An unputdownable story about the strength of love, the bonds of family, and how you survive the unthinkable.
How far will a mother go to save her family?
The Hammond family is living in Washington DC, where everything seems to be going just fine, until it becomes clear that the oldest daughter, Tilly – a mix of off-the-charts genius and social incompetence – is on the autistic spectrum. Once Tilly is kicked out of the last school in the area, her mother Alexandra is at her wits’ end. The family turns to Camp Harmony and the wisdom of child behaviour guru Scott Bean for a solution. But what they discover in the woods of New Hampshire will push them to the very limit.
How far will a mother go to save her family?
The Hammond family is living in Washington DC, where everything seems to be going just fine, until it becomes clear that the oldest daughter, Tilly – a mix of off-the-charts genius and social incompetence – is on the autistic spectrum. Once Tilly is kicked out of the last school in the area, her mother Alexandra is at her wits’ end. The family turns to Camp Harmony and the wisdom of child behaviour guru Scott Bean for a solution. But what they discover in the woods of New Hampshire will push them to the very limit.
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Reviews
Suspenseful, moving, and full of inspiration and insight
Parkhurst cements herself as a writer capable of astonishing humanity and exquisite prose
Propulsive . . . Everything from the parents' desperation to the camp's creepy vibe feels vividly real, and this provocative page-turner also invites important, broader conversations about autism.
Gorgeously written and patently original
Darkly funny and suspenseful, with a palpable sense of dread that propels readers toward anticipatory horror . . . [Parkhurst] writes Tilly profoundly, as an audacious girl fascinated by a world that will not bend to her.
Deeply honest, heartbreakingly funny . . . a novel of deep compassion
[A] gripping, timely novel
The perfect blend of humor, suspense, and compassion . . . absolutely riveting
[Parkhurst's] terrific prose is matched by compassion and a sense of humor . . . the beautifully written Harmony is her best work, a haunting, creepy but ultimately moving story of love and family
Parkhurst confounds expectations. If this novel is part Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time and part We Need to Talk About Kevin, it also contains shades of Lord of the Flies. For this, young Iris is the perfect narrator . . . A fascinating novel, at once challenging and compassionate, thrilling and thoughtful. It asks tough questions about what happens to people who don't fit predetermined patterns, and what it means to be normal
A moving and compassionate literary dive straight into the heart of a frantic parent. . . shatteringly immediate. . . touchingly real.
Parkhurst writes movingly and with real compassion . . . [she] effortlessly manages to mix difficult social questions with riveting storytelling