I met him on the second of May. It's not like I could ever forget that date. It was my brother's tenth birthday.
Published by Scholastic in March 2016
Pages - 260
Summary
The dark and compelling tale of an abusive teen relationship, told from the perspective of the victim, fourteen-year-old Anna.
*****
This is one of those books that makes it feel wrong to say you loved. Purely because of the subject matter. This book deals with a toxic relationship. It dealt with it so well, that at times I had to put the book down and walk away to get breathing space. I've never been in this type of relationship but I've seen it happen to others and it is a difficult one to read about.
Anna is lonely and confused. Her mother has left her, leaving her with her father and younger brother. Her dad is treating her like a carer and maid and Anna is about ready to explode. Will finds her at her most vulnerable; not that it feels like he did this intentionally, it just happened.
Anna is too innocent to realise what is going on at first, because Will is so loving and caring. When someone shows you affection that you life so blatantly lacks, it is easy to view it through a rose tinted window and rub out any of the niggling worries you may feel. Anna can't see what other people see at first. It takes a lot of things to manifest before she can see the truth.
I feel a little bit sorry for Will too. Even though he is the way he is, his background nurtured his behaviour. No one is born cruel, life experiences mold you into the person you become.
I would love to see this book on the secondary school curriculum. Seriously, this book should be given out to girls with puberty packs. If girls aren't shown that love comes in many guises, some more dangerous than others, how will they ever realise what is right or wrong. Love should not hurt physically or mentally. If it does, then it's time to leave.
An easy five stars from me and one I will be recommending highly.
This is one of those books that makes it feel wrong to say you loved. Purely because of the subject matter. This book deals with a toxic relationship. It dealt with it so well, that at times I had to put the book down and walk away to get breathing space. I've never been in this type of relationship but I've seen it happen to others and it is a difficult one to read about.
Anna is lonely and confused. Her mother has left her, leaving her with her father and younger brother. Her dad is treating her like a carer and maid and Anna is about ready to explode. Will finds her at her most vulnerable; not that it feels like he did this intentionally, it just happened.
Anna is too innocent to realise what is going on at first, because Will is so loving and caring. When someone shows you affection that you life so blatantly lacks, it is easy to view it through a rose tinted window and rub out any of the niggling worries you may feel. Anna can't see what other people see at first. It takes a lot of things to manifest before she can see the truth.
I feel a little bit sorry for Will too. Even though he is the way he is, his background nurtured his behaviour. No one is born cruel, life experiences mold you into the person you become.
I would love to see this book on the secondary school curriculum. Seriously, this book should be given out to girls with puberty packs. If girls aren't shown that love comes in many guises, some more dangerous than others, how will they ever realise what is right or wrong. Love should not hurt physically or mentally. If it does, then it's time to leave.
An easy five stars from me and one I will be recommending highly.
Thanks for the recommendation. I've been looking for something a little darker than I have been reading. Interesting that you had to put it down and walk away. That must be some powerful writing.
ReplyDelete