Highly Recommended

True confession: I picked up this book at Barnes & Noble to give to a friend. But as I sat in the Children's Book Section, thumbing through while the twins played at the train table, I knew I would have to find her another gift. I was hooked.

Peace Like a River is probably being massacred by high school English teachers and Freshman Reading TA's everywhere, because it is full of symbolism and themes and motifs. Leif Enger writes like a poet. Every sentence is a song. And, if you're like me, and just reading for pleasure instead of your GPA, you notice and enjoy the depth but don't have to pay much attention. The story of two motherless children, their miraculous father and their search for an outlaw older brother is captivating enough.

And now, I'm going to tie a ribbon around it and deliver it to my friend. A few days late for her birthday, but still a really great gift.