In 1967, the Lucas family, living in a remote corner of northern Wisconsin, is brutalized by their alcoholic father. Their neighbors, Rosemary and Ernie Morriseau, watch and offer a safe haven for the two boys: James and Bill. When James enlists at age seventeen and goes to Vietnam, nine-year-old Billy has only the protection of a turtle-shell shield and a wooden sword to keep him from harm. It will be a long and fraught journey to manhood for the sensitive Billy.

What a marvelous debut! Ellis writes with grace and style. She alternates point of view between Ernie, Rosemary, Claire, James and Billy, featuring a different narrator from chapter to chapter. In this way we learn dribs and drabs of the whole story, exploring the ways that personalities are formed or twisted, how a character can be broken and heal, how a marriage can survive or dissolve.

I loved Ernie and Rosemary; their quiet strength and willingness to continue offering support and refuge despite the many times they were turned down showed their sterling character.

And Billy … poor, innocent, damaged Billy. Trying to make sense of the senseless. Yearning for love and attention from people incapable of giving it. Many a time I worried he would be as lost as his brother and father, would succumb to the rage and fear. Powerless to lash out at those who hurt him, he follows his father’s path towards alcoholism. And yet …

Some wounds leave scars, and even faded scars are reminders of the pain. If we are lucky those reminders keep us focused on the positive and help us work to ensure we don’t cause wounds on ourselves or others. There are some horrific scenes in this book, and it is an emotionally difficult read. But the reader who can get through the horror will be rewarded with a hopeful ending. ( )

this is beautiful and a really lovely debut novel from this writer. i felt a few things didn't ring true here or there and i thought she made some unusual point of view choices, but the writing is more than solid and the tone of the book is perfect. she handles changes in time and perspective well, and writes pretty convincingly in 5 distinct voices (plus the omniscient narrator). i'm impressed with her even as i didn't love everything about this, and my overall feeling is one of wanting more from her. ( )

Splendid fiction, painful family life, gripping narrative. ( )