The How & the Why by Cynthia Hand

The How & the Why

by Cynthia Hand

"Cynthia Hand is the master of pulling at your heartstrings. The How & the Why tells both sides of an adoption story with love, compassion, and care." —Brigid Kemmerer, New York Times bestselling author of Letters to the Lost

A poignant exploration of family and the ties that bind, from New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand.

Cassandra McMurtrey has the best parents a girl could ask for; they’ve given Cass a life she wouldn’t trade for the world. She has everything she needs—but she has questions, too. Like, to know who she is. Where she came from. Questions her adoptive parents can’t answer, no matter how much they love her.

But eighteen years ago, someone wrote Cass a series of letters. And they may just hold the answers Cass has been searching for.

Alternating between Cass’s search for answers and letters from the pregnant teen who placed her for adoption, this emotionally resonant narrative is the perfect read for fans of Nina LaCour and Jandy Nelson.

Reviewed by Baroness Book Trove on

5 of 5 stars

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I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The How and the Why by Cynthia Hand is a story about how an adopted daughter finds her birth mom.

Will Cassandra get the answers that she is seeking?


Cassandra McMurtrey


Cassandra, aka Cass, McMurtrey, is the main character who has had a lot of things happen to her. She has wonderful parents and friends that are there for her when she needs them. Cass loves theatre and loves to act. There are a lot of things that are happening that I don't want to spoil. I love Cass and how she is as a person. Cass does a lot of things and finds out a lot from the time she turned eighteen to a year later when she's nineteen. She is a sort of typical teenager, and I can see her and me as friends.

S


We only learn of S and about her situation in letters that she wrote for Cass. Cass doesn't get these letters until she's eighteen, but we learn a lot about them. I feel for S and her situation, along with how her relatives deal with her. S is a great character and the perfect sarcastic teenage pregnant girl who knows what she wanted to do once she found out that she is pregnant. I like this character as well.

Five Stars


The How and the Why by Cynthia Hand is a remarkable story that I wasn't sure if I would like. However, I loved this story and how Ms. Hand wrote this story. Ms. Hand did a fabulous job, and she just got a new fan in me. 

I am giving this story a rating of five stars and recommending it to everyone.



Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The How and the Why by Cynthia Hand. 

Until the next time,



Happy Reading!

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 11 December, 2019: Finished reading
  • 11 December, 2019: Reviewed