Contemporary Authors

1. The memory of things https://lccn.loc.gov/2016016274 Polisner, Gae, author. The memory of things / Gae Polisner. First Edition. New York : St. Martin's Griffin, 2016. 279 pages ; 22 cm PZ7.P75294 Me 2016 ISBN: 9781250095527 (hardback) 2. The summer of letting go https://lccn.loc.gov/2013038536 Polisner, Gae. The summer of letting go / Gae Polisner. First edition. Chapel Hill, North Carolina : Algonquin, [2014] 316 pages ; 22 cm PZ7.P75294 Sum 2014 ISBN: 9781616202569 (alk. paper) 3. The pull of gravity https://lccn.loc.gov/2010021749 Polisner, Gae. The pull of gravity / Gae Polisner. 1st ed. New York : Frances Foster Books/Farrar Straus Giroux, c2011. 202 p. ; 22 cm. PZ7.P75294 Pu 2011 ISBN: 97803743719370374371938

• Gae Polisner - http://gaepolisner.com/about-gae/

  When I’m not writing, I’m swimming, hanging with my kids, or cooking and cleaning. Okay, fine, I’m probably not cleaning.
  I have written since I was little, mostly poems and short stories through college. Then, I went to law school and, for over a decade, replaced all that creative writing with legal briefs. But after my sons were born, I decided to return to my first love.
  In 1995, I set out to write a book, not knowing if I actually could. I have completed at least five full manuscripts since then.
  I like to think my novels are accessible, lyrical (somewhat literary) fiction – and, my young adult stories, an homage to the character-driven fiction I loved so much as a child and teen (anything by E.L. Konigsburg, Paul Zindel, Madeleine L’Engle, or Judy Blume…). The Pull of Gravity has a special “secret” nod to the first novel I couldn’t put down – Don’t Take Teddy, by Babbis Friis-Baastad. To this day, I remember the feeling of frantically turning pages to find out if the brothers would be okay. If any of you ever read that book, please send me an email, and we can be instant BFF’s.
  My first piece of women’s fiction, The Jetty, was a Top Semifinalist in the 2008 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. My second piece, Swim Back to Me, will be revised one day soon and hopefully see the light of day. In the meantime, my next YA novel is coming soon from Algonquin, and I have several more teen novels in the works. So, please check back here often for updates.
  I live and write on Long Island with my two amazing boys, my handsome, smart husband who sings, and two very “enthusiastic” cockatiels, Taha and Bobo. When I’m not writing, I’m still a practicing family law attorney/mediator, and when I’m not doing that, I’m swimming in my pool or, better yet, the open water off of Long Island.
  To learn more about YA-author me, come on over to my YA blog, That Wee Bit Heap.
  To learn more about wife/mother/swimmer me, follow my women’s fiction blog, Trying to Stay Afloat in a Sea of Words.

• Algonquin Young Readers - http://algonquinyoungreaders.com/author/gae-polisner/

  Gae Polisner is the author of The Pull of Gravity and numerous other yet-unpublished manuscripts. As a child, Gae was always reading and writing, two constants in a sea of revolving short-lived hobbies: gymnastics, acting, and mostly trying to dance as well as her older sister (who eventually landed on Broadway).

  As a child, Gae wrote poems and short stories, taking creative writing classes through high school and college before attending law school and spending the next decade practicing law and starting her family. It was only upon the birth of her second son that Gae returned to her first love of writing. She strives with her young adult fiction to create character-driven stories filled with love and longing, heartbreak and family drama, reminiscent of those books she loved reading as a teen by the likes of Judy Blume, S. E. Hinton, and Paul Zindel.

  Gae is still a practicing divorce lawyer and mediator. She lives on Long Island with her husband and two awesome boys. When not writing, she can be found swimming in the open waters off Long Island, and holds out hope that her wetsuit will one day turn her into a superhero.

  Author of...
  The Summer of Letting Go
  The Pull of Gravity

  Author Q&A
  1. What books/authors have inspired you?

  The authors who have inspired me the most in connection with my YA writing are probably the authors I read when I was that age: Judy Blume, Paul Zindel, E. L. Konigsburg, S. E. Hinton. I wanted to write stories like they did, about kids on the cusp between childhood and adulthood, trying to do the right thing even when the right thing is hard, trying to find their way in a not-so-easy world.

  2. What’s your writing routine?

  Because I wear a few different hats (writer, divorce lawyer/mediator, mom, and open water swimmer), my writing routine is erratic. I write when I find time around everything else that needs to get done during the day, though I usually try to take advantage of the first hour or two after all my boys (husband and two sons) leave for work and school and the house is quiet. There’s something about writing as I drink that first cup of coffee that feels right to me. But, really, I do my best writing under water, in my head, the challenge always being to see if I can remember what seemed so fluid and vivid in the water when I finally get back on dry land.

  3. What part of your book was the most fun to write?

  Hands down, Frankie Sky. He’s a ball of energy, impetuous and funny, but also so full of unfettered optimism and love. It was especially fun to write scenes with Frankie and his small dog, Potato, because they are kind of a comic duo. I could always picture the poor dog patiently putting up with Frankie’s boundless —and not always gentle—enthusiasm.

  4. Which part was the most difficult?

  I think writing Francesca’s mom was the most difficult. It’s easy to be mad at her because she’s so stuck in her grief and neglectful of Francesca, but as a mother, I can’t imagine how hard it must be to try to move beyond the loss of a child. I imagine you don’t ever really recover or stop grieving. So it was important to me that her mom be flawed but also that I leave room for the reader to have some understanding.

  5. Is there one particular character in your new book that you most relate to? Why?

  I think in this book, I relate to the struggle of Francesca’s parents. It’s hard to keep a marriage strong even when there isn’t some huge tragedy to create an added rift. And, while the dad is certainly flawed too, I love him for how he tries hard to stay positive and joyful for both his own sake and the sake of his daughter. He wants to keep living life—and see Francesca live her life—even though Simon couldn’t.

