Once again, I'm probably the last person on earth to read this great novel. Lessons From a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles is a novel about abuse, friendship, remorse, and forgiveness. It is also about finding your voice to speak out. This last theme affected me the most.

True friendship--what's the meaning? Is it someone who will keep your secrets? When should someone keep a secret and when should someone tell one?

"Everyone has secrets. They aren't ours to tell," (p 65) says Leah to Laine. Both girls are unable to speak up about the abuse they've suffered. Leah, who has been abused by a family friend, has in turn abused Laine, a plain girl who is timid and shy. Knowles exceptionally creates a character, Leah, that readers both hate and pity. As for Laine, we know that she doesn't know how to navigate such a complicated and abusive relationship because she's never had real friends before.

It isn't until the end of the novel that Laine learns how to physically and symbolically bury her past as she buries an unwanted doll and eventually Leah's body that died in a crash. Though she never receives an answer from Leah about why she was singled out for such abuse, Laine has real friends in the end and through their support and her courage, she can finally speak up for the timid girl she used to be.

I highly recommend this book. One finds power in this novel, strength in the voice Laine finds in the end.
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From: [identity profile] neile.livejournal.com



I just read this one, too, and like you was impressed with it, and how well it handled the complicated emotions of the characters.

From: [identity profile] scififanatic.livejournal.com


Yes, that's a great way to explain it. She handles the complicated emotions of all the characters quite well, as you said. That was her first novel and from what I've read, she's got another one coming out soon.

From: [identity profile] marivee.livejournal.com


I remember this book. It really hit me in the gut. I agree that it's a powerful novel because it shows that forgiveness and love can heal even the greatest of emotional burdens, quilt, anger and pain.

I just finished LIving Dead Girl. OMG. Too scary. You actually see into the mind of a child so brutally mentally and physically tormented. When they discribed it as "visceral", they weren't kidding!!!

Do you have this ARC? I can lend it to you if you're interested. ;)

From: [identity profile] scififanatic.livejournal.com


Did you get it from BEA???? That title sounds familiar but I haven't read a single ARC yet. I'll check my bags to see if I have that one. I don't know...after reading so many heavy titles, I'm looking forward to reading something completely different. I have a friend who published her first erotica novel and I think I'll read that next.

From: [identity profile] marivee.livejournal.com


Is that the one that comes out on 9/28, A Mirror in the Well? I'm looking out for that one too!

From: [identity profile] scififanatic.livejournal.com


I ordered a Mirror in the Well so when it gets here, you're more the welcome to read it! I've got four more books ahead in my queu so I won't get to it right away.
.

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