Play Book Tag discussion

Moving back and forwards in time, this novel follows Jodi upon her release from prison in 2007 as she fights to regain land she lost due to unpaid taxes whilst in prison, as well as the events that lead her to commit murder at the age of 17 in 1989. Well-written, it is hard to believe that this is a debut-novel. This book covers a lot of ground – possibly too much – including the effects of fracking and the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs on an impoverished community in West Virginia. The book was well set up, but I was disappointed in the ending, as we didn’t see whether Jodi is successful in her quest to save “her” land, or whether she finds herself back in prison for violating the terms of her release. Maren has recently released another book, and I hope to get to that one soon.