When We Were the Kennedys: A Memoir from Mexico Maine

About this book

1963 Mexico Maine. The Wood family is much like its close Catholic immigrant neighbors all dependent on a fathers wages from the Oxford Paper Company. Until the sudden death of Dad when Mum and the four closely connected Wood girls are set adrift. Funny and to-the-bone moving When We Were the Kennedys is the story of how this family saves itself at first by depending on Father Bob Mums youngest brother a charismatic Catholic priest who feels his new responsibilities deeply. And then as the nation is shocked by the loss of its handsome Catholic president the televised grace of Jackie Kennedyshe too a Catholic widow with young childrengalvanizes Mum to set off on an unprecedented family road trip to Washington D.C. to do some rescuing of her own. An indelible story of how family and nation each shocked by the unimaginable exchange one identity for another. Monica Wood has written a gorgeous gripping memoir. I dont know that Ive ever pulled so hard for a family.Michael Paterniti author ofDriving Mr. Albert