This book has been harvesting so much praise, that it almost becomes impossible to say something adverse. Still, I think the book is a bit overrated. The subject matter (sexual child abuse by a father) makes for cautious reading (and writing), but the subject is luckily developed without any downright horror scenes, which is a boon. Victim 12-year old Emma learns to leave her body, in order that she does not have to consciously experience every rape. 'Outside' she meets her deceased sister, whose conversation at first is gibberish to Emma, but later on proves to be instrumental to the books' conclusion and solution. So far so good. It's original, readably written and the story is enchaining and moving.
What's not so good, though, is the cardboard character of almost all of the protagonists. The father is a cartoon: a cold and criminal brute with no other sides at all. The uncaring and hopelessly narrow-minded mother, a snob avant la lettre is only slightly better. The loud, ramshackle and ultimately kindhearted neighbours are prototypes of never-failing good people, with no negative sides, except their being so unkempt. These seem out of place in a novel with such a realistic tone.
Even Emma herself seems somewhat one-dimensional. I could not really relate to the way she as a 12-year old still thinks her mother will die if she betrays what her father does to her.
By far the best personage is her sister Ginny, residing in a twilight 'middle-ground', where she is compelled to appear to give Emma a clue. These passages are in their utter strangeness very convincing. The final turns of the story-line are excellent too.
The book succeeds on the score of the development of the story, the careful way of addressing such a grievous subject and the credible portrayal of her dead sister and the twilight zone she lives in.
The monochrome characters are a let-down, though... ( )

A very painful book to read, but well worth it. ( )

A wonderful book that more people should know about. ( )

Totally blown away by this book. It left me speechless after the last page. Such a heart gripping look at a topic that makes normal people want to go postal. Highly recommend!!! ( )

This book tackles a very difficult subject: a parent who molests his child. Everything about the subject is distasteful, yet Susan Palwick does a very good job of telling the story through 12 year old Emma, the victim of the abuse. What Emma does to protect herself from her father's behavior, something over which she has no control, is written with such credibility it's easy to believe this story could actually happen. ( )