Sanchez, Jenny Torres Fall of Innocence, 448 pages. Philomel
(Penguin), JUNE 2018. $19. Language: R (65 swears, 25 ‘f’); Mature
Content: PG (rape mentioned); Violence: PG-13 (suicide)
When Emilia was a little girl she was attacked by Jeremy, an
older mentally challenged boy at her school.
All these years she has struggled to keep it together, even after her
father left. With the help of her
friend, now boyfriend, Ian, and her mother and brother, she has built a safe
space. Then comes the day that the
police detective comes around again – someone else has confessed to the attack
and knows details only the attacker could now.
Jeremy will be let out of the facility he has been living in and the
real attacker is dying – he only has a short time to live. Emilia’s life is shattered. She’s trying to deal with these new
revelations, putting on a brave face, but she is failing inside where it
counts. The birds that guarded her
thoughts the first time around are back – this time their presence may not be
able to stop the sinking.
My heart aches for Emilia because she never got the help
that she really needed. The book is both
spooky and heartbreaking. Older students
who appreciate a bit of darkness and depth will appreciate the journey, even
though the end will make them cry.
HS – OPTIONAL. Cindy,
Library Teacher
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