We may not often shine the spotlight on young adult novels, but this title by a Toronto author – translated for the first time into French – certainly caught our attention.
The book opens with a scene that is disturbing to say the least: Candace is 5 years old and her mother abandons her in a small apartment where she will stay alone for two days before someone comes to pick her up. Very quickly, she is adopted by a loving couple who offer her a dream life, shared with her best friend, Ever, and her brother. Then, at 17, everything changes when events turn their lives upside down.
Grappling with their wounds and trauma, the three teenagers will create a support group with their friends to be able to talk about everything that is gnawing at them, as therapy.
Told in three voices, this novel about sisterhood and family – the one we have as well as the one we build for ourselves – also reflects on the notion of forgiveness and redemption, but very gently, without trying to preach or to learn from the trials.
A book like we like to read at that age, to feel a little less alone in difficult times.
Our cries
Boreal
280 pages