Piece of Mind

Adelman’s debut novel is a moving story of grief, resilience, and self-actualization. Since suffering a traumatic brain injury at the age of three, Lucy has felt misunderstood by her peers. She prefers to spend time with animals, drawing them with unusual skill and empathy. At 27, Lucy feels like she is simply existing rather than living: she resides with her father in her suburban childhood home outside Manhattan and has fallen into a complacent routine. But when her father dies unexpectedly, Lucy is forced to leave a familiar life behind and move into her younger brother’s studio apartment in New York City, where she is thrown into a series of unfamiliar circumstances that lead her to discover her strength. As Lucy becomes more self-aware, she begins to better understand those around her, most poignantly her brother, whom she previously imagined to be perfect. Adelma fully inhabits Lucy’s voice, and the resulting tale is as realistic as it is uplifting. (Feb.)