The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes
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A very powerful story that you can't take your eyes off. We first meet Minnow and begin to learn about her as she is being sent to juvenile detention. We see her past unfold in a variety of ways and each one opens her up a little bit more. The more I understand of her past, the more real she becomes.
Some truly horrible things happen - I don't want to sugar coat it. The way her story was told was so powerful that I actually felt her pain physically. The writing was so beautiful and real, I couldn't help but feel it every step of the way.
But Minnow is not her past. She makes some great friends in juvenile detention, and meets some really bad people as well. She learns about how the world really works decides that she can survive in it. This story may not be all bright and shiny, but it shows how a person in the worst of circumstances can find that bit of gold in their life.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*