97. The Boy Who Fell Out of the Sky by Ken Dornstein

On December 21, 1998, the author’s brother, David Dornstein, was killed during the Pan Am Flight 103 explosion over Lockerbie, Scotland. A college sophomore home for winter break during the time, Ken copes with his brother’s death by denial for years. It is only with gradually accepting his death that he begins to feel ready to tell David’s story and carry on his writing dreams. David was only 25 when he died, and was an impassioned aspiring writer. He left behind many journals and letters, which Dornstein uses in his memoir to show readers what his brother was like.

Although dealing with a horrible tragedy, this book is also a sensitive look at the life of David Dornstein. By his own brother’s account, David was a difficult, conflicted person who may have struggled with mental illness. He also had been molested as a child and often felt despondent over his inability to become a famous writer. Dornstein visits the crash site in Lockerbie, and strangely enough, ends up marrying David’s old girlfriend and has a child with her. Full of excellent facts about the bombing and its aftermath, this is a beautiful and graceful look at bereavement.