  6. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

  To find your own voice. As much as I read other writers and wish I could have written their brilliant stories in their brilliant style, in the end, the only thing we can ever really do well is find our own voice and polish and hone it to make it resonate and shine as best we can.

  7. Cats or dogs?

  Um, no thank you. I prefer the fictional kind that I don’t have to walk or feed. Plus, my husband and one son are allergic. Although we did have a “test dog” for a few days that I fell in love with. He was supposed to be hypoallergenic and, well, not so much. I cried for a week when we had to give him back. See, thanks a lot. You had to go and ask . . .

  8. If writing weren’t part of your daily work, what career would you like to have?

  When I was a kid and a teenager I acted both in school plays and in community theater. Back then I aspired to be the next Broadway Annie, and I can still sing pretty much every word to every song of that libretto by heart. Want to hear? “It’s a hard knock life,” you know.

  9. Which author would you most like to spend the day with?

  Spend the day with? Wow. That’s a hard one. And I’m fickle. My answer would probably change from day to day. I have writer friends I love and miss, and would want to spend any day talking and horsing around with any one of them. But as far as authors I don’t know, the one who always amazed me the most with his storytelling capabilities was William Goldman. I’d love to spend a day hearing him talk about writing and life and characters. You don’t know him probably, but he wrote The Princess Bride. Yes, it was a book before a movie, silly kids.

  10. What is your secret superpower?

  I don’t know how secret it is, but I can swim a long, long time. I’m not an athlete and never was, but put me in water, and I can keep swimming and swimming and swimming. I can also wiggle my nose and ears at the same time. Is that a superpower?

• MacMillan - https://us.macmillan.com/author/gaepolisner

  GAE POLISNER is the award-winning author of The Memory of Things, The Summer of Letting Go, and The Pull of Gravity. A family law attorney and mediator by trade, but a writer by calling, she lives on Long Island with her husband, two sons, and a suspiciously-fictional-looking small dog she swore she’d never own. When she’s not writing, she can be found in a pool, or better yet, in the open waters of the Long Island Sound where she swims upwards of two miles most days. She hopes one day soon to grow gills and morph into a mermaid.

• YA Interrobang - http://www.yainterrobang.com/gae-polisner-q-a/

  Surviving Tragedy: A Q&A with Gae Polisner on THE MEMORY OF THINGS 2
  BY TARA HACKLEY ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2016 AUTHOR FEATURES, HISTORICAL
  the memory of things by gae polisnerSome of us are compelled to read about tragedies and those who survived them. If you’re one of those readers, you might want to pick up Gae Polisner’s new YA novel The Memory of Things.

  The Memory of Things tells the story of Kyle, a 16 year old who has just watched the first of the twin towers come crashing down. While racing home in a panic he stumbles across a girl wearing a pair of costume wings and covered in ash. He decides to bring the girl home and what unfolds from there is a story of friendship, love, and the strength of the human spirit to carry-on amid life-altering tragedy.

  The Memory of Things will hit shelves on September 6. For more on Gae Polisner, check out her website or follow her on Twitter.

  What was your inspiration for telling this story?
  As a native New Yorker (I had lived in NYC for years before moving back to Long Island when my son was born), I was drawn to write about 9/11 since it had happened, but originally knew it was just too soon.

  Then, a few years ago, I was finishing up another manuscript when an image came to me, just popped in my head: a girl, crouched in fear, covered in smoke and ash, but wearing a pair of costume wings. She was originally on a NYC subway track in my head, and not on the Brooklyn Bridge where Kyle finds her in The Memory of Things.

  Right around the same time, a dear friend of mine had a sudden bout of “transient global amnesia”. She was driving to work, forgot where she was going, basically forgot who she was, yet somehow knew to call her husband, and kind of knew who he was. It freaked us all out. The bout passed after a few days.

  So, the girl came to me. And then that happened. And that’s when I knew the girl had the same issue: that she had some form of amnesia, and that, along with Kyle, I was going to have to figure out who she was.

  What motivated you to tell Kyle’s story in the backdrop of 9/11?
  Like I said, 9/11 had been circulating . . . When the girl appeared covered in smoke and ash, I knew what it was, and I knew the chaos of that day, and the days that followed, was the only backdrop for this story.

  Although it feels like time stops, life continues on in the midst of a tragedy like 9/11. What do you think is important when it comes to telling stories set during an event such as 9/11?
  For me, that’s just it: I wanted to grapple with how we keep going – how we carry on with the small bits of living – in the middle of such a tragedy. For example, as the morning of 9/11 was unfolding, I frantically picked up my two young sons from school and, when we got home, we played Wiffle ball on the front lawn. I knew I couldn’t go inside, turn on the television and have them see the images of what had happened – so we stayed outside, playing ball, while chaos and tragedy unfolded in nearby Manhattan. I had a hard time focusing, of course, and was trying to reach people on my cell phone, but I didn’t want them to be scared. I didn’t want them to know what was going on.

  The synopsis of The Memory of Things states that this is a story of hope. What do you hope readers take away from Kyle’s story?
  Mostly, I hope people take away a feeling from the story, a gut sense that it will always be our small and big human connections that keep us going. And that, taking the focus off ourselves – as Kyle does with and for the girl and Uncle Matt – is one of the things that helps most in the midst of tragedy. We are strongest when we are helping others.

  What was your process for writing The Memory of Things? Did you do anything differently than with your previous books?
  What is this process you speak of? ☺

  But, I suppose, yes, because The Memory of Things is “historical” fiction, and because 9/11 was a uniquely documented event in our history, the research was way more intensive. I spent hours pouring through photographs, watching footage, checking timelines, as well as interviewing people and walking neighborhoods: the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights, and, of course, Coney Island.

  author-gae-polisner
  Author Gae Polisner. Courtesy of Gae Polisner.
  There are many YA readers who vividly remember where they were and what they were during when the twin towers fell while there are also many YA readers who are too young to remember 9/11 and some who weren’t even born yet. What do you think it is about historical events – good or bad – that have the power to transcend generations?
  Yes, there’s a divide: For adults, 9/11 still feels fresh, the ever-present backdrop of our lives. Conversely, young adults, students in middle and high school, weren’t even alive then, or too young to remember, yet it is the backdrop to their lives too. So there’s a disconnect. They know it, but don’t feel it, and, from the teens I’ve talked to, they want to understand better, they want to truly “get” what happened on that day, and the days after.

