The local news - Miriam Gershow

The Local News (2008) by Miriam Gershow is a coming-of-age novel set in a small, unnamed town in the United States. The story is told from the perspective of Naomi, a teenager who is grappling with the emotional aftermath of a traumatic event that has shaken her community and her family. The novel explores themes of grief, identity, family relationships, and the way personal tragedies intersect with public events.

The central event that drives the narrative is the sudden and mysterious disappearance of Naomi's brother, Micah. He goes missing one night without explanation, and his disappearance becomes a subject of local news and gossip. The novel is structured around Naomi's search for meaning in the aftermath, both in terms of her brother's fate and in her own life.

As Naomi contemplates the mystery of Micah’s disappearance, she also struggles with her own sense of belonging. She feels isolated at school, disconnected from her family, and uncertain about her future. The story follows Naomi’s internal journey as she navigates the painful process of dealing with a loss that is both personal and public. The narrative is deeply introspective, focusing on Naomi’s emotional landscape and her evolving understanding of the world around her.

The title The Local News reflects not only the small-town setting but also the way personal tragedies are magnified and distorted through media coverage. The local news broadcasts and town gossip become a backdrop to Naomi's emotional journey, illustrating how public events are intertwined with private lives. The novel’s exploration of the impact of Micah’s disappearance on Naomi’s family and community reveals the complexities of coping with loss, as well as the often silent ways in which people grieve and try to make sense of trauma.

The Local News is a quiet, reflective novel about the pain of growing up and the ways in which individuals search for meaning in the midst of uncertainty. Gershow’s writing is subtle but deeply affecting, and the novel’s emotional resonance comes from its exploration of the often-hidden grief that people carry. It’s a story about the ways we cope with personal loss, how we relate to the people we love, and how the world around us is shaped by events we don’t fully understand.