This is a strange book. It’s basically an adult thriller told through the eyes of a pre-teen girl. At times it’s hard to remember that the main character and the voice of the story is only 12. At other times it’s glaringly obvious.
There are basically two stories here. They both hold approximately equal weight throughout the book. Unfortunately only one is truly resolved at the end.
Cassie is a 12 year old girl in Minnesota who lives on a farm. Her sister is about 15. They both go to school for a few more days at the beginning of the book before summer break. There are a few inklings of the first storyline I mentioned (that wasn’t wrapped up at the end). Their dad is a “monster” to Cassie, but sometimes loving and totally normal. She doesn’t really describe how he’s a monster, and he doesn’t really ever do anything to her throughout the book, but she sleeps under her bed, and in her closet, but no longer on top of her bed. Her sister is apparently starting to sleep with all of the boys in school now, and maybe something is going on with their father? Oh there’s also some creepy sex parties that the parents have. They start out as like a normal summer BBQ with covered dishes, and games and stuff, but then all of the adults go to the barn and have sex with each other’s spouses. The girls see some of it throughout the years. It’s super weird.
The other storyline is allegedly the primary one. Boys are going missing, being assaulted, and being returned “different”. They’re violent, and start attacking people randomly after they’re returned. There are at least four or five suspects throughout the book, and this is the one storyline that was resolved at the end. So what’s my problem you ask? I’m not really sure what the father is doing. Is he molesting his oldest daughter? If so, why is the mother putting up with it? She seems like a caring mother who is reasonable aware of things. If he isn’t, wtf is going on? I just was expecting something to be wrapped up in that regard. Cassie is still going to be sleeping under her bed, even though the big bad guy is caught. I guess I was just unsatisfied, and that doesn’t work for me in a book.