Romantic Times, August, 2006
"You've heard of the General Slocum, right? You don't need author (J.G. Sandom) to tell you that 'it was the worst disaster in New York City before the World Trade (Center). So many perished; for weeks bodies were floating up the river. An entire neighborhood was destroyed.'
"But if you're a little behind on your New York City history, then (Sandom's) first young-adult novel, THE UNRESOLVED, is a book you shouldn't pass up. With this love story/ghost story/historical tale, (Sandom) takes readers into the mind of Mallory Meer, a bright, happy 15-year-old girl who perishes with over a thousand other German-Americans, most of them women and children, when the General Slocum catches fire during an East River boating trip on June 15th, 1904.
"But that's just the beginning of the story for Mallory, whose spirit floats through the minds and hearts of her friends, family and enemies, observing their attempts to recover from the tragedy that has torn apart their lives.
"'As a former New Yorker, I thought this was something people could identify with,' says (Sandom), who now lives in New Jersey. 'It's hard for adults to deal with (tragic events). For younger kids, it's especially hard because they internalize a lot. Seeing how others overcome their problems can give them a sense of hope...Love, loss and hope are universal themes. All of us have been outsiders...Mallory's the ultimate outsider.'"
"(Sandom), who has written several thrillers for adults, plans to tackle more tough issues in future teen novels. 'I want to keep going...There are things I can do with YAs that I can't do with my adult work.'"
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