Hope and Lizzie are as close as sisters get. So when hope finds Lizzie with a shotgun in her mouth and her finger on the trigger she is left wondering why. She begins recalling their lives with their prostitute mother and realizing that Lizzie had pulled away more and more from her. When she discovers the reason why then nothing will ever be the same.
Told in verse, this novel packs the power of a sledge hammer. Hope and Lizzie are wonderful characters that you only get to know piece by piece. This leaves the reader wanting to keep going and the beautiful poetry of the novel makes it rewarding. It also works because what the book is really about is how much and little can be shown with just a glimpse. It asks the reader to look deeper to find the truth in art and in life. I’m always impressed when a book can pull that off. The reveal of Lizzie’s secret at the end is heartbreakingly sad. Know that this is a tough and gritty read, but the ending is hopeful without seeming unrealistic. If you like verse novels like this you should also check out Ellen Hopkins' books like Crank and Identical in YP HOPKINS.
No comments:
Post a Comment