By Holly Jackson
In this book, a teen takes on the city’s big murder as her senior project for high school. Pip’s town was shaken about five years ago when the town’s most popular, beautiful, senior coed is allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, who then commits suicide. Tragic, but tidy; all loose ends are knotted succinctly.
Or are they?
Pip knew “the boyfriend”, Sal, and always suspected things were not as they seemed. Everyone else, including the authorities, were quick to paint him guilty and not ask further questions. Aided by her unlikely partner, Sal’s younger brother, Ravi, Pip dares to ask those questions – to the detriment of her security and her family’s.
This book explores themes of stereotypes, racism, and the prejudices we can encounter in any town. Jackson delves further into mental health and scarring, the definition of family, and how technology and social media can be used and abused. All of this happens while taking us on a psychological thrill ride!
I really liked this book because I didn’t figure it all out by the end, but there were no absurd leaps by the protagonist to make it to the conclusion. It all made sense – making it all the more sinister. It is also a series, with the next book coming out on April 30.
Pros & Cons & Potential Spoilers
Pros
- There is some great tension and pacing throughout that will keep you wanting to read more – suspects come and go and reappear and disappear…
- I liked that it challenged the “Good Girl” stereotype in the victim. Is she really the villain? Is she a product of her family? Are we all?
- Really liked the main character – her persistence, her values, her priorities – a daughter I would love to have!
Cons – honestly, more just self-reflective feelings…
- Not feeling as confident in or happy with authority figures currently
- Also an outraged animal lover
- Questioning all the ways to parent teens