This is a powerful , touching story about discovering who you are, finding your place in the world and learning to love who you turn out to be. It deals with a lot of heavy issues: rape, sexual abuse, sexuality, gender identity and victim-blaming in such a sensitive and meaningful way.
The main character Mara is trying to recover from a trauma she has never shared with anyone not even her twin brother Owen with whom she is so close. When Owen is accused of raping his girlfriend, her best friend Hannah, what is she to believe?
All the characters in this book are so deeply crafted you feel you know them. Hannah is not a girl who would make this up so why is she being blamed by her classmates? How could Mara’s beloved brother have done such a horrible thing?
But Mara knows the truth and her support of Hannah is strong and real. Hannah is not ruled by what has happened and she faces the world with strength and resilience. These girls are powerful.
Mara’s ex-girlfriend Charlie is genderqueer and struggling to find the courage to express who she really is. They were also best friends and grieve over being apart. Together they struggle to evolve their relationship while dealing with their emerging identities.
I loved this book and the power that each character finds in themselves and in their friendships. This is a beautiful and stunning book that will touch you and make you wiser.
“Sweetie, this will blow over. It’s a misunderstanding. You know your brother”.
“You keep saying that”.
“Saying what?”.
“That it’s a misunderstanding. That I know Owen. But...Mom, I know Hannah, too”.
“What do we do?” What’s going to happen to Owen? And Hannah... we can’t just not listen to her. You’ve always said that we have to listen to girls no matter—“
“He’s ours, Mara, Mom says, a kind of quiet fury edging her words. He’s my son. And we love him. That’s what we do”.
Tessa's Picks
8th grade, Contemporary fiction,Character driven, Issues fiction, Friendship, LGBTQ
The main character Mara is trying to recover from a trauma she has never shared with anyone not even her twin brother Owen with whom she is so close. When Owen is accused of raping his girlfriend, her best friend Hannah, what is she to believe?
All the characters in this book are so deeply crafted you feel you know them. Hannah is not a girl who would make this up so why is she being blamed by her classmates? How could Mara’s beloved brother have done such a horrible thing?
But Mara knows the truth and her support of Hannah is strong and real. Hannah is not ruled by what has happened and she faces the world with strength and resilience. These girls are powerful.
Mara’s ex-girlfriend Charlie is genderqueer and struggling to find the courage to express who she really is. They were also best friends and grieve over being apart. Together they struggle to evolve their relationship while dealing with their emerging identities.
I loved this book and the power that each character finds in themselves and in their friendships. This is a beautiful and stunning book that will touch you and make you wiser.
“Sweetie, this will blow over. It’s a misunderstanding. You know your brother”.
“You keep saying that”.
“Saying what?”.
“That it’s a misunderstanding. That I know Owen. But...Mom, I know Hannah, too”.
“What do we do?” What’s going to happen to Owen? And Hannah... we can’t just not listen to her. You’ve always said that we have to listen to girls no matter—“
“He’s ours, Mara, Mom says, a kind of quiet fury edging her words. He’s my son. And we love him. That’s what we do”.
Tessa's Picks
8th grade, Contemporary fiction,Character driven, Issues fiction, Friendship, LGBTQ
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