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The
beginning of the novel is clear cut. A teen gets upset with phoniness
of adults and runs away, hiding in the woods near her small Welsh
village. We read of her survival skills and her thoughts. I found
Rhiannon very immature to be nearly eighteen years old. I felt
she acted more like she was thirteen. This part of the novel may be
more exciting to youth readers but I found it uninteresting.
A
change in my reading interest happened when visitors arrived in the
village. The arrival of these strangers with a hidden agenda forces
the villagers to ultimately face a reality hidden for a
generation.
This
is where the strength of the novel shines through and redeems the
early part. We read of the heavy toll the villagers have carried because of the secrets of the past. We also see how Rhiannon and
others grow when the events of the past clash with those of the
present.
I
was pleased to find by the end of the novel that it is one of
characters facing their demons and conquering them, although much
pain and conflict was required. The potential for discussion on this
topic is not reflected on the discussion questions included.
I
am unclear to whom I would recommend this novel. Young readers may
like the character study of Rhiannon in the first half of the book.
Older readers would benefit from the growth in the villagers in the
latter half of the book.
My
rating: 4/5 stars.
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Lion
Fiction, distributed in the U.S. by Kregel, 304 pages.
I
received a complimentary copy of this book through Kregel. My
comments are an independent and honest review.
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