When he finds a key in a vase that must have belonged to his dad, Oskar decides that finding the lock it opens will give him the answers he needs.
But there are millions of doors and lockers in New York. Each tiny gain Oskar makes in his quest leads to more questions but Oskar isn't the kind of kid who gives up.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is heartrending, uplifting, funny and desperately sad.
Although this was officially published as adult fiction, Oskar's nine-year-old voice brings gentleness and humour to a gut-wrenching time of large scale grief and loss.
I was often fearful for Oskar's safety as he approached complete strangers for assistance, but post 9/11 was a very different time. Many within this large population were searching for ways to stitch their lives back together.
Jonathan Saffron uses language in a mesmerising way to simulate the desperation, the confusion and the moments of relief that are inevitable when a person suffers a terrible loss.
Title: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Author: Jonathan Safran Foer
Publisher: Penguin Books, $ 19.99
Publication Date: 10 May 2006
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 0141012692
For ages: 13+
Type: Young Adult Fiction
