Book Review – Cracks in the Sidewalk by Bette Lee Crosby
Cracks in the Sidewalk’s summary barely does it justice and when I found out it was based on a true story, that made it all the more meaningful to me. This was truly a great story filled with all the heartbreak and happiness that real life has to offer and it was told so brilliantly that I couldn’t help but cry.
The cracks in the sidewalk piqued my curiosity from the start. As Claire explained her desire to have a large family, I was immediately drawn to her. As an only child, I fully understand the desire to be surrounded by children and dreams of grandchildren. My heart broke when she received the news that she would only have one child. I could only imagine Claire’s incredible joy when she was blessed with three beautiful grandchildren.
In fact, I stopped reading Cracks in the Sidewalk when Claire’s daughter started having problems with her pregnancy. I too am 31 weeks pregnant and the details of Crosby’s writing and how the characters feel so real hits me a little too close to home. I was able to put the book down, but I still couldn’t get the characters out of my mind. It reminded me of a close friendship, you can go a long time without talking to someone but it’s so embedded in your heart that you can’t let go. That’s what I felt for Claire and her family. I worked through the tears and went back to reading.
I feel like Claire is more than just a character in a book; she feels more like a close friend or neighbor. I would describe her as one of the strongest women I know. I can’t imagine slowly losing your daughter and then losing your grandchildren as well. Her resilience is remarkable and her spirit is something that will be etched in my mind forever.
Cracks in the Sidewalk is the third Bette Lee Crosby book I’ve read and I have to say she does a great job of bringing out the spirit of each character. I ended the last chapter crying and I wasn’t sure if she was crying from joy or because she was heartbroken. I know that I carry each character in my heart as if they had been part of the story. What a moving work by Crosby and I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever loved or longed for a child.