Intended Audience: Mature Teens
Genre: Real life
Notes for Parents: Contains scenes of violence, coarse language, and scenes of sexuality. Recommended for mature readers only.
The Back Cover
When
Patrick Truman is found beaten, bound, and left for dead, sixteen-year-old
loner Cat is determined to discover the truth of what happened to her former
best friend. The local sheriff blames out-of-towners, but Cat is sure someone
in their small, tightly knit Southern community is guilty of the crime.
Patrick
is gay, and for years he has been teased and bullied by people claiming to be
his friends, people Cat calls “the redneck posse.” She plans to start her hunt
for the culprit with them. But there are two problems. Cat’s brother is a
member of the posse, and so is the boy who assaulted Cat years ago, forcing her
into the self-imposed exile from which she must now emerge…for Patrick and for
herself.
What the cover
doesn’t tell you:
A
portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book benefits the Matthew Shepard
Foundation, an organization founded in memory of a 21-year-old man who was
murdered in October 1998 because he was gay.
What’s good?
This
is a powerful story about a young girl moved to action when her estranged
friend is beaten and left for dead because he is gay. The mystery of who and
why unfolds slowly as Cat wrestles with her own issues and struggles against
the apathy of her small town. The story is full of well-drawn characters both
colorful and dark, ones that offer hope and others that epitomize the worst of
small town life. The town of Black Creek itself is a vivid character, a
beautiful portrait of a tightly-knit, church-going community that hides
poverty, drug use, and ignorance.Best Part: “…I spent a lot of time comparing my insides to other people’s outsides, which made me feel broken and didn’t get me anywhere.” (Cat’s revelation on page 346)
What isn’t good?
No
one benefited from the truth because the truth was never told. There were no
consequences for Cat’s abuser and the truth of Patrick’s attack is simply
buried. No one talks about the whys
and what fors and so the town and its
people continue on as they always have.Worst part: The end.
Recommendation þþþþo
This
is a heavy subject but a fairly easy read. The language is strong at times, and
some of the scenes are graphic and disturbing. But the story is good, the
mystery is compelling, and the overall message is important. While I’m
definitely not keen on how it ended, I do think it’s well worth the read. Recommended.
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