About Mathilda Savitch
Victor Lodato's debut novel follows Mathilda Savitch, a fearless young girl confronting the unthinkable: her beloved older sister's death. Pushed in front of a train by an unknown assailant still at large, the tragedy has left Mathilda's parents in a state of grief-stricken paralysis. Determined to shock them back to life and uncover the truth behind the catastrophe, Mathilda embarks on a dangerous investigation that will test everything she knows about family, loss, and survival.
Award-Winning Literary Fiction
Winner of the PEN USA Award for Fiction, Mathilda Savitch earned recognition as a Best Book of 2009 by The Christian Science Monitor, Booklist, and The Globe and Mail. Lodato crafts a narrative that balances dark humor with profound emotional depth, creating a page-turning story that resonates long after the final chapter.
A Story of Grief and Determination
Fear doesn't come naturally to Mathilda. She confronts what others avoid, speaking the unspeakable truths that her grief-stricken family cannot face. Her strategy for awakening her sleepwalking parents? Being bad. Through her sister's secret possessions—emails, clothes, notebooks—Mathilda pieces together clues with craftiness and determination that belie her age.
The investigation requires Mathilda to risk everything, leaving behind the safety of childhood to pursue answers in a world more complex and dangerous than she imagined. Lodato presents a protagonist who refuses to accept easy answers, instead choosing to look directly at the darkness that has consumed her family.
About Victor Lodato
Victor Lodato is an accomplished playwright, poet, and novelist. A recipient of Guggenheim and NEA fellowships, he has won numerous awards for his plays, including recognition from the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays. He divides his time between Tucson and New York City, bringing his theatrical sensibility to prose that crackles with dialogue and emotional authenticity.
What Readers Experience
This novel defies simple categorization. It is startling and funny, touching and odd, truthful and heartbreaking—often within the same page. Lodato's voice captures the unique perspective of a young girl navigating grief while maintaining her fierce independence and dark sense of humor. The result is a reading experience that appeals to both literary fiction enthusiasts and those seeking crossover young adult content with substance.
A CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR BEST BOOK OF 2009
A BOOKLIST BEST BOOK OF 2009
A GLOBE AND MAIL BEST BOOK OF 2009
WINNER OF THE PEN USA AWARD FOR FICTION
