There is no simple way to describe this book. Even though I read the synopsis on goodreads prior to starting it, I still went into it pretty much blind. The story is narrated from two points of view: a 16-year old girl named Amber, who is an inmate of a juvenile correctional facility; and an 18-year old ballerina (Vee) who has great prospects for a spectacular ballet career. The story is also moving along two different time lines: Vee's narration is in the present and Amber's voice relates the events of three years prior. The story also has a supernatural aspect to it so if you are not a fan of magical realism, you should probably know beforehand that this is coming.
To me, this book is all about being trapped and looking for ways to escape that entrapment. The walls around us are not just the walls of a detention center that keep the girls imprisoned. In many ways, these girls, just as many other people in real life, are prisoners of everyday circumstances and events. What pushes a 13-year old girl to commit a murder? How does one land in prison at 14? The novel also looks at the issue of justice. Do the guilty always end up in prison? How does one get justice? I do not want to say anything more for fear of revealing too much of the plot. If this sounds even remotely interesting, do pick up this book and ask your teenage daughters and nieces to read it. It will also make a great pick for book club discussions.
No comments:
Post a Comment