Heart and Soul

Keith Hale's second novel follows Arkansas country boy Ben Goodman through childhood and adolescence, focusing on Ben's life after he crosses paths with the book's other protagonists, Pennsylvania-raised brothers Ethan and Daniel Henry. Each boy has a compelling story, and when the sad stories of their separate lives merge into the tender stories of their time spent together, the result is both heartwarming and hopeful. The book is both a coming of age novel and a love story told in fine, understated style.