The Last Amendment

by T.A. Miller

A well-choreographed terrorist attack thrusts the United States into depression, yet partisan gridlock in Washington will not relent, dashing any hope of recovery. With nothing to lose, retiring Representative Bart Scattercorn makes a radical last-ditch suggestion: permanently divide the country by ideology so that freedom might survive. To his surprise, and eventual lament, the notion takes root and a constitutional amendment is drafted which raises two entirely new nations - one purely conservative, one purely liberal - from America's ashes. From the midst of all this comes the diary of Bart's granddaughter Bee. A childhood illness cost Bee her hearing but left her with perception far beyond human understanding. Bee's journal entries, along with poignant letters to and from her famous grandfather, combine to chronicle not only the search for meaning in Bee's mysterious ability, but also the hopes and dangers of this second (perhaps not-so-unlikely) American revolution.

154 pages, Paperback

Published September 7, 2016

Reviews

[Scott Dial · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting of this story spans about twenty years. I don't know if the author was trying to create a challenge or if he just got bored with speeches, but the entire story is told by the entries in a girl's diary, and her correspondence with her Grandfather, her father, and the correspondence between the two men. I was a little disappointed with how the story ultimately played out, but the author absolutely nailed the persona. The girl, Bee, is about five years old at the beginning of the story and the reader is witness to her emerging maturity and intellect just from her improving grammar and growing vocabulary.

Due to an illness, she loses her hearing completely. The author adds little details, here and there that most likely will only be noticed by deaf people. It made me wonder if the author might be deaf. Little observations like the time her office is participating in a camping retreat and her Boss carries a lantern when he goes to visit with her after dark. The entry in her diary noted that he brought the lantern to illuminate his face, so she can read his lips easier. The author does a great job of keeping that portion of the story believable