The Penance Room by Carol Coffey

The Penance Room is set in the small mining town of Broken Hill in Australia. It follows the story of Christopher, a deaf young boy who feels a special connection to the hurt and damaged souls of the residents in the nursing home which his parents run. There are the eccentric English sisters, the lonely German man and the inseparable Hungarian couple. When a young man arrives to document the lives of those who came seeking a better life in Australia for his sociology thesis, Christopher follows their stories as each character reveals their hurt, heartache and regret so that each one can find redemption and peace. Most of all though this is Christopher's journey. Carol Coffey is a very talented author who tells heartbreaking stories that are still filled with hope. She is a must for fans of Jodi Picoult.
Reviewed by Lisa Doyle-Redmond