Review: Family by Micol Ostow

Apr 21, 2011 by shanyn

Title: Family
Hardcover, 336 pages
Author: Micol Ostow
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication Date: April 26, 2011
Source: Borrowed
Buy: Amazon

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Book Summary:
i have always been broken.
i could have. died.
and maybe it would have been better if i had.

It is a day like any other when seventeen-year-old Melinda Jensen hits the road for San Francisco, leaving behind her fractured home life and a constant assault on her self-esteem. Henry is the handsome, charismatic man who comes upon her, collapsed on a park bench, and offers love, a bright new consciousness, and—best of all—a family. One that will embrace her and give her love. Because family is what Mel has never really had. And this new family, Henry’s family, shares everything. They share the chores, their bodies, and their beliefs.  And if Mel truly wants to belong, she will share in everything they do. No matter what the family does, or how far they go.

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Review:
Not knowing much about the Manson Family murders (which this book is loosely based on), I didn’t totally know what to expect… though, I mean, I kind of figured some of the stuff would be crazy.

Family is written in verse, and the only capitalized word throughout the book is the name (or any reference of “He, His”) of the man in charge of the “family.” This detail was the best representation of his control over the individuals and how they felt about him – because I didn’t really connect with Melinda. And not just because I haven’t ever been a part of a cult or anything.

I guess perhaps some of the thoughts (obsessive, really, about Henry) and actions of Melinda didn’t have as much depth as I needed to be able to totally believe them. I know that an extreme situation in your life can make your perception go off kilter, so that’s what I was forced to chalk it all up to, rather than feeling the deep emotion of Melinda as she “found herself” while living with her “family.” We’re with Melinda and her family for many days, reading about their activities and the ways that Henry controls all of them, but I just don’t think it hit me as hard as it should have, considering the things they were actually doing.

The end of Family is quite intense – we’re not left with Melinda peacefully hanging out in her bedroom, reading a book. It showed the most emotion and critical thinking of the entire novel, and I wish more of the events earlier in the book would have felt as strong as the events in the end.

I think that, if anything, Family by Micol Ostow will intrigue a teen reader into finding out more about the Manson Family. I went to read more after finishing this book, especially because I was left feeling slightly unsatisfied with my disconnect from Miranda. There are several direct connections between the Manson Family and Family by Micol Ostow, and a reader more knowledgeable about the Manson Family may enjoy this book more.

Buy: Amazon

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