Inspiring, firing, and soothing.

Until I was fourteen, I always thought that authors wrote about how much sisters loved each other, without condition, blame, or guilt. That was until I read Jacob Have I Loved, a heavy, emotion-laden, well-written story of one sister's (legitimate, considering the circumstance) jealousy for her twin.

I was always encouraged to read Jacob Have I Loved, but I never picked it up until my Language Arts teacher suggested that I read it for a book report in eighth grade. I had heard that the book was serious and emotional, and I was still reluctant to read it. Once involved in the first chapter, though, it was my constant companion. I had never read about a relationship as complex as this one, never realized that one person could be so narcissistic while another, living in the shadow of the adored egomaniac, slowly uncovers her own true worth. It was a real coming-of-age book for me, as I am sure it will be for many young men and women for generations to come.