  Is there anything else you’d like readers to know?

  I guess I’d love readers to know this is first and foremost a story, a bit of a mystery, romance, and coming of age story all in one. It’s set against 9/11, but that’s not all it is. It’s the characters, and not the event, that drive the story. And there is just as much light here as there is dark, so I think you’ll find moments you smile, and laugh out loud, right along with the characters. I hope you do.

• Elisa Zied - http://elisazied.com/an-interview-with-author-gae-polisner/

  Welcome to my Food, Fitness & Fiction blog! You can subscribe to my blog via RSS feed. If you’re interested in being a guest blogger or would like me to take a look at your book or product for a possible review/feature on the blog, please email me at elisa@elisazied.com. Enjoy!

  An Interview with Author Gae Polisner
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  Posted by admin on September 15th, 2016
  The following post is from Food, Fitness & Fiction Contributing Editor Josh Flores.
  Gae Polisner is the author of the new and beautifully written novel, The Memory of Things. Told in the alternating perspectives of two teens in the midst of the September 11th attacks, Polisner illustrates the challenges of devastation, the significance of memory, and the wonder of falling in love with a stranger. With an intense, but hopeful story of self-discovery, readers are introduced to the lives of two of the most unique characters in YA fiction, Kyle and the mysterious girl with a set of wings. You can see my full review here.
  I was honored to interview Polisner on behalf of Food, Fitness & Fiction and ask her about her writing process, her hobbies, and what she wants readers to know about her brilliant new novel, The Memory of Things. Here are some highlights from our email interview.
  FF&F: What inspired you to write a story about two teens in the midst of the September 11th terrorist attack?
  GP: I suppose writing is how I process–and try to control–my overwhelming emotions like fear, heartbreak, and grief, and certainly, as a native New Yorker after 9/11, I had an overabundance of those.
  I have lived most my life on Long Island, but lived in Boston for college, and NYC from after college until 1996, before moving back to Long Island after my first son was born, and my sister still lives in the city to this day. So I had definitely been traumatized and changed by the event, and had felt compelled to write about it since shortly after it happened. But for a long time, I knew it was just too soon. Too soon for readers and for me.
  Then, one day a few years ago, I was finishing up another manuscript and this very strong image popped into my head: A girl, crouched in fear, covered in smoke and ash, wearing a pair of costume wings. I knew the ash and dust were from the twin towers, but not why the wings were there. The girl intrigued me, and I pretty immediately was sure she was a character in my story, but also that she was not the main character but rather the catalyst for my protagonist to cope and heal.
  FF&F: How would you describe the publishing process for The Memory of Things? Was it more or less difficult than that of your previous books?
  GP: Hmmm, well, until my newest book I’ve just sold to my The Memory of Things editor (yay!!!), the business of selling books to a publisher has never been easy for me. But this one, The Memory of Things, may have been the hardest. Understandably, adults (especially adults in and from New York) still have a swift and strong visceral reaction to 9/11 and, when we were shopping the manuscript, I had editors state that they couldn’t bear to read it (before even making it to the parts filled with humor, hope and love), or editors who read and love it, but feared they wouldn’t stand a chance trying to bring it up to “Acquisitions,” a room where many of the decision makers whose job it is to market and promote a book, had lived in New York City that day and would also come at it from an adult’s viewpoint. I also had editors simply say they didn’t think teens today had much interest in reading books about 9/11.
  I understood the resistance and fear, but I remained steadfast because I knew a teen audience–the audience I primarily wrote the book for—wouldn’t have the same pained reaction that most adults still have. In fact, I had seen (and heard) their reactions first hand as I visited school after school on my prior book. So I knew they felt just the opposite, in fact, that teens today feel a stark disconnect with their parents’ and teachers’ 9/11 history, and they actually want to feel more of a connection. In classroom after classroom, as students asked what I was working on next–“Well, it’s this book about a boy who is fleeing his high school in NYC the morning of 9/11 when he comes across a girl, covered in smoke and ash, and she doesn’t know who she is or why she is there. . .” — I received the most enthusiastic, excited reactions I’d ever gotten regarding a work in progress of mine.
  Not only did the story sound intriguing to them, but students wanted to read stories set during 9/11. They were hungry to experience it, to know what it felt like to live through it, and how we survived that day.
  And that’s what The Memory of Things is about, it’s a story of how we process and survive during times of tragedy.
  FF&F: If you could choose one character from The Memory of Things, which one do you most relate to? How so?
  GP: Oh, definitely Kyle. I always relate to the characters who, as teens, are afraid to let themselves be who they really want to be, and I love helping them come around to it sooner than I was able to in real life.
  FF&F: What were your biggest influences during your writing process (books, movies, authors, life events, etc.)?
  GP: I think my biggest influences during my book writing are always the same: a combination of the little observations about life that fascinate me, and the stuff I keep learning—the wisdom I gain that helps me be a happier, more satisfied human.
  FF&F: If you could tell your readers one thing about your book, what would it be?
  GP: That it’s more than just a “9/11 story.” It’s a mystery, and a romance, and a coming-of-age story. That despite the setting–or really because of it–I make sure the characters find lots of light in the dark. It’s filled with both love and humor.
  FF&F: What does a typical day in the life of Gae Polisner look like?
  GP: Depending on the season, it’s usually filled with a combination of writing, swimming, maybe some yoga, playing with the dog and cleaning and straightening things. Oh yeah, and spending WAY too much time on social media. If you read the book and love it, feel free to chat with me about it on twitter! https://twitter.com/gaepol
  FF&F: Is there something specific that you hope readers take from your work?
  GP: A sense of hope and connection, though usually mixed with a bit of longing. Mostly, I hope when they close the book, the characters stay with them.
  FF&F: If you were not a writer, what career would you have?
  GP: Apparently, a lawyer, since I am one. And I still practice today. As a kid and teen, though, I took acting lessons and was in a lot of community theatre, and there are times I still long to see what I might have done in that realm. Oh how badly I wanted to be Annie!
  Alas, I doubt I could remember lines or act very well now, so writing it is.
  FF&F: How do you like to #moveitorloseit (stay fit and active) on a regular/daily basis?
  GP: I swim and I swim and I swim. #openwaterlifeforme
  FF&F: What advice do you have for aspiring writers? And are there any resources/websites you would recommend?
  GP: I think the best advice I have to offer is to keep reading and keep writing. And the thought that It takes a combination of three things: skill, perseverance, and LUCK to get published, but you’ll rarely have the third–luck—without the first two.
  As for resources and websites, it depends what phase of writing they are in. Harold Underdown has a wealth of information and resources on his site for the aspiring writer. For writing inspiration and perseverance, I like to read Chuck Wendig’s Terrible Minds blog (*language warning*). For craft, you can’t beat the hilarity and smarts of Geoff Herbach’s “Stupid Craft” videos:

