May 2012, Razorbill
280 pages, Paperback
Review copy
Themes: twins, Treacber-Collins Syndrome, hope, working towards an escape, teen relationships, discovering true freedom, fear, terror, deep family secrets, psychological coping mechanisms, child abuse, rape, strong accounts of abuse, tissues are neede
Summary from Penguin
280 pages, Paperback
Review copy
Themes: twins, Treacber-Collins Syndrome, hope, working towards an escape, teen relationships, discovering true freedom, fear, terror, deep family secrets, psychological coping mechanisms, child abuse, rape, strong accounts of abuse, tissues are neede
Summary from Penguin
Hephzibah
You've no idea what it's like having a freak for a sister.
Rebecca
Born first, prettier, Hephzi's always been the more popular one.
The Father
When he was busy with his bottle we were usually safe. Usually.
The Mother
Her specialist subject was misery and lessons of painful silence . . .
Hepzibah and Rebecca are twins.
One beautiful, one disfigured.
Trapped with their loveless parents, they dream of a normal life.But when one twin tragically dies, the other must find a way to escape. Because if she doesn't, she'll end up like her sister .
Nayuleska's thoughts
This was both a captivating and terrifying read. I've read similar books, but it never gets any easier reading about the atrocities that people who are supposed to take care of children perform. It was interesting and understandable that Rebecca & Hepzibah have quite different takes on the world. I liked the way that while Rebecca lived in the present, Hepzibah's past slowly unraveled which had a profound effect on Rebecca's future.
I think I was too appalled at the hardships of abuse that both the twins endured that I didn't cry until the end. It's a realistic ending, not a perfect happy ever after one, but one which has hope while still dealing with the trauma of Rebecca's childhood. I can only pray and hope others like Rebecca & Hepzibah get the help they need, and people who know domestic violence is going all do the right thing, which sort of happened in this 10/10 read.
Suggested read
For another tale about a girl enduring and fleeing tyrannical domestic abuse try One Foot Wrong by Sofie Laguna
This was both a captivating and terrifying read. I've read similar books, but it never gets any easier reading about the atrocities that people who are supposed to take care of children perform. It was interesting and understandable that Rebecca & Hepzibah have quite different takes on the world. I liked the way that while Rebecca lived in the present, Hepzibah's past slowly unraveled which had a profound effect on Rebecca's future.
I think I was too appalled at the hardships of abuse that both the twins endured that I didn't cry until the end. It's a realistic ending, not a perfect happy ever after one, but one which has hope while still dealing with the trauma of Rebecca's childhood. I can only pray and hope others like Rebecca & Hepzibah get the help they need, and people who know domestic violence is going all do the right thing, which sort of happened in this 10/10 read.
Suggested read
For another tale about a girl enduring and fleeing tyrannical domestic abuse try One Foot Wrong by Sofie Laguna
2 comments:
This sounds like a tough read. Thanks for the review, Nayu! I'll have to check it out :)
Keep tissues to hand when you read it, Iffath. :)
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