I'm from NJ (which is where this story is based), so knowing where alot of these places (especially in the beginning) actually look like, helped me to envision the story. My heart broke for Sally. At times I was so disgusted by what was happening that I had to hold back tears. Then other times my heart was so full of hope that I thought it may burst. In the end, all i can say is this book was amazing. I have never read Lolita (which I'm hearing this book be referred to as the modern day version)....but it makes me want to read it, as well as anything else this author has written.

I was a little concerned about the subject matter and kept setting the book aside but I need not have worried. T. Greenwood tells the tragic story of Sally Horner an 11 year old girl in Camden, New Jersey in 1948. It's the true crime that inspired Vladamir Nabokov to write the classic Lolita. (In the meantime Sarah Weinman has written a non-fiction literary exploration of the kidnapping. It goes on sale September 11, 2018.)

FIRST SENTENCE: "The girls at school had a club, a secret club with secret rules."

THE STORY: Sally Horner's story was immortalized by Vladamir Nabokov in his classic Lolita. T. Greenwood researched the true incident and chose to tell the story from Sally's point of view, a sweet, naive child of another generation.

Chapters are titled after the person who picks up the thread of the story. The reader gets insights into Sally's family, her mother Ella, sister Susan, and her sister's husband Al.

Along the way as Sally is taken from her home first to Atlantic City, then Baltimore, then Texas, and finally San Jose, California. Although people try to befriend and help, her captor moves on taking Sally with him.

WHAT I THOUGHT: As a teenager living in Philadelphia, I was invited to vacation at the shore (Atlantic City) with a friend one summer in the 50s. We ran into some boys we knew and managed to get in to see "Lolita". I think you had to be 17. We weren't. I didn't know about Sally Horner then. It's an amazing book and I am contemplating all the connections.

The writing is beautiful and haunting. A light touch makes it possible to read this heart-wrenching story.

When I finally finished reading, I stopped and looked at the perfect cover. It makes me sad every time I see it.

BOTTOM LINE: T. Greenwood's book is a classic of its own. Read it. Talk about it. Highly recommended.

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (August 7, 2018)
ISBN-10: 1250164192
ISBN-13: 978-1250164193

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of Rust and Stardust by T. Greenwood from NetGalley/Minotaur Books for my honest review.

T. Greenwood is the author of twelve novels. She has received grants from the Sherwood Anderson Foundation, the Christopher Isherwood Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and, most recently, the Maryland State Arts Council. She has won three San Diego Book Awards. Five of her novels have been BookSense76/IndieBound picks. BODIES OF WATER was finalist for a Lambda Foundation award. Her twelfth novel, RUST & STARDUST, was published in August 2018

An interesting read. I was initially drawn to it because it was based on a true story. It's interesting to get a feel for how people in these situations react. Some areas I felt lagged a bit in speed. There was some bouncing back and forth of perspectives that sometimes cut up the action too much. While I understand the author's purpose in doing this, it made the book feel slower to me.

Based on real events, this story is captivating and terrifying. Told from many perspectives, all equally heart gripping.

What would a young girl do to fit in? What would a mother allow for her child’s happiness? What lengths will they go to hide their shame? How much can a little girl endure before she loses herself? How do you keep moving when your world is in pieces?

I must have been too young to remember the story of the kidnapping of Sally Horner. This book follows the two years that Sally spends with her kidnapper Frank LaSalle. It is told in the voices of Sally, her mother Ella, her sister Susan and at the end, in the voices of a few people who knew something was up and tried to do something about it. Nabokov supposedly wrote Lolita with this case in mind. It is harrowing. It is tough to read. It is very sad but it is also a homage to the human spirit. Sally is a sweet, innocent child in the beginning but she sees way more than any child ever should. Her mother is dealing with much more than her disappearance, she blames herself. Her sister just wants her back.

T. Greenwood does a beautiful job and writing what these people would be feeling. I felt every single individual’s emotions. It is such a heartbreaking story. I cried through quite a lot of it. Being a mom, I cannot imagine this happening to a child. Frank LaSalle is written with no sympathy, as he should. He was a despicable man who preyed on little girls. Don’t come to this book thinking that you will read it and go about your merry way. It will stay with you for a long time. It will haunt you.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book.

Norma, Lindsay and I read Rust & Stardust with five of our Traveling Friends and this one left us feeling like we haven’t felt before after reading it. We felt so sad, upset and heartbroken, yet left so satisfied with the way T. Greenwood wrote this heartbreaking and beautiful story.

T. Greenwood captures the story of real life Sally Horner and pulls us into her tortured world after she is kidnapped and abused by Frank LaSalle. Greenwood highlights so much here with such great insight into Sally’s story and her family in telling this story but leaves out descriptive details for us to figure out on our own. If you are like me, you just don’t want your mind to go there. We felt so many emotions while reading this one and were so grateful to have our friends to be able to talk over our feelings with. We could feel Sally’s vulnerability and she crawled into our hearts and she consumed us. Greenwood gives some hope here that she has some happiness through the eccentric characters that care about Sally.

