September 26, 2011
In his sophomore novel, Coffey (Snow Day) returns to smalltown Mattingly, Va., with a journey of self-discovery and hope. An angel named Old Man serves as a companion and guide for Andy Sommerville, but fails to prevent a brutal act that claims the life of a precious friend and leaves Andy badly burned. Regaining consciousness in the hospital, Andy feels abandoned by Old Man and also feels that nothing really matters any more until he opens up to a beautiful counselor named Elizabeth. He shares the secret of his angel and of 12 odd items the Old Man told him to store in a special box. Each of these apparently unrelated trinkets launches memories of choices and life lessons that combine to provide answers for Andy about his life’s purpose and why God allows suffering. Evoking the spirits of It’s a Wonderful Life, The Shack, and The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Coffey’s gentle storytelling, while not complex in plot or character development, does offer layers of humor, descriptive language, vivid imagery, and lots of wisdom.
Starred review from November 15, 2011
Andy Sommerville's best friend since childhood is an angel who has helped him through life's most difficult moments. The Old Man has also encouraged Andy to collect mementos from 12 people who cross his path over the years. But Andy's life is upended when his gas station is torched, leaving him badly burned. In the hospital, Andy awakes and becomes distraught when the Old Man informs him that he will no longer visit. Why has God abandoned Andy? But God has other plans when Elizabeth, a visitor whom Andy assumes is a counselor, stops by to talk with him. Taking the wooden box in which he had collected his mementos, Andy shares them--and their stories--with Elizabeth. With each object, the wounded Andy draws closer to reconnecting with God and his community. VERDICT The small-town charm and fully developed characters of Coffey's second novel will delight readers who loved Snow Day. Those who enjoyed William P. Young's The Shack for its spiritual themes will also revel in Andy's story. Likewise, fans of Max Lucado and Jill Marie Landis will appreciate the book's inspirational message and homespun feel.
Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.