Took some unexpected turns that made the story even more shocking and heartbreaking. ( )

This one's truly a tough one to rate...and as I write this, I still haven't yet. Why?

Well, on one had, the writing is...not good, on several fronts, and the story tends to fall flat.

But on the other hand, has the arguments in my head that started with the reading of this book continued to live, rent free, in my head since? Yes. Yes they have.

So, let's start with the stuff I didn't like.

As I said, the writing is not good, but let me explain exactly how. There are large sections where characters talk, or the mother is processing what her son did that feel like Berry just downloaded swaths of text from articles and essays on the particular fact being chewed over. Then it feels like the author came back in and tried to knock it around until it fit more of a format for a fictional book...so, some narrative, then some dialogue, then more of each.

And let's talk the dialogue, shall we? The medical personnel in this book talk like they're reading out of texts. Noah, who we're supposed to believe to be about 15ish at the time of the molestations, and 17 when he's released, talks and thinks like he's about, oh, 35 and quite worldly and literate. Is it possible? Sure. Does it ring true here? Absolutely not. And the same complaint goes for the "Him, then" sections as well.

Then there's the mother. Is the author trying to portray her as a frazzled parent who's completely out of her depth? She is, and that's the exact right thing to do. But, in the process, does she make her so willfully blind at times, and shockingly stupid that you ultimately run out of patience for her? Well, I can only speak for me, but yes, that's exactly what happened.

Here. Let me give you an example of her thoughts:

I didn’t blame the girls, though. It wasn’t their fault. They had no idea what they were doing. None. Their touch and exploration was completely innocent. Nothing sexual about it, but it hadn’t been innocent for Noah, and he wasn’t their age, which made it a crime. I understood that, but their lives weren’t going to be ruined forever. They just weren’t.

The first half I don't have much complaint with, it's there for context. But it's the but their lives weren't going to be ruined forever. They just weren't lines.

Excuse me? They were, if I remember correctly, seven years old. You're telling me that being touched in a sexual manner doesn't leave a stain on that child's mind for the rest of their life? If that's what you truly believe, yeah, I'm done with you.

So, yes, I had no sympathy for any of the characters aside from Noah's younger sister, who only knew she loved her brother and didn't have enough maturity to understand the consequences of his actions.

There was so much that I did not like about this book. It could have been a really important book and, to be fair, I still believe it actually is, but it's not doing the heavy lifting it could have, had it been in the hands of a more skilled writer.

Because here's the thing. Berry brings up a perfect Catch-22 of pain: You love your son, and you hope you love him unconditionally. Until he performs a morally disgusting sexual act on an innocent child. Yet, in all other respects, he's a fantastic person. But, the possibility is there that he may do the same again. But he also agonizes over it, and is in horrible mental anguish over it. And then there's the judgment (and the violence) of others toward him, making them almost as morally repugnant as he is.

I literally finished the book and the only thing floating through my head was, what would you do if it was your son?

An hour later, I laid out the scenario for my wife. Neither of us could answer definitely either way.

So, ultimately I can only look at this as a brilliant concept and a failed execution. I applaud the author for being thought-provoking, but it just didn't do what it needed to do in the end.

I guess I'll split the difference and land on a 3. ( )

Even though it covers some very touchy subject matters, I truly enjoyed this book. Seeing the different perspectives of the mother and father. Can you truly love your child unconditionally? Seeing Noah’s views and understanding as he realizes what he is and how that effects him makes you really wonder if you can just consider people like him as monsters as many do. If you liked We Need to Talk About Kevin this book is similar (different crimes) and I think you will enjoy it as well. ( )