Dear Edward, “written by Ann Napolitano, is a deeply emotional novel that explores grief, survival, and the difficult process of rebuilding a life after unimaginable tragedy.
Published in 2020, the book follows twelve-year-old Edward Adler, the sole survivor of a devastating plane crash that kills 191 people, including his parents and older brother. While the premise is heartbreaking, the novel ultimately becomes a story about resilience, connection, and the quiet ways people help one another heal.
The fact that Edward is the sole survivor of the plane crash somewhere over Colorado is difficult to imagine, but I did read that the author got the idea after hearing of a similar incident where one boy survived a crash. Even so, it’s a bit of a mind-bender and makes for a great novel, imagining the aftermath for that sole survivor.
Edward and his family are moving to L.A. from New York City, where his mother got a job as a screenwriter. The move will be good for advancing his mother Jane’s career, and Bruce, their father, is a math professor who was just denied tenure. He is close to his boys and has homeschooled them while living in New York.
The author does a good job showing the emotional toll on Edward, attempting to cope with the aftermath of such a tragedy. The story focuses on the small, intimate details of grief. Edward’s pain feels authentic as he struggles not only with the trauma of the crash but also with survivor’s guilt and the pressure of becoming a public symbol of tragedy. His journey toward rediscovering purpose is gradual and believable, making his emotional growth especially moving.
The novel alternates chapters between Edward’s life after the crash and scenes aboard the doomed flight a few hours before the disaster occurs. These flashbacks bring several of the actual passengers killed to life and create a personal experience through Edward’s eyes. Readers come to know the hopes, fears, and relationships of the people on the plane, which makes the tragedy feel more personal and impactful.
After the crash, Edward moves in with his childless aunt and uncle, Lacey and John. Lacey is his mother’s sister, who has suffered several miscarriages. They try hard to cope with Edward’s sadness and emotional withdrawal due to the sudden changes in his life.
A difficult period comes when all of his family’s belongings, being shipped to L.A., arrive at his Aunt & Uncle’s home. As part of his healing process, he begins wearing selected pieces of his brother Jordan’s clothing, who was 15 years old. He and Jordan were very close, and Edward thought they shared everything, but he was surprised when a secret about Jordan was revealed to him months after the crash.
He becomes friends and bonds with a spirited girl named Shay, who is their neighbor. She is instrumental in helping Edward heal and adjust to his altered life without his brother and parents. Their quirky friendship is a major part of the novel, and she becomes a lifeline for Edward.
It’s not until near the end of the novel that the title of the book makes sense. Without giving it away, you will just need to read this book to find out what it means!
At its core, Dear Edward is a story about survival. The novel resonates because it acknowledges that recovery is never simple or complete, yet life can still contain beauty and meaning after loss.
