I’m SO GLAD I didn’t give up on this one! I honestly struggled with it at first, just couldn’t get into it – but something about it told me to give it a little time and come back to it and after I did I found myself immersed…
How many times have any of us witnessed cruelty to a child and wished we could do something about it? Well, Sarah did – and the tale that follows that decision is moving and unbelievable and touching and really a remarkable read. I did find it, at times, unbelievable – the suspension of disbelief is more than occasionally required here – but it was never any less enjoyable a read for that.
Emma is heart-breakingly believable in and of herself – that may be why the book didn’t always have to be, if that makes any sense. I have a five year old daughter who is, like Emma, lovely and audacious and smart as a whip; there were definitely times when this book hurt my heart because I can’t even imagine a child like mine going through what Emma did. Sarah’s impetuosity – and her continued decision to act when most would have walked away – will garner criticism and complain. I get that, I really do – we can’t all decide we are The Law or things would go to hell in a handbasket even faster than they are. But I also found it lovely to see someone in this increasingly isolated, me-myself-and-I-focused world care enough about a stranger to actually take action – even if that action was somewhat insane.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The characters were gut-wrenchingly genuine and the tale was well paced and articulated. I will definitely look for more from Rea Frey.
My review copy was provided by NetGalley. The book releases in the U.S. on August 21, 2018.
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