Once Upon a Day by Lisa Tucker, 342 pages

"Nineteen years ago, a famous filmmaker disappeared from Los Angeles, taking his two children, Dorothea and Jimmy, to a desolate corner of New Mexico. There he raised them in complete isolation without television, computer, radio - not even a newspaper. Now, at twenty-three, Dorothea leaves in search of her missing brother - and ventures into the outside world for the first time. Her search becomes an odyssey of discovery when Dorothea meets Stephen Spaulding, a cab driver dealing with his own mysterious history. With him as her guide, Dorothea uncovers the truth of her family's past and the terrifying day that changed her father forever. Together, they have a chance to discover that although a heart can be broken by the tragic events of a day, a day can also bring a new chance at love and a deeper understanding of life's infinite possibilities." -Back Cover

**SPOILER ALERT**

This book reminded me of The Lovely Bones, which, coincidentally, is referenced in this book though not by name. I've never had anything really tragic happen in my life, but it seems to me that tragedy builds you or it breaks you, but it never leaves you the same. I find that I am so sympathetic towards Charles Keenan, the father, especially after learning about his own father. With all the mistakes he made he was a good father. He loves Lucy, passionately and obsessively, and he loves his children deeply. Lucy is so brave on that fateful day, but Charles is just unable to deal with what happened to her He feels guilty. He feels angry. He feels helpless. He feels probably exactly how I would feel if I were in his position. Then you get this potent combination of repression and suffocation and as a result two people who truly loved each other grow apart, both unable to cope - or coping in destructive ways. It was really hard to "watch"!

Charles takes the children away after pleading with Lucy to give up her acting career and spend more time with her children as she, in turn, spirals into drug addiction. The way he raises his children over the course of nineteen years is complicated. I really believe that what he does he does out of love.

I like Dorothea's innocence and her curiosity about the world when she finally leaves home and Stephen Spaulding is probably the perfect character for her to meet. I also like how the author takes you back and forth in time, giving you bits and pieces of the back story until you know the whole story. I don't like how many times she uses the "F" word. (I finally had to get a ballpoint pen and scribble them out.)

Basically, my feelings about this book are that it's heartbreaking that one day caused so much tragedy and heartache. The story ends with forgiveness. I'm left feeling exactly like I did in The Lovely Bones - so sad for these people's past and yet so hopeful for their future.