Evening News

In Evening News, Marly Swick's affecting second novel, 9-year-old Teddy accidentally kills his baby half-sister, Trina, with their next-door neighbor's gun. Until the accident, the family had been happily living in sunny Southern California, Trina's father, Dan, teaching at a college, their mother, Giselle, back in school finishing up her B.A., Teddy adoring Trina. But her death ruins everything. Giselle wants what is left of the family to cling together, but Dan can't rise above blaming his stepson for his daughter's death, and Teddy can't help but feel that blame. Dan turns to support groups and self-help books for solace; Giselle takes to self-medicating with wine, beer and gin. Then Teddy's real father, who lives in Nebraska, sends for him. Luckily, Giselle is forced to follow.

Evening News captures both the ordinary and the extraordinary nature of sorrow. At one point, Giselle comes upon Trina's pink pacifier.

This element of ambush was the thing that she found hardest thing to take. Day after day you accustomed yourself to the dull, lulling ache of loss. But nothing could accustom you to the sneak attacks, the sudden brutal trip-wire--a pacifier, the knitted bootie stuck between sofa cushions--that set off a fresh explosion of grief.

--Katherine Alberg