The Memory of Things
Kazia Berkley-Cramer
The Horn Book Magazine.
92.6 (November-December 2016): p85.
COPYRIGHT 2016 The Horn Book, Inc.. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
Full Text: 
The Memory of Things
by Gae Polisner
High School St. Martin's Griffin 275 pp.
9/16 978-1-250-09552-7 $18.99 (g)
e-book ed. 978-1-250-09553-4 $9.99
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
It's the morning of September 11, 2001, in Manhattan, and the first tower has just fallen. Sixteen-year-old Brooklynite Kyle, fleeing toward home,
stumbles upon a teenage girl wearing a pair of costume wings who, it turns out, has severe amnesia. He's drawn to her--"She looks sweet and lost.
She looks pretty. And scared"--and promptly takes her home with him to try to help figure out who she is. He already has enough to worry about--
his dad is a police officer involved in the rescue effort, his mom and younger sister are supposed to be flying home from L.A., and his uncle,
paralyzed in an earlier accident that broke his spine, needs dedicated care--not to mention Kyle's anxiety surrounding the unknown (Who attacked
the towers? Will there be more attacks?) and the lack of reliable communication during the disaster. The mysterious girl's free-verse narration
(much of which takes place inside her head) is interspersed with Kyle's prose. This is effective at times, but at other times the verse feels flat: "I
don't have a glass of water. / I listen for the shower, but / it's already off, / so / I can't go get one now." While the conclusion is a little too pat and
rushed, the blend of mystery, burgeoning romance (between Kyle and the girl), and historical elements has appeal to a wide variety of readers and
makes this a solid contribution to the growing body of 9/11 YA fiction.
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(g) indicates that the book was read in galley or page proof. The publisher's price is the suggested retail price and does not indicate a possible
discount to libraries. Grade levels are only suggestions; the individual child is the real criterion.
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
Berkley-Cramer, Kazia. "The Memory of Things." The Horn Book Magazine, Nov.-Dec. 2016, p. 85+. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA469755394&it=r&asid=e89363bb8d66a46d52fb4beea4c95bef. Accessed 12 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A469755394

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Polisner, Gae. The Memory of Things
Adrienne Amborski
Voice of Youth Advocates.
39.4 (Oct. 2016): p66.
COPYRIGHT 2016 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
Full Text: 
4Q * 4P * S
Polisner, Gae. The Memory of Things. St. Martin's/Macmillan, 2016. 288p. $18.99. 978-1-250-09552-7.
The Memory of Things is a poignant story set in the days surrounding the tragedy of 9/11. Sixteen-year-old Kyle Donohue witnesses the first
tower collapse from the window of his high school. Fleeing across the Brooklyn Bridge, he stumbles upon a teen girl wearing a costume with
wings covered in debris. She is disorientated and immobile. Coaxing the girl to run, he takes her to his apartment and discovers she has no
memories of her identity or past. Upon arrival home, Kyle faces the realities that the city is under attack and convinces the girl to remain at his
home. His mother and sister are in California on a visit and his father is a New York City police detective working in the area of the Twin Towers.
Due to an accident, Kyle's beloved Uncle Matt is paralyzed and requires in-home medical care. He has been living with Kyle's family to recover.
Kyle decides to keep the girl's presence a secret from his uncle until he can assess the situation in this uncertain and dangerous moment in time.
Told in alternating points of view, the story captures the tension of the tragedy, along with the budding relationship between Kyle and this
mysterious girl. As time passes and her presence becomes known, bits and pieces of her past and identity surface. Who is she? Is Kyle's dad dead
or alive? What will happen to the characters and the city of New York?
Polisner does a wonderful job of capturing the heart-wrenching, frightening events of 9/11. Teens reading this book will have been very young--
perhaps not even born--during 9/11. This novel offers a glimpse into an historical event that will live in infamy. The Memory of Things uses
mystery, first love, and the power of tragedy to change people to tell a story that will keep readers turning the pages.--Adrienne Amborski.
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
Amborski, Adrienne. "Polisner, Gae. The Memory of Things." Voice of Youth Advocates, Oct. 2016, p. 66. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA467831116&it=r&asid=f3d7ca1eb03aea2704147b42fcf8a1f7. Accessed 12 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A467831116

