A fascinating new novel ... Avalon, Rise doesn’t care if its characters do the precisely correct thing. As a result, it achieves the rare feat of having a distinct sense of right and wrong, without ever becoming preachy or heavy-handed. It becomes an exploration of how confusing and hard it is to be good ... ffitch is uncommonly good at writing, tenderly but without sentimentality, about people who both adore their children and make colossal errors in raising them ... ffitch tells a layered, sophisticated story that expresses a clear, ethical point of view without hammering readers on the head. Not many novels do this successfully ... A remarkable book.
Unfolds the fates of family and friendship when ordinary people are dragooned into political action. Ms. ffitch does not conceal her personal sympathies—it’s safe to assume she is not on the side of the white supremacists—but she isn’t preachy. Her complicated story reflects the cacophony of a town where everyone has their own idea of what is right.
...ffitch imbues her second novel with sorrowful humor, insight and a little trepidation. Yes, her crunchy granola people can be ridiculous, but even at their messiest, their hearts are in the right place. Avalon, Rise is a humane and timely work that you’ll remember.
