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 Sam@WLABB on

5 of 5 stars

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This book! Seriously, it was a feelsplosion! I suspected I needed to buckle up, when I read the dedication, and started getting all emotional. It was touching and beautiful, and I am so grateful I got to spend a year with Cass as she filled in some of her missing pieces.

• Pro: The format of this book was a win. I loved alternating between Cass in present time and her birth mother in the past. I always like, when I know part of the story, and slowly learn the rest. I like the build and anticipation, and Hand did an amazing job bridging the past and the present in this book.

• Pro: Cass's parents were phenomenal. Their love and affection was unquestionable, and there were so many hankie moments with these two. I loved them to pieces.

• Pro: It was interesting seeing an adoption from multiple points of view. Not only did I learn about Cass and her birth mother's experience, I also got to hear from her parents, and even her best friend, Nyla, whose circumstances were quite different.

• Pro: Though I keep talking about all the crying I was doing, there were a lot of happy, fun, and joyful moments in this book too. There, of course, was Cass's search for her birth mother, but she was also a teen visiting colleges, starring in the school play, and maybe falling in love. Hand deftly blended these elements to produce something really special.

• Pro: I loved how Hand kept me on my toes throughout the story. I was collecting pieces, left and right, and had quite a few amazing AHA! moments.

• Pro: The ending! The ending! The ending! I was crying and clapping, and it was just perfection.

Overall: This book held me in its grip from beginning to end, while burrowing its way into my heart. It was simply stupendous!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 18 April, 2020: Finished reading
  • 18 April, 2020: Reviewed