In Lucia's Eyes is beautifully, lyrically written. The characters are interesting. The story is so depressing I could hardly make myself finish it. It is a testament to the author's skillful writing that I kept going until the end. It was a big disappointment, after I had read The Two Hearts of Kwasi Boachi, which was not exactly a happy story, but it ended on a note of hope and and calm. (Maybe it helps that I have lived for many years in Ghana, the birthplace of the title character of that book.)Anyway, In Lucia's Eyes is not a book that I would hand to a friend, not a book that I want very much to remember, because it was actually painful to read. But then Christmas Coke commercials with lovely singing chidren from around the world make me cry, so maybe you want to discount my comments. Obviously the book made an impression, and that's what great writing is supposed to do.