Review: Chillingly real. A must read.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 22, 2013
A threat to remain silent or she ends up like the kittens silences Neal Marchal for eight years. She's an orphan, connected to her stepmother's family, with no close kin to protect her. It's a life full of secrets, of a hidden dream involving music, and a group of people who are the only family she has, even if they are different ... hurtful.The intervention of a cop with a good heart after a neighbor is murder gives Neal hope, but she still holds back. Everyone knows the mountain people of apple country in New York don't abide by the same rules as other folks. Yet, these differences threaten to destroy Neal, until she meets a guy with a band, and an offer.Barbara Morgenroth weaves a tale of a family steeped with "bad apples," and a teenager surviving by her wits and her dreams. Neal's plight mirrors the plight of so many children, so many families, and yet she finds ways to escape - through writing and eventually music. It's a testament to the strength of the human spirit as Neal journeys from terrified, hide away teen to a confident singer and a person willing to accept help from others. This is a story that will appeal to teens who have experienced hardship and survived. I highly recommend this book.Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.