About the Book
-
Author:
- Elizabeth Scott
- Genre:
- Contemporary
- Voices:
- Cis Girl
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: Just Fine
BFF Charm: The Rescuers
Swoonworthy Scale: NO
Talky Talk: Unsettling, Clearly
Bonus/Anti-Bonus Factor: Law and Order: SVU
Relationship Status: I’ll Be There
Content Warning: As a heads up, the content of this book (and therefore review) could be triggering for some people. This book involves sexual and physical abuse.
Cover Story: Just Fine
The frilly white dress in the dead leaves tip you off that this is going to be a dark book. Just looking at it, I would assume the book was about a child’s abduction or maybe a murder. The cover is nothing exceptional but it’s certainly not embarrassing and it’s an appropriate fit for the book’s story.
The Deal
At ten years old, Alice (as she’s now called) was kidnapped while on a school field trip. Alice suffers daily sexual and physical abuse from her captor Ray. Now fifteen, Alice is reaching the age at which the last Alice was killed. This book is a disturbing and terrifying look at both monster and victim as we follow Alice through her unimaginable life.
BFF Charm: The Rescuers
I honestly cannot give or withhold a BFF charm in this instance. Alice hasn’t had the opportunity to actually develop into a real person. As a “living dead girl” her entire mind-set consists of self-preservation, both mentally and physically. She hasn’t had the opportunity to develop a real personality past the age of ten. FYA on occasion presents adoption certificates but that doesn’t quite fit either. Basically the only thing I can think of for Alice is grab Bernard and Bianca and get her the fuck out immediately and put her into a safe house full of many, many trained trauma and mental health specialists.
Swoonworthy Scale: NO
This book is where good swoon goes to die. Seriously, I would actually avoid reading about anything swoony until you’ve had a full 24 hours to clear this book out of your system.
Talky Talk: Unsettling, Clearly
This novel is written from Alice’s perspective, taking us through both her present day to day activities and through her memories. The chapters are short – from a couple of pages to even just a couple of lines, which has the overall effect of packing a large punch with minimal words. For example:
Once upon a time, that moment was when a little girl’s world ended.
or
Never grow up. Like something out of a story, maybe. Try saying it while a hot, heavy hand pinches, testing to make sure you’re still child enough. Try saying it when you can’t grow, when you’re forever trapped where someone else wants you to be.
Both those quotes are (the entirely of) two separate chapters. Alice’s stunted emotional development makes her thoughts simultaneously childlike yet completely world-weary. Alice’s voice (and Scott’s writing style) perfectly captures the horror of her situation.
Bonus/Anti-Bonus Factor: Law and Order: SVU
A good way to gauge whether this book would be right for you to read is to think about how you typically handle fictionalized sexual assault. Do you or can you watch Law and Order: SVU? I’ve never been much of a fan of the show, but anytime I accidentally begin to watch an episode, I always find myself finishing because I need to see how it resolves. But where SVU can sometimes feel exploitative and sensationalized, I never felt that way reading this book. To me, it felt as though the author were just trying to write an important story that needed to be told. And the truly scary part is, with so many news stories about young women being held in captivity, this scenario hardly feels fictional.
Relationship Status: I’ll Be There
This book is graphic, highly disturbing and difficult to process. For that reason, I wouldn’t go around introducing this book to my friends. It’s the kind of book you have to come to on your own. And the kind of book that reminds me just how powerful YA lit can be these days – no topic is off limits. And for me personally, I am glad I read this book. With the news often feeling so voyeuristic, It is important to find alternative ways to approach difficult subjects and eye-opening look at the dark things in our world. And if this book ever needs a friend, I’ll be there for it.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received neither money nor cocktails for writing this review (dammit!). Living Dead Girl is available now.