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Polisner, Gae H. The Pull of Gravity
Voice of Youth Advocates.
34.2 (June 2011): p171.
COPYRIGHT 2011 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
Full Text: 
3Q*3P*M*J*S Polisner, Gae H. The Pull of Gravity. Farrar, Straus, Giroux/Macmillan, Straus and Giroux, 2011. 208p. $16.99. 978-0-37437193-
7.
Scooter Reyland has Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, the disease that accelerates the aging process. Chronologically fifteen, physically
Scooter is eighty and does not have long to live. One of his wishes is to find his father, who left when Scooter was a baby, and return the
autographed first edition of Of Mice and Men his father left him. His best friend and next-door neighbor, Nick, has problems of his own. His
obese father just sits on the couch, while his mother works. After a screaming match between Nick's parents, his father decides to walk from
upstate New York to Manhattan, reminiscent of Fat Man Walking. When the local news show films a segment on Nick's dad, he meets Jaycee
Amato, the newscaster's step-daughter. Unbeknownst to Nick, she is a good friend of Scooter, and she convinces Nick to help her find Scooter's
dad. While they plan, Scooter dies, but they decide to embark upon their quest.
While The Pull of Gravity is nicely written, the story is not compelling. Scooter, with his love of life and his Star Wars addiction, is a character
people will enjoy. He is a bundle of hope in a hopeless situation. Readers will identify less with the uncertain Nick and the mind-reading Jaycee,
although they will cheer on their budding romance. The trek to Rochester, Mr. Reyland's last known residence, as well as the action in town, is
unrealistic and somewhat predictable. Much of the book, especially the ending, seems disconnected. The Pull of Gravity is not essential to a
collection.--Ed Goldberg.
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Polisner, Gae H. The Pull of Gravity." Voice of Youth Advocates, June 2011, p. 171+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA259296276&it=r&asid=4f8d8c3b5f8be4f937513cf52f64452f. Accessed 12 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A259296276

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Polisner, Gae: THE PULL OF GRAVITY
Kirkus Reviews.
(Mar. 15, 2011):
COPYRIGHT 2011 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text: 
Polisner, Gae THE PULL OF GRAVITY Frances Foster/Farrar, Straus & Giroux (Adult Fiction) $16.99 5, 10 ISBN: 978-0-374-37193-7
Blending Steinbeck and Star Wars, this debut novel with a touch of magical realism leads two teens on a weekend road trip to fulfill a secret
mission. With a workaholic mother, an older brother heading to college and an out-of-work, 395-pound father who spends all his time on the
couch, high-school freshman Nick doesn't get much attention, especially when his father walks (literally) out of their house in Albany and back to
his roots in New York City. To top it off, his fatherless best friend (and Yoda aficionado), Scooter, has Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, a
rare and incurable disease that speeds up the aging process. Then Jaycee, who's also lost her dad, convinces Nick to join her in granting Scooter's
dying wish: locate Scooter's father in Rochester and give him Scooter's signed first edition of Of Mice and Men. Nick's first-person narration and
authentic teen voice give insight into this typical boy who wonders why, in the middle of thinking about his dying best friend, all he really wants
to do is kiss Jaycee. Although the teens' best laid plans go oft awry, they discover that the force of the universe is with them-or at least friendship,
family and romance. Pulls the heart in all the right places. (Fiction. 12-16)
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Polisner, Gae: THE PULL OF GRAVITY." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2011. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA256558885&it=r&asid=c6d9c47ada416ef9af832b09f4b3a236. Accessed 12 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A256558885

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Polisner, Gae: THE MEMORY OF THINGS
Kirkus Reviews.
(June 15, 2016):
COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text: 
Polisner, Gae THE MEMORY OF THINGS St. Martin's Griffin (Children's Fiction) $18.99 9, 6 ISBN: 978-1-250-09552-7
After the 9/11 attacks, a New York City high schooler takes in a traumatized teen girl suffering from temporary amnesia.On Tuesday, Sept. 11,
2001, white, 16-year-old Kyle Donohue flees from Stuyvesant High School in downtown Manhattan toward his home in Brooklyn Heights. While
running across the Brooklyn Bridge, he spots a white girl covered in ash and wearing elaborate costume wings, so he makes a split-second
decision to keep her safe. Kyle takes the scared "bird girl" to his apartment, where his uncle, who uses a wheelchair and is recovering from a
spinal-cord injury, is the only person waiting. Kyle's dad is an NYPD officer who's working around the clock at ground zero, while his mother
and younger sister are stuck at LAX, unable to return to New York. The bird girl can't remember much of anything, but as the days unfold, she
begins to recover flashes of her memory and to become attached to sweet Kyle, who's clearly smitten. But they both know she'll eventually need
to leave the bubble of security they've created. The author tells their story in alternating points of view, his in prose and hers in spare, erratically
spaced verse that effectively communicates her disorientation. A love letter to the New Yorkers who rallied together, this is also an exploration of
the intense bonds that form during a crisis. Detailed and well-researched, it's sure to make young readers curious about those unforgettable days
after the twin towers fell. A fictional but realistic tale of how two New York City teens survived the unthinkable together. (Fiction. 12-17)
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Polisner, Gae: THE MEMORY OF THINGS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA455212566&it=r&asid=79f5b8570c301d7e79834e456a83311a. Accessed 12 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A455212566

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Polisner, Gae. The Summer of Letting Go
Laura Lehner
Voice of Youth Advocates.
36.6 (Feb. 2014): p64.
COPYRIGHT 2014 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
Full Text: 
4Q * 4P * J * S
Polisner, Gae. The Summer of Letting Go. Algonquin/Workman, 2014. 320p. $16.95. 978-1-61620-256-9.
Francesca "Frankie" Schnell is not really looking forward to the summer of her sixteenth birthday. Summer always brings back memories and
feelings of guilt over her little brother's drowning several years earlier. And this year her best friend is going to be preoccupied with her
boyfriend, a boy that Frankie happens to have a crush on. To top it all off, she thinks her father is having an affair. Frankie gets a job babysitting a
four-year-old boy also named Frankie, and a series of weird coincidences leads her to believe that he is her brother reincarnated. As she spends
more and more time with him, she tries to forgive herself for the death of her brother, believing he might be living on in Frankie Sky.
This is a book about grief and the inevitability of placing blame when a tragic accident occurs. But sometimes things just happen that are
nobody's fault--Frankie struggles with that concept and wants desperately to be able to feel like things are normal again. The characters of the
story are all very well drawn, the dialogue realistic, and the story itself well written, with much for teens to think and talk about. Frankie is
heartbroken and confused--readers will definitely be pulling for her to make sense of what happened and take the first steps toward letting go.--
Laura Lehner.
Lehner, Laura
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
Lehner, Laura. "Polisner, Gae. The Summer of Letting Go." Voice of Youth Advocates, Feb. 2014, p. 64. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA424529675&it=r&asid=740fc40c14014bec6bc94e0de812c815. Accessed 12 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A424529675