Greenwood not only shows us Sally’s story we come to see how this tragedy affected other people in Sally’s life. We all loved Al’s perseverance to bring Sally home and her sisters hope that she would. Both never giving up on Sally.

Some of us googled Sally and did a little research and knew how the story ended and some of us went into the story blind not knowing anything about her. It was interesting to see who preferred to know and who didn’t and to see everyone’s reaction to the ending. I would suggest if you like a little heads up maybe do some searching as a few sisters would have preferred that while a few others didn’t want any and were glad they didn’t till the end.

Even though we thought the horror of what Sally endured was handled well and a lot was left for us to figure out on our own we still want to mention that there could be some triggers here for some people so we recommend with caution.

This story made for a treasured reading group experience. Here is a look into our discussion.

I loved that we’re given so many different POVs. Sometimes that can get a bit choppy but it didn’t suffer that fate here at all. Every point of view was vital to the development of this story and I don’t think there was a single wasted page, sentence or even word here.

I finished this at like 2AM (which I’m normally not that type of reader) and just sat next to my sleeping husband quietly crying. Greenwood brought real beauty to a terrible story and I think that Sally’s memory was very much honored here. Christina

She wrote a beautiful story, sensitively told. Jan

She didn’t force anything upon us that we couldn’t have gathered with our own imaginations. She gave us so much but also just enough. The story speaks for itself, so she never had to dive into the realm of “blatant shock factor.” Rose

But as for Greenwood’s story–it was written beautifully. Wow. The stunning prose blew me away and turned every single sentence into something worthy of quoting. Kristin

I also appreciate the way this book shows how this tragedy leaves its mark on all involved. How it’s somehow everyone’s fault, and no one’s all at the same time. Kristin

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and T. Greenwood for a copy to read and review.

This is Traveling Friends GR Reading Group Review and it can be found posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley. Coulee references are symbolic to our reading experience

5 Amazing & Heart-Wrenching Stars.

Rust & Stardust is a devastating novel based on the real life of Sally Horner, who at the tender age of eleven years old, was abducted by a man named Frank La Salle, who tricked her by claiming to be an FBI agent.

It is a rip your heart out novel that makes your breath catch in your throat and tears fill your eyes time and again.

On a dare from girls at school, Sally Horner attempts to steal a composition notebook from Woolworth’s and is caught by a man who claim to be an FBI agent. The man states that she must do as he tells her, or she will be arrested and taken to jail. Sally obeys as he is utterly convincing, especially to an eleven-year old, who is naive and trusting and she is in desperate need of attention. Sally’s mother Ella, has been overwhelmed ever since her husband died - thus when Frank La Salle, posing as the father of Sally’s school friend offers to take Sally off her hands for the summer, Ella doesn’t question it, not even when weeks and then months go by. Not when she gets letters from Sally stating how much fun she’s having. Ella has no idea it’s a ruse. Only when Sally’s older sister Susan and her husband Al start questioning things does Ella begin to worry. Thank goodness for Sally they did. Turns out Sally didn’t leave of her own accord - yet by the time it’s discovered, Sally and her abductor Frank, have fled.

Time and again - La Salle is two steps ahead. People notice that something seems amiss and yet, they do nothing. Perhaps a sign of the times or an issue with people not wanting to get involved, the effects are devastating. As you can imagine, Frank La Salle is not a nice man and unfortunately, Sally struggles in more ways than one. For two years she has feelings of guilt, anger, and complete and utter sadness and the depths of those feelings filled my soul. There were a few characters who were shining stars here. They are etched on my heart. One is Ruth, a woman who befriends Sally. Another is Al, Sally’s brother-in-law, who never gave up on the possibility of finding her. His heart is filled with solid gold.

Rust & Startdust broke me. Throat tight, cries escaping. This is not a book for the faint of heart. Though it dealt with a difficult subject, based on a true story, the details were handled extremely delicately. For that, I was extremely grateful.

I didn’t realize that it was based on a true story until I read the author’s note and then googled more about Sally Horner’s story. This novel read like fiction - it was flowy, beautiful, heartbreaking and poignant. T. Greenwood did a phenomenal job and I am in awe of her writing style.

This was a Traveling Friends read. Reading this with a group garnered incredible heartfelt discussions and really aided in my ability to get through this truly beautiful, yet incredibly hard to read novel. Thank you friends.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and T. Greenwood for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Twitter on 8.18.18.

