With her glorious prose and extraordinary eye， Alice Hoffman seems to know what it means to be human. (Susan Isaacs， Newsday) The courage to face the unthinkable is at the core of this magnificent new novel. How do we manage to confront the truths in our lives and find forgiveness in the most unforgiving of circumstances? How do we love truly and deeply in a world that is as brutal as it is beautiful? When Ethan Ford fails to show up for work on a brilliant summer morning， none of his neighbors would guess that for more than thirteen years， he has been running from his past. His true nature has been locked away， as hidden as his real identity. But sometimes locks spring open， and the devastating truths of Ethan Ford s history shatter the small-town peace of Monroe， affecting family and friends alike. This deeply felt and compelling novel makes it clear why Alice Hoffman has been called "one of the best writers we have today" (Cleveland Plain Dealer). Honest， shattering， seductive， and ultimately healing， Blue Diary is an unforgettable novel by a writer who tells "truths powerful enough to break a reader s heart" (Time).