Friday, October 22, 2010

Secrets of Eden by Leslie DuBois

This book haunts you.  You might be done reading it, but you won't be done thinking about it.

Solstice Publishing provided me a copy of this ebook for reviewing.  It is currently available for purchase on their site.

Garrett is a young man who has never known his father.  His mother gave him to an older relative to raise after her husband went to jail.  Garrett learns a word a day and to use his mind while with this relative.  Then his mother comes to claim him.  Garrett is black, his new little sister is white.  That doesn't change how much he loves her and how determined he is to protect her.

When the man his mother lives with turns aggressive, Garrett stands up to him and gets some bruises for his efforts.  But no one is going to hurt his little sister while he's on watch!

Eventually Mom wants to marry again and Garrett learns about his father and visits him.  But he still finds lots of doors closed to learning about his family.

This fragmented family has a history of abuse, but no one wants to admit it.  Ms. DuBois writes a realistic story with a regrettable outcome, but there are consequences for any action you take...

The author makes Garrett a very strong, very good young man that you like.  But when he finds his sister is hemorrhaging and it's because she's having a miscarriage (at twelve), he loses his good sense and goes for revenge.  When he comes back to his senses, he's in jail, his stepfather is dead, his mother said she did it, and he can't remember!

Years go by before he finally finds out what happened.  And then he has to decide what he's going to do about it.  I found myself wondering what I would have done.  Maybe you will, too.  The story is ugly, but it's real.  These things happen in the real world.

Visit Solstice Publishing and buy a copy for yourself.  This is a disturbing book and it will make you think.  Take my word for it.

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