The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a true literary masterpiece. The first-time author, David Wroblewski, has created a novel that captures the human heart through a tale about a mute boy growing up in a rural Wisconsin family that breeds dogs.

The novel is spectacularly well-written as Wroblewski spent almost 15 years writing and rewriting it into a book whose recurring themes and little details really leave you breathless.

It is necessary to note that the story is a sad one almost guaranteed to leave the reader heartbroken as they follow the main character, Edgar Sawtelle, through the turmoil of his life. Sawtelle's father dies and a hated uncle with a questionable past moves in with the family, forcing Edgar to move out and run away on a wild adventure to the fabled Starchild Colony. The story, as it began, ends with nothing but tragedy leaving one as saddened and stunned but never questioning why the book was an Oprah pick of the year.

The book's 562 pages can prove a challenge at times to get through — definitely not for the faint of heart. However, Wroblewski has done a tremendous job for his first novel in creating a tale and a book definitely worth reading.



Alex Wirth is a junior at Santa Fe Prep. You can reach him at AlxWirth@gmail.com