A review by xangemtheelibrarian
Pick the Lock by A.S. King

challenging dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

"Therapy. You all need THERAPY." Two books in a row where the main character gets to deal with intense parental trauma? Unlike Snow Drowned by Jennifer D. Lyle, this one is actually about domestic abuse. Vernon is an abusive husband and father. He tries to teach Jane and Henry to be abusive towards their mother as well. This is a book about children doing what it takes to avoid being the focus of the abuse. This is a story about a daughter waking up and realizing the truth about her family. 

There is a bit of sci-fi and fantasy in here, all tied into some major spoilers I will not reveal, but it didn't distract from the main point of the story for me. That being said, while I wasn't distracted from the main point of the story, I do wonder WHY Brutus had to be in it. The rat does some really cool stuff, but I just didn't understand why he was needed and why he had to be in the story at all. 
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