A review by helen_t_reads
Homesick by Jennifer Croft

emotional reflective medium-paced

3.5

 Sisters Amy and Zoe grow up in Oklahoma where they are homeschooled because Zoe has frequent seizures. Whilst Zoe’s childhood is dominated by medication, surgery and frequent hospital visits, Amy flourishes intellectually, and becomes an autodidact. Her flair for languages, a thirst for knowledge, and an inquisitiveness about the world offer her respite from her sister’s illness, and further distraction is provided when she develops unrequited feelings for Sasha, her Russian tutor. However, when Amy takes up a university place at only 15 her life changes drastically. 
 
Amy’s passion is photography, and this novel is constructed like a series of snapshots or vignettes from her life: very short chapters with detailed headings reading like captions in a photo album. It is semi-autobiographical and interestingly the American edition contained a number of accompanying photos, which the English edition does not include (at the author’s request I believe?). 
 
The length of this novel (219 pages) and its short chapters make this a very quick read. 
It is a coming of age novel portraying both an intense sibling relationship, and Croft’s love of languages (she went on to forge a highly successful career as a translator). Given its title, there is also an interesting exploration of the nature and meaning of ‘homesick’ness: Zoe remains sick at home, whilst Amy goes off to University at a young age and clearly misses her home, and her sister, especially, descending into depression and self-harm. 
 
There is an air of detachment about the narrative which dampens the possibility of a deep emotional connection, and its tone is quite childlike, but, as Amy ages, this fades. It has far more depth than its tone would initially suggest. 
 
For me, part two, which comes quite late in the novel, was too rushed, but, overall it is a thought-provoking read - the kind that could well keep popping into your head once it is finished. 
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