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The Luster of Lost Things by Sophie Chen Keller

In this story for readers of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and A Man Called Ove, when all seems lost, he finds what matters most.

Walter Lavender Jr. is a master of finding. A wearer of high-tops. A maker of croissants. A son keeping vigil, twelve years counting.

But he wouldn’t be able to tell you. Silenced by his motor speech disorder, Walter’s life gets lonely. Fortunately, he has The Lavenders—his mother’s enchanted dessert shop, where marzipan dragons breathe actual fire. He also has a knack for tracking down any missing thing—except for his lost father.

So when the Book at the root of the bakery’s magic vanishes, Walter, accompanied by his overweight golden retriever, journeys through New York City to find it—along the way encountering an unforgettable cast of lost souls.

Steeped in nostalgic wonder, The Luster of Lost Things explores the depths of our capacity for kindness and our ability to heal. A lyrical meditation on why we become lost and how we are found, from the bright, broken heart of a boy who knows where to look for everyone but himself.

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Author’s Bio

Sophie Chen Keller is the author of The Luster of Lost Things. She was born in China and raised in Ohio and California. Her short fiction has won several awards and has appeared in publications such as Glimmer Train and Pedestal. After graduating from Harvard, she moved to New York City, where she currently resides with her husband and a not-so-secret cabinet of sweets.

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My Review

5 stars

Walter Lavender Jr. is a special boy that has a motor speech disorder that keeps him from speaking. Because of being bullied for it, Walter doesn’t talk which limits his world. He finds peace in his mother’s store, The Lavenders amount the clients and staff. The Lavenders is an enchanted bakery where the pastries come to life, which is what it did until the special book that powers these creations is stolen and a new landlord decides to close down the shop. Walter decides to brave the world with his Golden Retriever Milton and hunt down the magical book. This is going to be an adventure where Walter finds more than just the book and opens up to the world.

Walter is a great kid that is so special yet bullied to the point of silence. My heart just broke for him but I knew that this little adventure would be the best thing for him. He finds lost and forgotten things and comes across several people that fit into that category. I love how the people he meets adds to this widening world of his.

This is a magical story, quite literally of a boy finding his place in the world as he tries to rescue his mother’s bakery. It’s also so sad when you hear the different stories from the forgotten and abandoned people that he meets. It was a great read and one that I think most people will enjoy.

I received The Luster of Lost Things from Penguin Random House for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.