Unabridged Audiobook
Great book, the perspective was so well written and the story unfolded in a unique way. The mystery kept me hooked all the way through
I couldn’t reconcile a ten-year-old’s behavior, thoughts, and actions with the things July did and thought. Her thinking seemed to be better matched with someone in their 30s and much of her behavior that of a mid-to-late teenager. [Potential Spoiler. To avoid spoilers, go to the second to last paragraph titled ‘no spoilers,’ and read to the end]: For example, I can’t imagine the awareness that a person might murder someone being in the forefront of a 10-year-old’s mind. I teach 10-year-olds and they are very trusting. It would not occur to them that a stranger might murder them for no other reason than being alone with them. SPOILER: how could July know enough about her mom to question anything if she never knew her and people were terrified to talk about her (the mother). I assumed, until I learned differently, that July had been at least 5 when her mother died. Like, she had some mom time and had made some memories. The book says she started asking about her mom, but she wouldn’t have known Shell (so) wasn’t her mother unless she’d been told. Also, a child blaming herself for her mothers death in childbirth? That seems way beyond childish thinking. The beauty of childhood is that we are not burdened with such thoughts and guilt. One more thing… I would like to have tied it back in with the teacher… that felt somewhat open ended. Not a huge deal, but as a teacher, I was waiting for that to be mentioned again. (How did she do on her paper?
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