I felt like this was a bit of a bait and switch: I thought I was going to read a story about the relationship between a precocious boy and a centenarian. Flashbacks of conversations between the two do make up the framework of the narrative, but it becomes a story about the boy's parents and the way the he gives them redemption and peace they might not have reached if he had lived. And, no, that's not really a spoiler. It is clear from the get-go that that this is a story about how his death changes the lives of those around him in surprising and profound ways. We hear his voice only through recordings of his scouts assignment to spend time with 104 year old Ona. She is a fantastic character and watching her rediscover herself was the greatest joy of this book, which on the whole was more depressing than I had anticipated, but ultimately hopeful.

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