Life
couldn't be any better for Barrie Graeber, a high school counselor.
She has a successful husband, a wonderful home, a great son, and the
perfect daughter. Pearl is the high school senior every mother
dreams of. She is a cheerleader dating the quarterback.
The
perfect picture begins to crack when Barrie is taking Pearl home
after a game. They happen to see the quarterback, Pearl's steady
boyfriend, kissing her best friend.
Barrie
tries to help Pearl cope with the betrayal. There is a sense of
helplessness as Pearl shuts out her mother. One night Pearl comes
home drunk, something Barrie can hardly imagine from her daughter.
The tension mounts until one night the dreaded visit from the police.
Pearl had been killed in a one car accident. And the unthinkable –
Pearl was pregnant.
The
novel follows Barrie as she pursues the real history of her daughters
last weeks. When she finds out who impregnated her daughter, she
must battle the system to see that justice is done.
What
a great novel. My heart went out to Barrie as she tried to
understand what happened and how to deal with it. It was so hard
when she and her husband disagreed on the course of action. And when
she had to fight “the system,” it was all too real.
Kellie
has managed to capture the feelings of a mother as she faces the
reality of a daughter who was not who she thought she was. This is a
very touching and emotional novel. Well done! Discussion Questions
at the end of the book make this a fine choice for reading groups.
This
is Kellie's debut novel. I'll be looking for the next one.
Go
to http://kelliecoatesgilbert.com/
to watch a video and find out more about the book and author.
Kellie
Coates Gilbert is a former legal investigator and trial paralegal. She
lives in Dallas.
Abingdon
Press, 303 pages.
I
received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the
purpose of this review.
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