Somewhere Only We Know : A Young Adult Literary Novel

by Bri Marino, Morissa Schwartz (Editor)

Bri Marino’s somewhere only we know explores emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in the lives of four young girls. The novel shows Frankie’s struggle to make sense of the violence in her life, and her struggle to get her friends to open up about their abuse so that they can try to once again find that place of peace in their lives.

Genres: Young Adult

198 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2016

About the author

Bri Marino is the author of Somewhere Only We Know. She writes stories for and about women and girls finding hope despite pain. Bri lives in Dayton, Ohio with her husband and their dog. You can find her online at brimarinocreates.com and on Instagram @brimarinocreates.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great debut novel! I appreciated the imagery Bri used to offer strength and hope to two sisters Frankie and Susan. They have clung to each other for so long that they learn how to survive.
The story was engaging as the two sisters Leanne’s strength within themselves and gathered strength for each other. These two children are enduring life through the unthinkable, and learning who is there for support.

The story is very solemn as they two girls realize they are not alone. It makes me think of all the things people are going through that never show up on the outside. Treat others with kindness sometimes they have mustered up all their strength to show up.

[E.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhere Only We Know follows 12-year-old Frances "Frankie" Worthington and her 17-year-old sister Susan. Following the suicide of their mother, both Frankie and Susan are trying to survive in a damaged home with their alcoholic, sexually abusive father. Nobody at school knows, not the teachers, the counselors, or other students. Keeping silent, Frankie and Susan choose to share their pain with Miranda and Lindsey (Miranda goes to school with Susan and Lindsey goes to school with Frankie). Lindsey is temporarily mute and Miranda self-harms because they too have a damaged household. Together, they find solace in a linden tree near both of their homes. This book is deep and meaningful with its symbolism, tragic and sad with the subject matter, yet still stays hopeful. Some day these girls will be free and some day their story will get out there. All of them will eventually realize that they have worth in this world and that nobody can break them. What is ultimately depressing is that these things actually do happen in real life and like Frankie, Susan, Miranda, and Lindsey, these victims are feel forced into silence which ultimately means that their abusers face no repercussions for their actions. This is something that we as a society must change by believing people like Frankie.