A good teen read-- not great literature but a dark mystery taking place amid rural poverty, meth addictions, gay bashing, coming of age, hope amoung the hopeless, friendships, secrets, lies, rape and abuse. 17 year old Cat is entering her senior year. She has isolated herself from everyone --including her supportive friends-- because she was sexually abused by a local boy from a powerful family (a theme that runs throught the work). She is compelled to reengage, however, when her formerly best friend, Patrick, is found comatose and near death strung up to a gas pump with the nozzel shoved down his throat and SUCK ON THIS carved into his torso.While the church ladies blame the victim and the sheriff looks for gay bashing outsiders, Cat begins her own investigation, certain the answer is to be found in the local red neck posse and friends who,like all bullies, operate in plain view of the adults who never see a thing. i like the mystery and the setting and the inclusion of gay characters. it is good teen lit but not great-- i solved the mystery long before the book ended and the ending is very very neat and too happy for the rest of the book (left me wondering if publisher or focus group told her to lighten it up at the end.) i am also disturbed by the relationship she ends up having with her abuser. He is not a monster and a little unhappy with the redemption and acceptance of him or of her abuse-- i will think on this for a while. let me know how you see it. still, i will recommend with caveats.
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