Mona's Eyes by Thomas Schlesser (2025 fiction)

One day, seemingly without warning, ten-year-old Mona loses her vision. On the way to the doctor, she regains her sight, but thereafter she undergoes a plethora of medical tests and procedures, with the warning that the same thing could occur again, perhaps permanently. Once a week for the next year, her grandfather Henry takes Mona to see a work by a great artist, so that in the event her vision is permanently lost, she will have something of import to remember. And thus begins a series of chapters, each of which describes an artwork in detail and then tells a story about the artist and what the artwork possibly means. Mona’s story and that of her family continues – her father who struggles with alcoholism and lack of income, her mother who barely tolerates their situation and worries constantly about Mona’s health, Henry, who desperately misses his wife Colette, whose life and death are a mystery to Mona. The greatest part of the book, however, consists of the outstanding stories of the 52 works of art. These are all well-known artists, from the Renaissance to the present-day, although the works chosen are not always their most famous. All of these works are illustrated on the book jacket so the reader can take a look (or several) at what is being described. To me, this is a book that one will read through and then go back to some of the chapters later to revisit a description or a philosophy. Fans of art history will love it, but so will fans of mystery and family drama. As to what happens with Mona’s eyes, you will have to read the book to find out.

Reviewed by Ginger Russell