About This Book
Reach for this book when you need to navigate a difficult conversation about family safety, secret-keeping, or physical boundaries. It is a profoundly serious story about a young girl named Laurie who is being physically abused by her mother, a secret she carries through multiple moves to different cities. While the subject matter is heavy, the book focuses on the courage it takes to speak up and the importance of finding a trusted adult who will listen and take action. This is a landmark title in children's literature for its honest depiction of child abuse. It helps children understand that their safety is paramount and that the cycle of silence can be broken. Parents should choose this book for mature middle-grade readers to foster empathy for others or to provide a lifeline for children who may be experiencing similar family dynamics. It is a tool for empowerment and a reminder that every child deserves to be protected.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
1. DISTRESS: The book contains visceral descriptions of physical abuse, including Laurie being hit, shoved, and sustaining injuries like a broken arm and a knife wound. A scene where the mother attacks Laurie while she is in the bathtub is particularly terrifying and may cause significant distress for younger or more sensitive readers. 2. CONVERSATION: Parents must be ready to discuss child abuse, the failure of adults to notice signs of harm, and the role of Mandated Reporters (though the term isn't used). Be prepared to explain why Laurie's stepfather might have been oblivious and how to identify 'safe' adults in the real world.
Ideal Reader
A mature 11-to-13-year-old who is interested in social issues or a child looking for stories about overcoming difficult home lives and self-advocacy.
Parent Prep
Preview the scenes involving physical injuries (the knife incident and the final escalation) to ensure your child can handle the graphic nature of the descriptions. Seeing Laurie's mother manipulate other adults to make Laurie look like a 'clumsy' or 'difficult' child while hiding her own cruelty.
Age Experience
Younger readers (10) may focus on the scary physical danger, whereas older readers (13-14) will likely pick up on the psychological manipulation and the social systems that fail Laurie.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many books that deal with external threats, this novel focuses on the 'betrayal of the bond' between parent and child, handling a taboo subject with stark realism rather than metaphors.
Read plot summary
Laurie is a young girl living in a state of constant hyper-vigilance. Her mother is physically abusive, often lashing out in fits of rage, leading to injuries that Laurie and her mother cover up with lies. Because the family moves frequently, teachers and doctors never see the patterns of abuse. Laurie finally finds a bit of hope when she befriends a boy named Jeff and begins to realize that her family life is not normal. The climax occurs when her mother's violence escalates, and Laurie must finally find a way to get an adult (her stepfather and medical professionals) to believe her truth before it is too late.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Why was it so hard for Laurie to tell her stepfather or her teachers the truth about her bruises?
2
Laurie's mother moves the family every time she thinks someone is getting suspicious. How does this 'fresh start' actually make things worse for Laurie?
3
When Jeff sees Laurie's injuries, he reacts differently than the adults. What makes him a good friend to her in that moment?
4
By the end of the book, what has changed about Laurie's understanding of what a 'secret' should be?
5
What are the specific things the nurse or the doctor did that finally made Laurie feel safe enough to tell the whole story?
