. Do you think Alice will be able to grow up and live a normal life?