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A review by absentminded_reader
Never That Far by Carol Lynch Williams
5.0
Just finished Never That Far, and what a wonderful book it was. I would classify it as a fantasy middle grade novel, but that might give you the wrong idea. There are ghosts, but no hauntings. The story is magical, but not filled with magic. This may seem like a contradiction, but if you look beyond the constraints of genre, you’ll discover a story about the importance of family, redemption, and guiding love from beyond the grave.
Twelve-year-old Libby has the Sight, but never knew about her gift until see saw her recently departed Grampa. This brings her comfort when her heart is near breaking. The same cannot be said of her father. He has turned a blind eye to his sight all his life and all of Libby’s, too. Instead of comfort, he sees only despair. To save him, Grampa sends Libby on a quest. It takes her over water, requires the aid of atheists, jeopardizes her life, and puts her at odds with her father before she can find her Grampa’s treasure.
Carol writes with such a strong voice. I loved every page of this book and read it in one sitting. I am more than awed at her ability to capture emotions so keenly. Her characters felt real to me. Libby was strong and independent, yet still vulnerable. Carol was able to write her this way without any internal inconsistencies or cheats. She’s had years of experience honing her craft and studying people.
For example, her Baptist minister was spot on. Though annoying to Libby, the minister was a woman both anxious to heal people that she considered of her flock while also desperately wanting a place in that family. The more we encountered her, the more I loved her. All the side characters were written with such care and depth. Libby was never upstaged, however. Her drive and desire to solve her Grampa’s mystery pulled her forward through the story regardless of who got in her way. It was a very enjoyable read. Beautifully written. Paced perfectly. Highly recommended.
Twelve-year-old Libby has the Sight, but never knew about her gift until see saw her recently departed Grampa. This brings her comfort when her heart is near breaking. The same cannot be said of her father. He has turned a blind eye to his sight all his life and all of Libby’s, too. Instead of comfort, he sees only despair. To save him, Grampa sends Libby on a quest. It takes her over water, requires the aid of atheists, jeopardizes her life, and puts her at odds with her father before she can find her Grampa’s treasure.
Carol writes with such a strong voice. I loved every page of this book and read it in one sitting. I am more than awed at her ability to capture emotions so keenly. Her characters felt real to me. Libby was strong and independent, yet still vulnerable. Carol was able to write her this way without any internal inconsistencies or cheats. She’s had years of experience honing her craft and studying people.
For example, her Baptist minister was spot on. Though annoying to Libby, the minister was a woman both anxious to heal people that she considered of her flock while also desperately wanting a place in that family. The more we encountered her, the more I loved her. All the side characters were written with such care and depth. Libby was never upstaged, however. Her drive and desire to solve her Grampa’s mystery pulled her forward through the story regardless of who got in her way. It was a very enjoyable read. Beautifully written. Paced perfectly. Highly recommended.