For a young adult novel, this is utterly impressive.
Don’t get me wrong, this definitely reads young adult, as it should, since it’s the intended readership. I found it annoying at times since I am in my thirties, but that’s my problem, not the book’s. I found the whole story extremely believable – the main character Mara’s inner struggle, to believe her friend or her brother, was masterfully done. This book is a character study of what happens when someone takes away your agency. When someone close takes away someone else’s. When you have to choose between family and friendship.
I was blown away by the last third of this book. I cried non stop, until the very end. The author really brought all the feels together and tied it in a neat bow. I was very satisfied. I also appreciated the queer rep – bisexual, lesbian, even nonbinary. These are young people growing up and making mistakes. Young people who go through the motions of existing in a world that is made to silence them. Young people who all deal with trauma differently.
The trigger warning is obvious – be careful if you’re a survivor of SA. But know that it’s been mindfully and sensitively handled. It gives the agency back to those who were silenced, while also acknowledging that it’s not as easy as that. Acknowledging the truth that there’s no going back, but that doesn’t mean there’s no going forward either.
Very beautiful and important book. To me, this was a 4 star book, but to the world and especially to young people, I believe this is a 5 star book. I believe school libraries should stock this. As a psychologist, I think this is the best young adult book about SA out there.
Thanks to the author for writing something so incredibly important.
-Reviewed by Violeta Nedkova
