Right from the start
first person narrator, Della, warns us that this book has some hard parts and,
oh, boy, does it ever. Della's story begins with moving in with foster-mother
Francine, along with her big sister Suki. Ever since Mom set fire to their
hotel room while cooking meth when Della was five and was sent to prison, Della
and Suki have been living with Mom's boyfriend, Clifton. Clifton provides a
home, and also has them living in fear. As the novel progresses, we find out
why they left Clifton and why they are now so distrustful and broken. Suki is
determined to keep taking care of Della, just as she always has, even
though Francine tells her it’s not her job. Finally, Suki snaps and Della is
forced to move forward on her own without her sister, learning how to depend on
an adult for the first time in her life. Through the friendship of a few
trusted adults and a classmate, as well as the support of a therapist, Della
finally starts to heal and distinguish exactly what is appropriate behavior.
She learns to stand up for herself in a healthy way and no longer be a victim.
After once being told that she and Suki were "raised by wolves" by a
neighbor, Della learns that wolves are pretty cool and longs to go to
Yellowstone to learn more. Yes, Suki and Della have been through a lot, but in
the end they lean, most of all, to stand up for themselves and take control of
their own stories.
I picked this book up thinking that it was in the same vein of the author's The War that Saved My Life and its sequel. The only thing this new volume shares with the award predecessors is a protagonist that overcomes terrible adversity and carefully crafted writing. This new title has a contemporary setting (as opposed to historical fiction) and is exceedingly gritty. Adult readers will suspect early on that the girls are victims of sexual abuse and as their story is slowly revealed the reader's heart breaks for them. Throughout the book Della substitutes the word "snow" every time she curses. She uses "snow" a lot, depending on strong words to help give her strength and power. As the novel progresses and she learns new skills in therapy, Della is able to control a situation with words that bring her satisfactory results and keep her out of trouble. An author's note at the end gives more information about childhood sexual abuse, offering staggering statistics. As I was reading I thought that, although the narrator is ten, the book belongs in the teen section for content. Unfortunately, many children are dealing with this very situation and will find hope and coping mechanisms within the pages and I think that it is important that it is in the children's section. Parents should be aware of the content, though, and be prepared for a conversation with their children. The book is beautifully written, the voice is authentic, and, although the content is tough, it remains child-appropriate. This is an important story that will offer hope and help to those who need it and enlightenment to those who may have a friend in a similar situation. Ultimately, Suki and Della are survivors and, though they have been through Hell, we are confident that they will ultimately be okay.
No comments:
Post a Comment