Jan Notzon @jannotzon

Daniel Hayes- Chapter 2 left an indelible mark on us. The funeral scene is rendered with both heartbreak and subtle humor, which made our group reflect on how people cope differently with grief. We found ourselves talking about Jacob’s inner life, the unspoken tension in his…

Angela Williams What struck me most about this novel was how real the characters felt. Justin Kopechne reminded me of people I’ve known who care so deeply about their mission that they alienate everyone else around them. It’s both admirable and tragic. His work at the reformatory…

Miriam36 reviews1 follower Follow September 4, 2025 This book completely pulled me in from the very first chapter. Justin Kopechne is such a compelling protagonist an idealist trying to do the right thing in a world that constantly pushes back. His fight to bring hope and…

Olivia Bennett- Chapter 4 left our club reflecting on the subtle tensions of caregiving and loyalty. Jacob’s protective instincts toward Grace are tender, yet complicated, and Notzon never allows them to feel one-dimensional. The emotional layering in these first five chapters…

To Sing Like a Mockingbird by Jan Notzon is a striking, thought provoking novel that dives deep into the fragility of idealism when confronted with harsh realities. Through Justin Kopechne, a teacher striving to reach students that society has already given up on, Notzon paints a…

Brooks Palmer 5.0 out of 5 stars A Page-Turner You Can’t Miss Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2025 And Ye Shall Be As Gods" is not just a story about one family, it is a story that reflects humanity as a whole. Discussing it in our book club opened up conversations…

5.0 out of 5 stars wow ! Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2025 Our book club recently read this novel, and it quickly became one of the most powerful discussions we’ve ever had. What struck me personally was how the author captured the weight of Jake’s journey—the…

Charlotte Evans/5 stars- Chapter 1 introduced us to Jacob’s wit and resilience, but it’s in Chapters 2 and 3 that Notzon begins to show the layers beneath his humor. The funeral scene, combined with flashbacks to his upbringing, created lively discussion among our members: How…

James Anderson- Chapter 5 is a masterclass in tension and subtle emotional revelation. Grace’s hesitations, Jacob’s observations, and the unspoken bond between them left our club members leaning forward in our chairs, feeling as though we were intruding on something sacred. We…

Lina Bergström- Our first impression at The New Chapter is unanimous: Jan Notzon has written something special. In five chapters, he has given us a cast of characters we believe in, a setting that feels alive, and themes that matter love, loss, family, resilience. The pacing is…

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4.5 stars To Sing Like A Mockingbird, a novel in six acts opens with a prologue reminiscent of a Shakespearean play with the chorus directly addressing the audience in a soliloquy pondering some of life's greatest questions: "What is it that we ultimately seek? What drives some…

James Porter- One of the most impressive things about these early chapters is how they invite empathy without ever asking for pity and that’s something The New Chapter treasures in a story. Jacob and Grace are real people with complexities, contradictions, and quiet dignity. The…

Emily Parker- Our meeting at The New Chapter this week lasted an extra 45 minutes because we couldn’t stop dissecting the layers in Chapters 1–5. We talked about the nature of caregiving, the weight of family expectation, and how personal histories can either bind us together or…

Svetlana Orlova- If The New Chapter could bottle the feeling of reading these first chapters, it would be the combination of curiosity, empathy, and anticipation. Jan Notzon has a way of writing that feels almost cinematic you see the dust rising on the road, hear the creak of a…

William Harris- Chapter 3 is where Notzon’s storytelling truly shines for our club. The flashbacks to Jacob’s youth illuminate his motivations and the unspoken burdens he carries. Each member connected differently some with Jacob’s sense of responsibility, others with the…

Hannah Mitchell- The way these opening chapters are structured is brilliant, and The New Chapter noticed it right away. We start with humor and wry observation, then slowly descend into deeper emotional territory without ever losing the reader’s trust. Our discussion of Chapter…

The contrast between Justin's noble intentions and the grim reality he faces, both in his school and at home, feels painfully real. His entanglement with a friend in the cartel and another in law enforcement adds a layer of tension that keeps the story tight, while his…

Jack Morgan - From the moment we opened And Ye Shall Be as Gods, The New Chapter book club was captivated. The first five chapters gave us so much to discuss that we could have filled an entire evening without even moving further. The opening scene set the tone beautifully…

Amelia Grant- What The New Chapter loved most about the first five chapters was how much emotional weight Jan Notzon managed to pack into them without ever feeling heavy-handed.