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Polisner, Gae: THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO
Kirkus Reviews.
(Feb. 15, 2014):
COPYRIGHT 2014 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text: 
Polisner, Gae THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO Algonquin (Children's Fiction) $16.95 3, 25 ISBN: 978-1-61620-256-9
Four years after her younger brother, Simon, drowned in the ocean, Francesca Schnell meets a child she thinks might be his reincarnation. Maybe
everything happens for a reason. Following the woman with whom she suspects her father is having an affair leads Francesca to a country club
where she meets-and rescues from an ill-advised dive into a pool-4-year-old Frankie Schyler. As she gets to know "Frankie Sky" and his kind but
inattentive mother, Francesca begins to see connections between Frankie and her own brother and to wonder if there is a spiritual explanation for
the similarities between the two. Unfortunately-or is it fortunately after all?-the only person Francesca can talk to about reincarnation is her best
friend Lisette's very charming, very taken boyfriend, Bradley. And there's nobody, really, with whom Francesca can share her deepest secret:
Simon's death was Francesca's fault. This is a quiet story about miracles and relationships, and Francesca has something to learn from each
person whose life touches hers-even the neighbor her father keeps visiting on the sly. The prose is gentle but evocative, and Frankie Sky's
childlike exuberance and occasional misconceptions add heart and humor. Some long-standing family conflicts are resolved very quickly, but the
story never comes off as saccharine or simplistic. Both hopeful and careful-like Francesca herself. (Fiction. 12-16)
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Polisner, Gae: THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2014. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA358424931&it=r&asid=1fabe958d23df0d183d61a7e8c840a1a. Accessed 12 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A358424931

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The Pull of Gravity
Michael Cart
Booklist.
107.19-20 (June 1, 2011): p82.
COPYRIGHT 2011 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text: 
The Pull of Gravity.
By Gae H. Polisner.
2011. 208p. Farrar, $16.99 (9780374371937). Gr. 6-9.
It begins with one of Nick's high fevers. Delusional, the 14-year-old tries to climb a local water tower but is saved in the nick of time by his best
friend, Scooter. Which is ironic since "the Scoot" is the one who needs saving: he suffers from the rare disease progeria, which causes children to
age rapidly, and so, though Scoot is only 15, he looks like an 80-year-old and is literally dying of old age. Meanwhile, Nick is also burdened by
father issues: his nearly 400-pound, depressed dad seldom leaves the sofa until he decides to walk to New York from their upstate home. After
Nick meets an eccentric girl from school and a romance begins to bloom, the two go on a well-intentioned road trip that will have unintended
consequences. Polisner's first novel begins with a bang and ends with another. Although the second act slows down a bit, there is a great deal to
enjoy throughout, and literary kids will surely enjoy a subplot involving John Steinbeck.--Michael Cart
Cart, Michael
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
Cart, Michael. "The Pull of Gravity." Booklist, 1 June 2011, p. 82. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA259749649&it=r&asid=41b449dd71a7bb9e4a3e136b38b11db1. Accessed 12 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A259749649

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The Summer of Letting Go
Publishers Weekly.
260.52 (Dec. 23, 2013): p52.
COPYRIGHT 2013 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text: 
The Summer of Letting Go
Gae Polisner. Algonquin Young Readers, $16.95 (320p) ISBN 978-1-61620-256-9
Francesca Schnell goes by Frankie and has avoided the water ever since her brother drowned four years ago: But odd things are happening this
summer: she thinks her father's having an affair; she has a guilty crush on her best friend's new boyfriend; and she's hired to look after a
rambunctious four-year-old, also named Frankie, who loves the water. Not only does Frankie look like Francesca's brother, he also was born right
around the time of his death, and she can't help wondering if the two events are somehow linked. It makes sense that a grieving Francesca would
be sensitive to signs and portents, but Polisner (The Pull of Gravity) overemphasizes the coincidences, adding a distracting layer to an already
plot-heavy book. No device is necessary to explain the bond between the two Frankies, and the mysticism risks overshadowing the real story:
nearly-16-year-old Francesca's reentry into a wider life and the way it builds to a confrontation with the withdrawn but overprotective mother
who seems to blame Francesca for her brother's death. Ages 12-up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. (Mar.)
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Summer of Letting Go." Publishers Weekly, 23 Dec. 2013, p. 52+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA354858235&it=r&asid=10638df4aea0aefb477500b668088536. Accessed 12 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A354858235

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The Memory of Things
Publishers Weekly.
263.29 (July 18, 2016): p212.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text: 
The Memory of Things
Gae Polisner. St. Martin's Griffin, $18.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-250-09552-7
This somber yet hopeful novel from Polisner (The Summer of Letting Go) begins on the morning of September 11,2001, with her teenage
protagonist, Kyle Donahue, fleeing across the Brooklyn Bridge, worrying about his first-responder father, his mother who is flying home from
California, and his incapacitated uncle who needs his care. While on the bridge, Kyle runs into a girl covered in ash and wearing angel wings, and
takes her home. Referred to as "the girl" throughout most of the novel, due to her amnesia, her presence adds a dimension of mystery to this story.
As Polisner delves into one of the most emotionally wrenching days in modern American history, Kyle's narration gives a play-byplay-like
overview that's frequently interrupted by short, free-verse passages that reflect the girl's confused mental state. The tentative romantic feelings
that develop between Kyle and the girl read more like a detour than an integral aspect of the plot, but they underscore the uncertainty,
bewilderment, and grasped-for sense of connection during the immediate aftermath of the attacks. Ages 12-up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel &
Goderich Literary Management. (Sept.)
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Memory of Things." Publishers Weekly, 18 July 2016, p. 212+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA459287615&it=r&asid=47d0fca5cc08b1a881826c6f4df4377c. Accessed 12 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A459287615

