FYI: Subject matter is dark and adult. Sexual situations are inferred, not graphic. Language is clean. There are a few scattered grammatical/formatting/spelling errors.
When I reached the last page of the appropriately titled UNSPEAKABLE THINGS, my December FIRST READS selection, I had tears in my eyes. Those tears were for what was going on in the story, as much as for the realization I was saying goodbye to Cassie. I'm going to miss the novel's plucky, irrepressible, funny, whip-smart narrator.
Cassie, at age twelve, is already wise beyond her years. There is also so much she has to learn. As the book opens Cassie is looking forward to a long Summer, turning Thirteen, and leaving Seventh grade in the reveiw mirror. This will be the summer of learning and understanding. By summer's end, circumstances will force Cassie to leave behind any lingering, idyllic illusions she has about people, and see the darkness that hides in plain view, both in her community and her own family.
This is a subtle story, where little is actually spelled out, but much is inferred. The author does a masterful job of slowly revealing the horrors that are taking place in this small Minnesota town. There is someone preying on the children of Lytteville and Cassie, who is a big fan of Nellie Bly , decides to follow in her footsteps and investigate the matter.
Cassie is determined to find out who is responsible for brutally raping several boys, her and her sister go to school with. Cassie has a habit of being sneaky, eavesdropping and snooping through other people's things. She may be getting some of her information second hand, but there is no denying that these victims, who say the perpetrator wore a mask, are acting very strangely. Cassie has known these boys her whole life, but now she is afraid of them. Even her kind hearted older sister is not as sweet as she used to be.
The reader is in the dark about the secrets that Cassie's family is hiding. Because we know Cassie, we know that something is terribly wrong, and the family is hiding something truly awful. What we do know is that Cassie is afraid of her father, a mean drunk, that the entire family tip toes around on eggshells.
The author slowly reveals the disturbing ways in which the family's life is impacted by the absolute control Cassie's father exercises over the family. He is moody, angry, and unpredictable. He is also a raging alcoholic, a Vietnam Vet, with self diagnosed PTSD, a talented struggling artist, a big fan of pornography, and known to throw some of the county's biggest parties. Predicting and appeasing his moods, is a skill set his wife and daughters have gained through necessity. The excessive secrecy about all things "family", is only one of the things they use to avoid any attention being brought on the "family." They are expected to tow the line and fly under the radar.
It is a difficult life for a child straddling adulthood, and every word of it rings true. Cassie is a joy and the book is a fast read. It is well written and I thought it was outstanding.
mark l wilder