Well-written but predictable, Alice McDermott’s “Child of My Heart” charts a Long Island summer when a precocious teen, collector of broken things, crosses the threshold of adulthood.

Growing up an only child on a part of Long Island which seems to have only summer people and their assorted young offspring in it, Theresa babysits, walks dogs, comforts the emotionally neglected neighbor kids, and opens her heart especially to her cousin Daisy, the middle child of seven siblings, whose fey presence immediately sets up an internal tension. The events of the summer’s end advance inexorably, and some readers will drag their feet in an attempt to avoid what has been foreordained from the very beginning.

Theresa is also walking another tightrope – fifteen and beautiful, she attracts the attention of more than one of the adult males on the island, and here is where the story drifts into deep and uncomfortable waters. Theresa seems preternaturally aware of her own sexuality, neither encouraging nor discouraging her lecherous elder suitors, handling their attentions and her responses to them with an almost clinical detachment. The growing attraction between the teen and a 70-year-old artist is, frankly, uncomfortable to read, though the actions are never described in anything but G-rated terms.

Theresa is so capable with her young charges, so level-headed, so tenderly attentive to Daisy, that she is scarcely believable as a real teen. Beautifully written, yes – and the characteristics McDermott endows her with are absolutely critical to the unfolding of the plot. But there are moments when the reader wants her to simply break loose and BE fifteen years old – moon over a local boy, listen to pop radio, consider her shortcomings in a mirror, and daydream about what she will do when she grows up. That’s all irrelevant to the story McDermott is determined to tell, so it’s simply not addressed.

There are some chewy notions in here – child neglect that doesn’t always depend on physical violence; the dangerous waters of burgeoning sexuality that borders on pedophilia; an adult society that is parallel to but not really involved with its young – but most of it gets buried under McDermott’s portrait of a not-quite-woman shouldering the cloak of the Maiden Goddess. ( )

Sweetly told---I just wish the book had continued a little further. ( )

Her books are psychologically very difficult, exploring many different aspects of childhood and parenting. I think it takes two or three readings to begin to understand her messages. I found this to be one of her more straight forward works. Her novels are not page turners, they force you to reflect on your own childhood and upbringing. ( )

I first read this in high school and recently re-read it after seeing it was on Nancy Pearl's Book Lust. A beautifully written story but for some reason I was thinking it was about something else...I love her characters and use of words! I love the relationship between the two cousins despite all their differences. Artist reminds me of Picasso. ( )

Sweet, compelling, innocent... and a very, very good story. The main character reminds me of a good friend! ( )