THE SULLIVAN SISTERS

The Sullivan sisters grapple with learning the truth about their parents—and themselves.

Eileen, Claire, and Murphy were once close, despite the death of their father and the struggles of their single mom, as demonstrated in the sweet opening chapter, set 7 years earlier, in which they build a huge blanket fort. Now, in a small town in current-day Oregon, the girls are growing apart and their mother is checked out. Eighteen-year-old Eileen struggles with alcohol, 17-year-old Claire is devastated by a college rejection, and 14-year-old Murphy just wants to regain the magic of her childhood—and bury the family turtle that died from her neglect. When Eileen receives word that they have inherited a house from their father’s brother, a man she never knew existed, she heads out of town to investigate. Despite Eileen’s wishes, Claire and Murphy join in the adventure. Soon, the girls learn that the castlelike house holds the key to disturbing family secrets. Despite this jarring plot twist, this outstanding story features three memorable characters, the right amount of suspense, and a vivid rendering of the complexities of sisterly love. Claire is gay, an element of her identity that is woven naturally into the story; she connects with a Vietnamese American lesbian who provides her with a valuable role model and who is pivotal in the denouement. The girls are white and Irish American.

Absorbing and satisfying.