The lives of three women; a teen deeply affected by modern-day cyber-bullying, an early twentieth century Irish immigrant servant girl, and a middle aged archivist, are spun together in a story that transcends time. Moore’s ability to craft a meaningful and poignant story, while developing characters that seem to speak directly to the reader on so many levels, is astounding. I have not been so transfixed by a book in a long, long time. Upon finishing So Far Away I immediately special ordered a copy of her previous novel, The Arrivals!

Set in both modern day and early twentieth century Newburyport, Massachusetts, as well as modern day Boston, the three characters’ lives intersect and interweave in ways that are both exciting and emotionally moving. These are three women I actually LIKED and could relate to, which is rare. Even the teenaged character, Natalie, is able to speak to the reader in ways that make her both believable as a teen; with emotions, thoughts, and responses that actually seem to emanate from a young woman. This is such an amazing talent for a writer to have. It is striking how she is able to speak in all three voices authentically and give honor to each.

But enough talk of what a great writer Meg Mitchell Moore is…this is a just a great novel! Natalie, 13, uncovers a dusty notebook in her basement and undertakes the task of attempting to discover who the mysterious writer of the crumbling journal was and why it was in her cellar! She must do this while coping with her parents’ divorce, her mom’s debilitating depression, and constant cyber-bullying from her peers. Natalie seeks out the help of a stranger, Kathleen Lynch, a fifty-something year old historian, working in the Massachusetts’Archives, to help her turn the journal into a meaningful school project. The third character, Bridget, plays out through the journal itself. Written almost a century before, the notebook details her life as a new immigrant from Ireland who has come to Massachuestts to be in service to a wealthy North Shore family.

Great writing and a well thought out story----read it!!!