Berkley-Cramer, Kazia. "The Memory of Things." The Horn Book Magazine, Nov.-Dec. 2016, p. 85+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA469755394&it=r. Accessed 12 June 2017. Amborski, Adrienne. "Polisner, Gae. The Memory of Things." Voice of Youth Advocates, Oct. 2016, p. 66. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA467831116&it=r. Accessed 12 June 2017. "Polisner, Gae H. The Pull of Gravity." Voice of Youth Advocates, June 2011, p. 171+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA259296276&it=r. Accessed 12 June 2017. "Polisner, Gae: THE PULL OF GRAVITY." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2011. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA256558885&it=r. Accessed 12 June 2017. "Polisner, Gae: THE MEMORY OF THINGS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA455212566&it=r. Accessed 12 June 2017. Lehner, Laura. "Polisner, Gae. The Summer of Letting Go." Voice of Youth Advocates, Feb. 2014, p. 64. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA424529675&it=r. Accessed 12 June 2017. "Polisner, Gae: THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2014. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA358424931&it=r. Accessed 12 June 2017. Cart, Michael. "The Pull of Gravity." Booklist, 1 June 2011, p. 82. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA259749649&it=r. Accessed 12 June 2017. "The Summer of Letting Go." Publishers Weekly, 23 Dec. 2013, p. 52+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA354858235&it=r. Accessed 12 June 2017. "The Memory of Things." Publishers Weekly, 18 July 2016, p. 212+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA459287615&it=r. Accessed 12 June 2017.

• Man of la Book
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  Word count: 479

  Man of la Book4 StarsBook Review: The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner
  Book Review: The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner
  Posted by Zohar - Man of la Book on May 4, 2016. 4 Stars, Fiction, Latest Posts - No Comments
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  About:
  The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner is a fictional book about two teenagers and their experience on September 11, 2001 and days afterwards. Ms. Polisner writes women fiction and young adult books.

  288 pages
  Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
  Language: English
  ISBN-10: 1250095522
  Buy The Memory of Things from Amazon.com*

  My rat­ing for The Memory of Things— 4
  Buy The Memory of Things from Amazon.com*
  More Books by Gae Polisner

  Thoughts:
  The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner is a fast, easy read but thought provoking nonetheless. The terrorist attack in New York City on 9/11/2001 changed America, America’s foreign policy and the world. A generation of kids is now growing up not knowing the profound effect this event had on the whole world.

  The author wrote a profound book which captures the helplessness against a great tragedy, but also the profound human relationships which can occur from such a tragedy. While 9/11 is in the background of the story the throughout the novel, it is not “about” 9/11 and the author manages, somehow, to steer clear of sensationalism or sappy narrative.

  As someone who lived, and witnessed, 911 I found this book to be an allegory to the loss of innocence of a nation, which spoke to me, in parallel to the loss of innocence of young adults. This book, an easy and immersive read, has something for everyone.

  Synopsis:
  Kyle Donohue, a 16 year old student at Stuyvesant High School, witness the first tower in the World Trade Center comes down on September 11, 2001. Kyle walks home with thousands of people across the Brooklyn Bridges when he sees a girl, suffering from amnesia, covered in ash and brings her home with him.

  Kyle’s father is a detective working in Ground Zero, his mother and sister are on a trip to California and he is taking care of his disabled uncle until the world calms down around him. All this while trying to figure out what to do with his new guest.

  Buy The Memory of Things from Amazon.com*
  More Books by Gae Polisner

  Zohar — Man of la Book
  Dis­claimer: I got this book for free
  *Ama­zon links point to an affil­i­ate account

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  Home / Blog / BOOK REVIEW: “The Memory of Things” by Gae Polisner

  BOOK REVIEW: “The Memory of Things” by Gae Polisner
  Kristin Downer September 5, 2016 Blog, Book Reviews, Books Leave a comment

  Title: The Memory of Things
  Author: Gae Polisner
  Publication: September 6, 2016
  Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
  Genre: YA Fiction
  Pages: 288

  The Memory of Things

  SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)

  The powerful story of two teenagers finding friendship, comfort, and first love in the days following 9/11 as their fractured city tries to put itself back together.

  On the morning of September 11, 2001, sixteen-year-old Kyle Donohue watches the first twin tower come down from the window of Stuyvesant High School. Moments later, terrified and fleeing home to safety across the Brooklyn Bridge, he stumbles across a girl perched in the shadows. She is covered in ash and wearing a pair of costume wings. With his mother and sister in California and unable to reach his father, a New York City detective likely on his way to the disaster, Kyle makes the split-second decision to bring the girl home. What follows is their story, told in alternating points of view, as Kyle tries to unravel the mystery of the girl so he can return her to her family. But what if the girl has forgotten everything, even her own name? And what if the more Kyle gets to know her, the less he wants her to go home? The Memory of Things tells a stunning story of friendship and first love and of carrying on with our day-to-day living in the midst of world-changing tragedy and unforgettable pain—it tells a story of hope.

  REVIEW:

  **A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

  September 11th will be a moment never forgotten in history. While it is one of the most tragic days in American history, there is so much more that happen behind the scenes on that fateful day. Families stressing about the return of family members, lives that had to continue even with everything happening. “The Memory of Things” by Gae Polisner is a look at that day from someone not in the heart of it.

