Such a Pretty Girl, by Laura Wiss, is a compelling, psychological thriller about a daughter battling her mother and her father. Meredith is a 15 year-old girl who was, at an earlier age, was threatened and sexually abused by her own father. After standing trial, a judge ruled for him to be sentenced to nine years in prison.
Due to good behavior, however, he only served three years. Her mother is ecstatic that her husband is released for Meredith’s mother never believed that her husband would be capable of such a disgusting act. If her mother had to choose between her and her abuser, Meredith knows that she would choose her husband.
The emotion behind this story is heart breaking, as you have empathy for Meredith during the entire story, while you detest her father. Throughout the story, there are flashbacks from when Meredith was sexually abused by her father; the flashbacks focus upon things that the father said which that still haunt her or, of the terrifying details that she remembers from the days he attacked.
This story is an example of a haunting social issue that is still occurring all too often to children every day. Often, the victims are reluctant to come forward with their stories because of embarrassment and the stigma of being abused, especially by a family member.
Realistic Fiction is one of my favorite genres because it allows you to peer into the mind of a person trapped in a situation without actually having to live through the event. This story allows you to get into Meredith’s mind and I read this book, I felt what Meredith must have felt. For a reader, that is a characteristic of a strong story!
