Whale Harbor by Mary Beth Keane

WHALE HARBOR by Mary Beth Keane (Ask Again, Yes) is a very well-written work of historical fiction which spans several decades and continents to tell a story based on her own family history. Keane begins in rural Ireland in the 1960s and transports readers to Montana and New York and back to Ireland as she relates the life stories of eleven brothers. Poverty, alcoholism, and family deaths each play a part as the brothers are forced to separate by tragedy. Close ties, cultural influences (“[Consider] the parable of the loaves and the fishes. What was faith but knowing things would turn out all right in the end?”), and the guilt when one brother runs away and disappears are all beautifully portrayed (“They'd never have enough time. They'd never have enough money. They'd never say the perfect thing or react the right way. None of them, not one person on Earth, has ever done this before. Whoever knew what they were doing, what was best, until after the fact?”). Keane excels at describing pivotal moments and relating the impact of others’ kindness. WHALE HARBOR received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. Highly recommended.