A Calamity of Souls

This novel is both poignant and inspiring as well as superbly written by David Baldacci. It rang true to me from my own experience growing up in Texas during the 1960s and 1970s in a small city where my school was finally integrated in 1971 when I began 8th grade. Novels rarely invoke the immediate reflection and honest self-appraisal that I experienced while reading this masterpiece. It saddens me to acknowledge how vital the underlying truths of this novel are to our current societal divisions and inequities, particularly our blind acceptance of underlying biases, bitterness, and fears. Above all, this book eloquently illustrates the damage to our minds, hearts, and souls caused by unquestioned hatred toward those whom we perceive as different from ourselves. Mr. Baldacci's mastery in presenting ambivalence and the inherent risks of seeking societal justice and empathic relationships created a novel that I would recommend to all readers.