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A review by katykelly
What July Knew: A Moving Mystery about Family Secrets, Grief and Growing Up by Emily Koch
5.0
Gripping child's-eye-view of a family mystery and abuse.
That makes the book sound very dark and grim. It isn't. It is upsetting at times, disturbing, but it's also full of the hope and love of July, our 10 year old protagonist.
July lives with her father, stepmother and stepsister. She's not allowed to talk about her mother or ask questions about her. Bad things happen when she does. On her 10th birthday, the class is assigned a project: to research a little-known family member. July is desperate to know more about the mother who died in a car crash when she was small.
This is where the plot really begins, as July starts to ask questions quietly. And learn more. And find out that what's she been told may not all be true.
This totally captivated me. I just loved how information was revealed, how a child researched and delved, how those around her responded and just what a child might pick up. July is of course wise beyond her years in some ways. She's also heartbreakingly just a child wanting her father's love ad approval.
Here is where the story really does prove itself a winner - the characters around July are beautifully written. Her step-sister, the same age as July, with her own jealousies and insecurities. Her step-mother seemingly quite cold actually reveals herself to be anything but. And July's father, a portrait in hot-and-cold anger, control and unpredictability.
We have small snippets inside the heads of others around July - a teacher, neighbour, that give us insight outside of July's own knowledge, and all make you want to protect and help this small, brave girl.
It's a well-constructed and played-out mystery, with some very tense moments, a few fairly graphic scenes of violence and excellent relationship drama arcs between characters.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.
That makes the book sound very dark and grim. It isn't. It is upsetting at times, disturbing, but it's also full of the hope and love of July, our 10 year old protagonist.
July lives with her father, stepmother and stepsister. She's not allowed to talk about her mother or ask questions about her. Bad things happen when she does. On her 10th birthday, the class is assigned a project: to research a little-known family member. July is desperate to know more about the mother who died in a car crash when she was small.
This is where the plot really begins, as July starts to ask questions quietly. And learn more. And find out that what's she been told may not all be true.
This totally captivated me. I just loved how information was revealed, how a child researched and delved, how those around her responded and just what a child might pick up. July is of course wise beyond her years in some ways. She's also heartbreakingly just a child wanting her father's love ad approval.
Here is where the story really does prove itself a winner - the characters around July are beautifully written. Her step-sister, the same age as July, with her own jealousies and insecurities. Her step-mother seemingly quite cold actually reveals herself to be anything but. And July's father, a portrait in hot-and-cold anger, control and unpredictability.
We have small snippets inside the heads of others around July - a teacher, neighbour, that give us insight outside of July's own knowledge, and all make you want to protect and help this small, brave girl.
It's a well-constructed and played-out mystery, with some very tense moments, a few fairly graphic scenes of violence and excellent relationship drama arcs between characters.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.