I know a book is good when I wake up at 4am on a Sunday and pick up where I left off the day before.
The other day, I read The Hive. It’s a great book filled with spirited and unique female characters. The Fehler women are strong despite their dysfunctional family unit. They fight back against their personal demons and whatever obstacles life throws at them. Every one of their interactions were plausible and authentic.
Written from the multiple POVs of the Fehler family, the reader gets a front row seat to the challenges women face in a small town in Midwest America. In many ways, Young tells a coming of age story through each of the Fehler womens’ life experiences and challenges.
Young’s mastery of setting and dialogue is visible throughout. I heard the characters’ engage with one another and saw their home, the family business, the Catholic school, and the Fehler family camp. Although I struggled some with visualizing the Fehler sisters and their mother, Grace, I was glad I had the opportunity to spend time with them.
I was impressed with how the author told the story of The Hive using a masterful exploration of dysfunctional family dynamics and the strength the characters developed as they faced their obstacles head on.
[cm_page_title title=”Continue Reading” subtitle=” Shelf Unbound”]
Article originally Published in the April / May 2021 Issue: Cover Stories.