Review: Tiny Infinities

Tiny Infinities… oh…this book was a good book to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have to admit, that Harriet’s propensity for spouting facts reminded me a lot of my boy. 🙂 Tiny Infinities is about Alice and her struggles with a divorcing family, a troubled mother, a drive to be on Team A of the swim team, a new friend and… the neighbours next door.

All of these issues are hard for a young lady to handle, so she manages what she can…by living in a large tent in her backyard. Perhaps if she lives there long enough her dad will come back home. Her new friend Harriet is a bit of an odd character and her neighbours struggle with an active toddler and a daughter who isn’t quite right. Events unfold which cause Alice to realize some important truths about herself and the people in her life. She struggles to do what is right even when it seems that nothing will be right again.

I loved seeing Alice’s determination. I loved her kindliness toward everyone. The author conveyed her anger and disappointment over the situation with her parents well, her love of her family was very apparent. Her concern for all the people in her life, 12 year old Alice was alert to their needs. Her mother was well… not the most pleasant person. Accident or not, pain or not… she wasn’t the most pleasant person and was unfair to Alice.. so be aware of this.

My Thoughts:

I honestly didn’t expect much when I started reading it. By the time I was in chapter two I was hooked. Alice’s troubles seemed surmountable, but what hooked me was Harriet. Her character just fascinated me and continued to do so throughout the book. One of the things I loved about the book was that everyone learned something and became the better for it. It wasn’t all roses and sunshine at the end of the book, it was real life living. But changes of perspective and learning how to manage yourself better… Good stuff to be found here. I recommend you read it. 🙂

Tiny Infinities
J.H. Diehl
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Chronicle Books
360 pages, softcover, ages 10+
Middle School, Special Needs, Divorce, Swimming

Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Where to find: Amazon Link.