Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My rating is 4.75 because it wasn't perfect, but im rounding up.
This book is not for everyone and please check the warnings first. Still, I found the story hopeful and extremely emotional. I still feel like I'm going to cry. I love Jordan so much and wanted the best for him and to give him a big hug and never let a bad thing happen to him ever again
This book is not for everyone and please check the warnings first. Still, I found the story hopeful and extremely emotional. I still feel like I'm going to cry. I love Jordan so much and wanted the best for him and to give him a big hug and never let a bad thing happen to him ever again
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Self harm, Suicide
I really enjoyed this book. It deals with some very uncomfortable topics so I'd say not everyone can read it and be okay with it. It really opened up my eyes to how common children's sexual abuse is. I liked how it was a story about family and how families can grow stronger. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is curious about these topics, however it will hurt to read at times since the subject matter is rather disturbing.
You know that feeling, when something really sad happens, when you can't seem to take a full breath, and your chest hurts? All through this book I fought to breathe. Poor Jordan HAS to rely on the kindness of strangers, because both parents are monsters. Sarah and her boys, Nate and Danny, are dealing with the death of their husband and father, supported by the neighbors, Courtney and Mark. But the neighbors' secrets blow the town, and Sarah's family sky high. Sexual depravity and molestation, with their own son Jordan as the victim. All the unspeakable things happen to Jordan before the book begins, but as Sarah and Nate and the reader discover how horrible the abuse was, we sink deeper and deeper into the abyss.
Nate convinces Sarah to become Jordan's foster mother with both parents in jail, since she's always taught her boys to reach out to others in need. We just didn't have any idea how needy Jordan is. I literally groaned reading this, knowing it is fiction, but for some children this is their life.
Kittle uses robins and mama birds and nests to bring her story full circle. This is one that will haunt me for a long time...I know that is her plan. Important book!
Nate convinces Sarah to become Jordan's foster mother with both parents in jail, since she's always taught her boys to reach out to others in need. We just didn't have any idea how needy Jordan is. I literally groaned reading this, knowing it is fiction, but for some children this is their life.
Kittle uses robins and mama birds and nests to bring her story full circle. This is one that will haunt me for a long time...I know that is her plan. Important book!
Wow! I could not put this book down. The subject matter is disturbing and heartwrenching. I feel that the author presented it well and the main character remained strong through it all.
This was such an intense book. The subject of it is so sensitive and fragile, yet so destructive, that I can understand that for some people (or maybe even most people) this book is too hard to handle. I do have to give credit to the author for handling the subject with utmost care.
Even though I gave this book 5 stars, I'll never read it again or recommend it to anyone. This has nothing to do with the writing style, nor with the storyline. It was just an extremely emotional challenge to read it.
At one point - not even halfway through - a certain thing was described in detail and it almost made me want to stop reading. I'm really glad I didn't, but just to give you an idea of how intense this book was: it was on my mind 24/7 from the day I started until the day I finished and I even got a headache sometimes because I was thinking about it so much.
I have to say when I read the synopsis I was thinking about something completely different when they mentioned 'a shocking revelation'. This was the last thing I expected to be reading about, so they were right for it to be 'shocking' to me. I'm not even sure if that's the right word for it. It almost feels like an understatement.
You get to know all of the characters pretty well since the story's been told out of 4 different perspectives (Sarah, Jordan, Nate, Danny) and the story is build up in a good and clear way. It's both a good and a bad thing that you get sucked into the story because it keeps your interest throughout the whole book, but it can make you feel like you're in too deep, the way I was. Initially, I wanted to write a review more focused on the story itself, but I'm kind of at a loss for words.
Even though I gave this book 5 stars, I'll never read it again or recommend it to anyone. This has nothing to do with the writing style, nor with the storyline. It was just an extremely emotional challenge to read it.
At one point - not even halfway through - a certain thing was described in detail and it almost made me want to stop reading. I'm really glad I didn't, but just to give you an idea of how intense this book was: it was on my mind 24/7 from the day I started until the day I finished and I even got a headache sometimes because I was thinking about it so much.
I have to say when I read the synopsis I was thinking about something completely different when they mentioned 'a shocking revelation'. This was the last thing I expected to be reading about, so they were right for it to be 'shocking' to me. I'm not even sure if that's the right word for it. It almost feels like an understatement.
You get to know all of the characters pretty well since the story's been told out of 4 different perspectives (Sarah, Jordan, Nate, Danny) and the story is build up in a good and clear way. It's both a good and a bad thing that you get sucked into the story because it keeps your interest throughout the whole book, but it can make you feel like you're in too deep, the way I was. Initially, I wanted to write a review more focused on the story itself, but I'm kind of at a loss for words.
I could not put this book down. I read it in one sitting and it's still haunting me. Fascinating, riveting, beautiful. Difficult subject matter, but handled incredibly well. I can't wait to read more from this author!
I must have really liked this book, I checked it out again from the library (four years later!) not having realized I already read it. I'm not sure if I'll read it again, I vaguely remember it being a tough topic. But clearly I am drawn to the book.
The story was compelling given the awful topic/situation. I would have liked it much better if they developed Sarah, the mother of Nate and Danny, especially as it related to her relationship with Detective Kramble. The ending just ended. It didn't really tie things up nor did it give insight into Jordan's survival and growing up in Sarah's house.