Who by Fire

July 14, 2008
In her affecting debut, Spechler raises the question of whether, in rescuing others, we risk ruining ourselves. Thirteen years after the abduction of youngest child Alena at the age of six, the remaining members of the Kellerman family are still deeply damaged by their shared loss. The irresponsible oldest daughter, Bits, seeks out random sexual encounters with near strangers to fill the voids in her life. Son Ash, meanwhile, dabbles in a variety of compulsive behaviors before settling on Orthodox Judaism, cutting himself off from the rest of the family and moving to Jerusalem. The mother, Ellie, enlists the help of a charismatic stranger to help save Ash from what she views as a cult, and when Alena's remains are discovered, Bits determines to bring Ash home for their sister's long-overdue memorial service. Told in alternating chapters by Bits, Ellie and Ash, the narrative is notable in large part for how little these family members actually interact with one another despite the drama that confronts them all. Though the ending is overly tidy, Spechler's debut raises provocative questions about religion, violence and the resilience of families and individuals.

September 1, 2008
Spechler situates her first novel 13 years after the disappearance of six-year-old Alena Kellerman. The narrative explores the aftermath of Alena's probable abduction and murder, revealing the coping mechanisms each family member assumes to escape survivor guilt and grief. The father's eventual abandonment of the family only heightens their loss. Bits, Alena's older sister, pursues a promiscuous path in Boston, while brother Ash is attracted to all manner of dogma. Raised a liberal Jew, he is eventually led to Orthodox Judaism, a move his mother, Ellie, likens to joining a cult. The story begins not long after Ash has renounced his family and traveled to Jerusalem to join a yeshiva and study the Torah. Ellie's compulsion to control her children leads her to concoct a deceitful tale about the recovery of Alena's remains. She even enlists a cult expert to assist in returning Ash to the United States. Ultimately, Ellie's dishonesty leads Bits on a desperate journey to retrieve her brother from the Holy Land. Spechler's characters are lovable despite their numerous faults, and the story is not just dark but funny. Split among the three family members, the rich and varied narrative offers readers many avenues for enjoyment. Recommended for all libraries.Faye A. Chadwell, Oregon State Univ. Libs., Corvallis

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2008
Bits and Ash Kellermans family unraveled when their younger sister, Alena, was kidnapped and never found. Their father took off with a younger woman, and their mother has never recovered from the trauma. Bits, a teacher, loses herself in promiscuous sex. Ash, who blames himself for the kidnapping, runs off to Israel and joins an Orthodox yeshiva. This pushes their mother over the edge, and she insists that Bits go to Israel to convince Ash to come home. Bits refuses, but when Alenas remains are recovered, her mother is insistent that the family be together for the funeral. Bits adventures as she attempts to bring her brother home and deal with the ensuing family crisis provide this above-average debut novel with plenty of dramatic tension. Add this one to recommended lists of dysfunctional families in fiction.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)