Girl A

Very interesting premise, and it works for much of the time. I found myself alternating between being gripped for a section, then bored to tears for a section. Ultimately, I would say it was a noble but failed experiment, not quite able to sustain interest, despite constantly changing timeframe and focus. But I'll watch out for Abigail Dean's next effort.

What a debut Girl A is. There has been a lot of buzz about this book and rightfully so. It is at times harrowing as we get to know all the details that lead to the children being imprisoned in their own home and their eventual escape. The most skilful parts of the book are when we learn of the emotional scars that remain as each child tries to leave the past behind. Highly recommended.