Harmony (Parkhurst)

Book Reviews
In Parkhurst’s deft treatment, Harmony becomes a story of our time, a compassionate treatise on how society judges parents, how parents judge themselves and how desperation sometimes causes otherwise rational people to choose irrational lives.... Parkhurst cements herself as a writer capable of astonishing humanity and exquisite prose, someone whose wisdom parents and their judges should heed.
Washington Post


Propulsive.... Everything from the parents’ desperation to the camp’s creepy vibe feels vividly real, and this provocative page-turner also invites important, broader conversations about autism.
People


[F]amily bonds, modern-day parenting, and the the foundations of cult-like groups, all with nuance and a liberal dose of dark humor.... Parkhurst’s memorable tale features a complex cast of characters and a series of conundrums with no easy answers. Book-discussion groups will be particularly interested in the tale’s numerous deftly explored gray areas.
Publishers Weekly


Narrated by the three female members of the family in alternating chapters that jump back and forth in time, the story maintains an air of suspense.... This blend of literary fiction and domestic suspense is an ideal choice for book clubs. —Laurie Cavanaugh, Thayer P.L., Braintree, MA
Library Journal


(Starred review.) From the first sentences of this unusual and compelling novel...pages turn with the momentum of an emotional thriller.... The characters go straight to your heart. Brilliant, funny, and beautiful monologues that show how deeply Parkhurst understands what she’s writing about. Suspenseful, moving, and full of inspiration and insight about parenting a child with autism.
Kirkus Reviews