Book Review: “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”

Reviewed by Catherine Cole

“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safran Foer takes place in New York City almost a year after the attack on September 11, 2001. This fictional novel was written to bring tears to the readers’ eyes from both laughter and sorrow.

The book follows the story of tragic, yet extremely gifted 9-year-old named Oskar Schell. His father, Thomas Schell, dies in the World Trade Center on 9/11. About a year after the accident, Oskar finds a secret key hidden in an envelope in his father’s closet with the name “Black” written on it.
Oskar takes a mission upon himself to find a lock that fits that key.

Parallel to Oskar’s story in the novel is his grandparent’s story. It includes heart-wrenching letters by both grandparents that tell their life story.

“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” is is a wonderful book.

Not only does it give you a heart-warming story of a tragically sad child, but it is filled with his creative and quirky thoughts.

I would recommend it to anyone that I know in a heartbeat, though Foer wrote it for mature audiences.

Catherine Cole is a junior in the academically gifted program at Hahnville High School. She enjoys writing, reading, photography and film. 

Editor’s note: Book reviews are published weekly during the summer in agreement with Hahnville High School gifted English teacher Deborah Unger in conjunction with the Brown Foundation Service Learning Program.