The Art of Crash Landing

Author: Melissa DeCarlo
Publisher: Harper
Genre: Women’s Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-06-239054-7
Pages: 432
Price: $15.99

Mattie hasn’t got a clue what to do, now that she’s homeless and pregnant with no one but her stepfather to turn to. But when she arrives on his doorstep, he informs her that her grandmother in Gandy, Oklahoma has passed away and left everything to her. On a whim, she drives to Gandy to collect her money, and discovers her inheritance will take a few months to process. But, since her aged Malibu’s transmission has died, she’s stuck there for at least as long as it takes to get fixed. And since she’s flat broke, that may be a while.

As Mattie gets to know the town people, she learns more about her mother’s earlier years. Mattie only knows her as a broken alcoholic who kept making a mess of her life, but now she finds out her mother was once a talented girl with a bright future. But something happened that changed her, forcing her to flee town.

Mattie sees only heartbreak and struggle in her own life, which has mirrored her mother’s in many ways. In solving the mystery of what really happened to her mother, she believes she may find her own way. Learning the secret will finally give her peace and the motivation to start over again.

I really loved Mattie and found her story immensely compelling. Although she sees herself as trailer trash, she’s a warm-hearted girl who’s just made some really bad decisions in life. It’s so nice to see her grow through her discoveries and turn her life around. The Art of Crash Landing is funny and heart-warming, and I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger