In Shaker Heights, everything is planned. From the layout of its roads, the colors of the homes themselves, to the placement of the grocery stores, this progressive suburb which attracts up and coming residents who lead successful lives. The Richardsons exemplify the type of people who live there: white, progressive liberals, with two incomes and active, smart, school age children. In fact Mrs. Richardson has lived there all her life and embodies its ethos which is to follow the rules.
One day Elena meets Mia Warren and her daughter Pearl, who have just moved to the area and are looking for a place to live. Elena decides they would be perfect tennats for the rental house they own. Soon Mia and Pearl are integrated into the life of the Richardson family with Mia doing some housekeeping at the Richardson home and Mia becoming friends with the Richardson children. But Mia embodies a very different lifestyle than Shaker Heights or the Richardsons. As an artist with a past that she seems reticent to talk about, Mia works only part time so that she can work on her art which is her real vocation.
Then some friends of the Richardsons decide to adopt a Chinese American baby who was abandoned at the local fire house. The mother, a young Chinese woman with no language ability and no money had in desparartion and despair abandoned the baby, but after a few weeks of support and medical care regretted her decision and wanted to take her baby back. A terrible custody battle ensues dividing the town of Shaker Heights and putting Elena and Mia on opposing sides. Elena grows obsessed with Mia’s motives in supporting the mother of the baby and decides to investigate Mia’s background with devastating and unforeseen consequences.
This is a powerful book about the nature of secrets, the tenacious strength of motherhood, the ability of art to capture the essence of soul, and most importantly that following the rules does not immunize you from disaster.
Brenda’s Rating: ***** (5 Out Of 5 Stars)
Recommend this Book to: Keith, Marian, Lauren and Sharon
Book Study Worthy? YES!
Read in ebook format
Brenda's Bookshelf 
Brenda, I read this book in January last year and found it to be an engaging book. In my file of “books read” each year I write only two lines for each book. About this book I wrote, “The writing style was not outstanding, but it was an interesting story of family relationship and important issues well told.”
I wouldn’t give it five stars (of course, I rarely give any book five stars), but it certainly was well worth reading.
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