Ever since witnessing her mother’s violent death at the age of 4, Jessie has resented her father’s source of income – that of making moonshine. As Jessie remembers it, there was an explosion at one of the stills that caused her mother’s death and she feels that this was – and still is – the root of all their family’s ills. In fact, if it weren’t for their continued success, there wouldn’t be the ongoing competition with the evil Murry family, which is wreaking havoc on their lives at the moment. Can’t her father see this? Perhaps Jessie has to take matters into her own hands and make it all stop, once and for all.
This is the painful story of a young teen – depressed, with rock-bottom self esteem and an outsider in her own family. Her character is complex as she is kind and striving to be good but she is also lonely and angry and terrified. She has no support, until her school nurse takes an interest in her and becomes her strongest ally. But the plot thickens and the suspense intensifies as the rivalry with the Murry family amps up. This also focuses blame back to Jessie, with her own family suspecting her of sabotaging their success.
Jessie then turns, as many do, to her only reliable form of soothing: food. But this comes in the form of bingeing, followed by purging and then periods of fasting. The author very graphically but astutely depicts this cycling, describing the determined push during the fast even as the physical symptoms can overwhelm, the numbness during the binges, and the self-loathing, guilt and mortification of the purging. It is unsatisfying because it is not filling the true void that is present, but it is a way to cope. And it becomes addictive.
This is a gritty, authentic novel that depicts a family in crisis that cannot communicate, leading to devastating consequences. The writing is extraordinary, the plot suspenseful, and the characters colorful. It is not a light read, though, so not for the beach. Perhaps more for when you’re already back from vacation?
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