  Kyle Donohue is running away from the attacks on the World Trade Center when he spots a girl with wings. Not real wings, but giant wings and she is covered in ash. Not wanting to leave her alone he convinces her to follow him home. From there we get a story of fear, friendship, and love of all kinds.

  I absolutely loved watching these two characters work out their own inner demons while dealing with more stress that any child, teenager, or adult should deal with. This book touched on so many things. It taught us about growing up, overcoming disabilities, working through tragedy, letting people in, and so much more. How Polisner was able to get so many life lessons into one book is extraordinary. The only part I didn’t like was the way the girls part was written. It was almost poetic, but I am not a huge fan of poetry. I enjoy it enough, but I don’t choose to read it. I’d rather it be read to me. So while that was not a huge deal, it took only a little away from the flow of the story. With that being said, I still truly enjoyed this story and found my emotions mirroring that of the characters and emotionally attached to some, like the uncle. It takes a good author to get the reader wrapped up like that.

  Anyone who wants an emotional, yet overwhelmingly good read should pick up “The Memory of Things” by Gae Polisner. I assure you that you will not be disappointed. Four out of five stars.

  “The Memory of Things” is available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You can also get it at your local bookstore on release day. Make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you finish. You can also check out more from author Gae Polisner by checking out her website HERE!

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• Vishy's Blog
  https://vishytheknight.wordpress.com/2016/09/11/book-review-the-memory-of-things-by-gae-polisner/
  Word count: 1039

  Book Review – The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner
  September 11, 2016 by Vishy
  One of the books that I eagerly awaited this year was Gae Polisner’s ‘The Memory of Things’. I loved Gae Polisner’s first two books ‘The Pull of Gravity‘ and ‘The Summer of Letting Go‘ and so couldn’t wait to read the new book. It came out this week and that is what I have been reading for the past few days. Here is what I think.

  image

  ‘The Memory of Things‘ is set on the day of 9/11 and the story continues during the subsequent days of that fateful week. It is a beautiful Tuesday morning and suddenly there is an explosion and initially people ignore it but when more explosions happen and everyone realizes what is happening, people start moving out of buildings. The narrator of our story, Kyle, is a teenager who is presently at school. Once the seriousness of the events become apparent, everyone from Kyle’s school gets evacuated and teachers try to get their students home. Kyle has to cross the bridge to get to Brooklyn, where his home is. He sees something strange at the bridge, which looks like a big bird. When he moves back and tries to take another look, he discovers that it is a girl, who is wearing huge wings. It appears that she might be trying to jump into the river. Kyle rushes and gets her and takes her home. She appears to have suffered temporary amnesia probably because of the shocking events of the day. She can’t even remember her name. We also learn that Kyle’s father and Uncle Paul are officers with the NYPD and are at Ground Zero, his other uncle Matt who used to be at the NYPD is paralyzed because of an accident and lives with them, while his mother and daughter are in LA for an audition.

  How does Kyle handle this situation? Who is this mysterious girl whom he feels responsible for but whom he also feels attracted to? Is Kyle able to reach his dad during this day filled with crisis? Is Kyle able to reach his mom? How does the story of each of them pan out? You should read the book to find out.

  I loved ‘The Memory of Things‘. I loved the way the book evoked the atmosphere of that time, the fear and uncertainty that followed the disastrous events and also the calm of the people who stood strong. It is a story of everyday heroes who stood strong amidst adversity and handled the situation with grace and dignity. I loved the way the relationship between Kyle and the girl evolved, from being uncertain strangers to friends to something more. I also loved the character of Uncle Matt – though he couldn’t walk or speak much he was a cool character and has a wonderful sense of humour. In one place he says – “Am pah-lyze, Ky-uh. Not brain … dead…” – I couldn’t stop laughing when I read that 🙂

  I loved the way the story is told, the narrative voices alternating between Kyle’s and the girl’s. Kyle’s voice narrates the story and moves the action along, while occasionally contemplating on life and the deeper meaning of things. The girl’s voice is poetic, dreamy, surreal. Both of them complement each other so beautifully. I liked some of the little things in the book that we discover when we look carefully – like this nod to Dickens – “it occurs to me that, in the middle of one of the worst things that has ever happened to me, is now also one of the best things.” The ending of the story is bittersweet but perfect. There is a note by the author at the end of the book in which she describes how she was inspired to write the book. It was beautiful to read.

  I loved many passages from the book. Polisner’s prose is beautiful and I couldn’t stop highlighting passages. Here are two of my favourites.

  “Well, it feels like that, Kyle, back there. Like I’m adrift, in soaking wet clothes that are too heavy with the weight of things I don’t even know. And then the water doesn’t drown me but carries me and, for a second it lightens everything a little, and I feel momentarily hopeful. But always, there are things, beneath the waves, threatening to pull me under. And the land is right there, close enough to swim to—I can see it—but I’m not sure I want to come back to shore again. It’s like I’m here, solid, but I’m not connected to anything. I’m completely untethered. I know that makes no sense,” she says.
  “It does,” I say, “I think I get it. But you’re wrong. You’re tethered to me.”

  Change comes in two ways. The first is the blindside way that comes without warning. Like Uncle Matt’s motorcycle accident. Or the Twin Towers collapsing one Tuesday morning as you’re minding your own business in school. Or a girl showing up out of nowhere, covered in ash, and wearing some costume wings.
  That kind of change takes your breath away.
  But other times, change comes gradually, in that sure, steady way you can sense coming a mile away.
  Or maybe a day away.
  Or, maybe, a few short hours.
  And, since you know it’s coming, you’re supposed to prepare. Brace yourself against the stinging blow. But just because you plant your feet wider, doesn’t mean the blow won’t take you down.

  I loved ‘The Memory of Things‘. It is a story about normal people handling extraordinary situations with great dignity and courage. It is also a story about friendship, love and family. It is one of my favourite books of the year. If you haven’t read it already, go get it now 🙂

  Have you read ‘The Memory of Things‘? What do think about it?

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