The How and the Why by Cynthia Hand

The story opens with S, who is sixteen, pregnant, and at a boarding school that helps pregnant girls. She starts writing a letter to her baby, who will receive the letter when the baby is eighteen. Soon one letter turns into more and more and she starts to share more about her life and her feelings.

Eighteen years later, Cass is interested in finding out about her birth parents. At first she is afraid to tell her mom and dad because she loves them. They are also dealing with her mom being sick in the hospital, potentially terminally. But as her story unfolds, she learns that her parents are supportive of her learning about her history and help her with her information-finding journey.

I enjoyed this book because it handles hard topics in a very sensitive and subtle way. Cynthia Hand’s writing is easy to read, but enjoyable and interesting. I highly recommend this book!


Darcy Lepore
Library Director

Available at the Langley Adams Library