Wisdom and fun through generations

Have you heard of the Trolley problem, a thought experiment in ethics? (As we Trekkies remember from “The Wrath of Khan,” Spock says, “Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."). The general form of the problem is this: There is a runaway trolley barreling down the railway tracks. Ahead, on the tracks, there are five people tied up and unable to move. The trolley is headed straight for them. You are standing some distance off in the train yard, next to a lever. If you pull this lever, the trolley will switch to a different set of tracks. However, you notice that there is one person on the side track. You have two options: Do nothing, and the trolley kills the five people on the main track or pull the lever, diverting the trolley onto the side track where it will kill one person. Which is the correct choice? At the end of this novel you can choose the answer to this underlying question.

This is an amazing novel packed with important stories. Stories a grandmother tells Elsa who is 7 years old to comfort her. She is Elsa’s only friend and at night they take refuge in the Land of Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas where everyone is different and nobody needs to be normal. Elsa is different and is bullied at school but she remembers this advice, “There is nothing wrong with being different. Granny said that only different people change the world.” Woven into the magical kingdom that Elsa’s grandmother relates to Elsa is the truth. Truth concerning some family history mingled with drunks, monsters, attack dogs and crazy neighbors. The craziest of all is Elsa’s grandmother. How did she become someone who would stand on the balcony firing paintball guns at men who want to talk about Jesus or sneak out at night and climb the fence at the zoo?

When Elsa’s grandmother dies the adventure begins. Elsa starts a treasure hunt, finding letters her grandmother left for her to deliver to those she loved, each containing apologies. Through this quest, Elsa meets a variety of people and learns a great deal about her wonderful grandmother and the entire family. Each misfit in her apartment building has a connection to her granny. There is a strong link between the letters and the fairy tales; fairy tales are not just for kids and neither world is short on adventure, tragedy or danger. Elsa is an exceptionally bright girl and soon discovers how much her grandmother really loved her, sending guardians to protect her and help her cope with school and bullies.

There is plenty of laughter, precious moments, mystery and insightful philosophy. People at opposite ends of life can always learn from one another. I would recommend this book to all ages especially those who like Harry Potter, magical kingdoms, super heroes and grandparents.