Radiant, rigorous, heart-rending ... It is a testament to Christensen’s storytelling talent that the book’s sense of suspense is nonetheless acute ... I will never forget Simone or the lodestar that is Firstborn.
Touching ... It is in the painful, detailed events of Simone’s death in her mother’s womb and the wrenching decision to terminate the pregnancy...that Christensen’s spare, sometimes glancing style serves so well.
Powerful and beautifully written ... Although the telling is straightforward and factual, it is also satisfyingly meditative, delving into complex feelings and histories ... The page-turning tracing of actuality in Firstborn is a treasure for readers, as we navigate difficult passages of our own, whatever their nature.
An important record of a loss longing to be told. Transforming Simone’s experience into words, Christensen has created art that will undoubtedly offer comfort to others.
