After I read a few pages of MAKING HEARTS, I was reminded of Ian McEwan‘s NUTSHELL. Both stories are narrated by an unborn child who is aware of what is going on around her/him and her/his mother. But MAKING HEARTS‘ baby is soon born and continues narrating the story from the perspective of a newborn. As in NUTSHELL, MAKING HEARTS' baby, Noelle, makes judgments and knows more than is possible. But Noelle does insist that babies are more aware than adults realize. And I suppose that is possible.

After Noelle is born, she is so intent on making her mother’s family love her that she smiles at them even before she is a day old. Although her 17-year-old unwed mother is not so easily won over, HER mother, Mama, is.

Then a custody battle ensues. And we see all from the perspective of a helpless baby who turns out to be not so helpless.

I received a copy of MAKING HEARTS From the author.