School Library Journal

Gr 10 Up-Being the fastest runner, a master at chess, and able to take down an animal while hunting in one shot are Didi's father's hopes for her. He claims to love her, but that doesn't appear to be the case when she fails at his expectations, and he cruelly punishes her. Growing up, Didi knows she has to be wise when dealing with her father. The older she gets, the more obvious things become. Didi's father has always taught her to be prepared, but is he prepared for how well he prepared her? Griffin has crafted a book that is part thriller and part realistic horror. Told in the third person, the book opens with a teenage Didi but then quickly switches to her at a young age, followed by several time jumps. Focusing on an abusive parent, the book's content might trigger some readers. Didi's father walks in on her while she is changing multiple times, hits her with a rifle, and denies her food and clothing. Readers will be turning the pages to figure out just how Didi's story ends. Didi has brown hair, but her and her father's race are never stated. VERDICT An intense read best given with caution.-Amanda Borgia