Julieanne Gillis writes advice for the local newspaper. Everyone says she's good at her job, and she believes it, too. So it's a great shock when her life inexplicably falls apart. Her husband disappears on a "sabbatical" from their marriage shortly before Julie learns she suffers from a debilitating illness.

Faced with her disease and raising three kids, two of them teenagers and the youngest not even in school yet, the future looks dubious at best. Julie is forced to rely on those close to her and a strength she didn't know she had in order to push forward.

In this unapologetic family drama, Mitchard presents a very human look at the turning point of one woman's life. The story is told from both Julie, and her son Gabe's points of view. Each has a unique voice that adds depth and color to the experience. The reader is made to feel as though both Julie and Gabe are there telling the story in person.

The conversational style of narration may not be comfortable for some readers, whereas readers with short attention spans may be riveted as the mother and son meander from point to point. Ultimately, this technique reveals more layers than a more straightforward approach, and the characters grow into real people.

The Breakdown Lane looms true-to-life as the author refuses to pull punches. This is an emotional journey heavy with tragedy, but the end result is an understated "Wow."

-C.W.
05/04/2006

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