Book Review: “The Parker Inheritance” by Varian Johnson
“The Parker Inheritance” by Varian Johnson (2018)
Genre: Mystery, Middle-Grade, Historical Fiction
Page Length: 331 pages (hardcover edition)
Synopsis:
The letter waits in a book, in a box, in an attic, in an old house in Lambert, South Carolina. It’s waiting for Candice Miller.
When Candice finds the letter, she isn’t sure she should read it. It’s addressed to her grandmother, after all, who left Lambert in a cloud of shame. But the letter describes a young woman named Siobhan Washington. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding the letter-writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle. Grandma tried and failed. But now Candice has another chance.
So with the help of Brandon Jones, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues in the letter. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert’s history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter’s promise before the summer ends?
Review:
This novel hands-down is one of the top favorite reads of 2023. I loved so many aspects of this novel, but what really pulled me in was piecing together the mystery intertwined in the plot. Set during the summertime, the novel follows two kids, Brandon and Candice, who become fast friends as they solve a puzzle that leads to a large fortune. Both find a kindred spirit in each other over a shared love of reading.
Brandon struggles with his best friend leaving for the summer and being ostracized by the neighborhood kids. Candice is dealing with her parents’ divorce and being away from her hometown for the summer. Their friendship bond grows over the course of the story, and it was so heartwarming to see them be there for each other in difficult times.
The Parker Inheritance is rich with history inspired by real people, places, and events. I appreciated how the novel seamlessly shifts from the past to the present which helps the readers connect the dots (of the mystery). It was such an immersive reading experience and Johnson’s writing is detailed giving the novel a heavy dose of realism. It’s a novel that opens a larger discussion about American history and a reckoning with our past.
The novel is a great read for its intended reading audience (middle-grade) and other ages as well. It was multilayered without being too overwhelming and discusses many topics such as racism, homophobia, sexism, and more. The characters were very relatable which allows the reader to connect to the story and emphasizes the power of reading and how it can bring people together.
Final Verdict:
