What We Thought: The Last Child by John Hart

Who is the last child? The book club discussion of The Last Child by John Hart focused on 13-year-old Johnny Merriman’s dedication to the search for his missing twin sister Alyssa. His mother’s love for Johnny and how the recent tragic circumstances of her life interfered with the care of her son was another important part of the family’s story. Her missing daughter and the subsequent disappearance of her husband, which led to the loss of her family home, contributed to an unfortunate and toxic relationship with a former boyfriend and town bully.

The members were not very understanding of how the mother could have become dependent on drugs and alcohol, but then they came to the realization that people cannot truly know how they might deal with a horrific situation unless they have direct experience with it. Material things and attachments drop away until all that matters is love.

Johnny is by far the strongest character; he searches for his sister and takes care of his mother above all else. His mother becomes a heroine when she defies her abusive boyfriend to protect her son.

Book club members endorsed this book. All agreed that that Johnny’s story is profoundly enlightening despite the fate of Johnny’s twin Alyssa.

Have you read this book? What did you think? Please feel free to add your comments to the discussion...

This Month's Selection: The Last Child by John Hart

The Afternoon Readers Book Club will discuss The Last Child by John Hart on Tuesday, November 12, at 1:00 p.m.

 

Read along with the group and add your thoughts to the discussion in the comments!

From the publisher:

John Hart’s New York Times bestselling debut, The King of Lies, announced the arrival of a major talent. With Down River, he surpassed his earlier success, transcending the barrier between thriller and literature and winning the 2008 Edgar Award for best novel. Now, with The Last Child, he achieves his most significant work to date, an intricate, powerful story of loss, hope, and courage in the face of evil.

Thirteen year-old Johnny Merrimon had the perfect life: a warm home and loving parents; a twin sister, Alyssa, with whom he shared an irreplaceable bond. He knew nothing of loss, until the day Alyssa vanished from the side of a lonely street. Now, a year later, Johnny finds himself isolated and alone, failed by the people he’d been taught since birth to trust. No one else believes that Alyssa is still alive, but Johnny is certain that she is---confident in a way that he can never fully explain.

Determined to find his sister, Johnny risks everything to explore the dark side of his hometown. It is a desperate, terrifying search, but Johnny is not as alone as he might think. Detective Clyde Hunt has never stopped looking for Alyssa either, and he has a soft spot for Johnny. He watches over the boy and tries to keep him safe, but when Johnny uncovers a dangerous lead and vows to follow it, Hunt has no choice but to intervene.

Then a second child goes missing . . .