Bliss Adair and the First Rule of Knitting

by Jean Mills

What I like most about this story is the interior world that Jean Mills explores. She pulls us into Bliss’s thoughts in a most relatable way. Sometimes it is just a quick aside in parenthesis, such as when Bliss admits that she loves the rules and the structure that school provides.

At other times, it takes many scenes to explore Bliss’s interior world, as if the character herself doesn’t quite understand her thoughts and feelings. Her connection to Finn is one of these things that takes many scenes to develop. Along the way, we get to see them knitting together, taking care of Finn’s little sister, practicing their math equations, and finally, dancing in the school gym. Mills makes the point that a true connection is built out of so many small moments knitted together.

I really enjoyed going on this journey with Bliss Adair, and getting to know her friends and family. I like a protagonist with questions, observations, and who worries about taking the right course of action. I kept turning the page to see what Bliss would do next, right until the very last page.

This is a beautifully-written novel, written by a fine story-teller.