A chilling, fictionalized account of the 1948 abduction of 11 year old Sally Horner, whose case promoted Vladimir Nabokov to write his famous novel Lolita. Greenwood takes a lot of creative license, writing dialogue and narrative from the points of view of several characters, including Sally, her sister, her mother, and others the author imagined she encountered during her captivity. The near-misses where Sally could have been saved much earlier seemed a little cliche for such a topic and took away some of the seriousness of the book, especially since there is no indication any of this actually happened in the real case. If you can handle the subject matter this is a good book to read if only to realize how important it is to talk to your kids about the dangers in the world and how they can protect themselves.

Hard to put down!

I found this to be an incredible work of historical fiction based on a true crime. The story was well crafted and hard to put down. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

This opening chapters of this read very quickly give the reader an “ew ick” feeling. The writing is eloquent and clear, rather it is the behavior of the characters that immediately tells you, “This isn’t going to go well, at all.” Our protagonist is likeable, albeit somewhat naive and her mother, almost equally so. I love books that don’t follow a standard formula and this one does it in numerous ways including alternating voices, well developed characters, and a surprisingly unpredictable storyline despite having a sense it’ll be okay in the end. This is an engaging story and not a read I will soon forget.

This is a fictionalized true crime story. Sally Horner was kidnapped at age 11 and not found for 2 years. Little is known about those 2 years or the people whose lives she touched, T Greenwood has given a voice to those people and to Sally. While the narrative is fiction many of the characters are true. So many times I found myself thinking this can't be true only to find out through research that much of this tale is documented by newspaper accounts.

This is a sad tale, that really touches your heart. Its hard these days to fathom that someone would fall for Frank's deceit but we have to remember when this took place. I found myself angry with Sally and with her mother for pretty much handing her over to this criminal but this was a naive world and the world today is very different.

This took me a while to read, not because it was difficult but I think because it was so disturbing and to find out this is true was all the more heartbreaking. Very well researched T Greenwood gives voice to a young girl's tragic life.

I was not previously familiar with Greenwood's work so I was excited to try this book. A novel based on a true crime story. Greenwood did a masterful job making the characters come alive. You become invested in them. It was an emotional horrifying tale that I couldn't put down.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

cw kidnapping, rape, CSA, abuse, suicide

It’s a shame I read this one so soon after Eden, because the two handle similar subjects in such different ways and I think Rust & Stardust ended up killed by comparison. Whereas Eden handles mainly the aftermath of a kidnapping, including the lifelong implications of trauma, Rust & Stardust follows the kidnapping itself and examines how it impacts everyone in the main character’s social circles. Where Eden is entirely fictional, Rust & Stardust is loosely based on a true story, something I actually didn’t realize until the end.

The book had such a strong start that I was certain it would be a five-star read. I found Sally’s naivety irritating yet realistic and thought the compounding issues in her life (her mother’s chronic illness and the suicide of her step-father) brought an interesting complexity to things. I thought the story itself was compelling and was interested to see what would happen next. Unfortunately, this only lasted until somewhere around the 50% mark. What followed felt like a lot of monotony; I think I really became tired of the constant abuse. While it was interesting to see the relationships that Sally built as she and Frank traveled, I struggled to stay immersed and was waiting for the story to move on.

I also found the ending abrupt and unsatisfying. Reading the author’s comments after and finding out that this was the ending to the real-life Sally’s story helped me understand that a little better, but I think things could have been fitted together in a more cohesive way. I guess that’s the problem with true stories, though -- they don’t always make sense.

While this seems like a good read for lovers of true crime and/or historical fiction, it just didn’t strike a chord for me. I’m glad to see that others have liked it, though, and think that speaks to T. Greenwood’s strength as a writer. I also want to warn that it has a lot of triggering content in it, and that all of the items mentioned in the content warning are covered in pretty great detail on page.

4.5 stars
There's been so much talk generated about this book that by now you have probably heard that it is in part inspired by Nabokov's Lolita. Indeed, the title comes from the last line of the poem at the end of this classic novel. Written from Humbert to Lolita it is a poem of bereavement and loss but somehow Greenwood seems to bring about a sense of hope at the end of this novel. Do not get me wrong as a mother I found Rust and Stardust to be absolutely heart wrenching. Based on the true story of Florence "Sally" Horner a young girl who was kidnapped and sexually assaulted over the course of two years, T. Greenwood's Rust and Stardust reimagines these awful years as if little Sally had real life angels attending at her side. The characters of Lena, Sister Mary Katherine and Ruth all rang true to me. They felt so real and genuine in T. Greenwood's deft pen that I was certain that they were actually part of the history. I usually don't rush to read books with a lot of hoopla surrounding them as they typically don't live up to all of the hype. But Rust and Stardust did not disappoint. It was the real deal and I am glad to have had this experience.

In 1948, Sally Horner was taken from Camden, New Jersey by a man who she would quickly come to find out had evil intentions. This is a fictionalization of Sally's story and the things that she may have endured during the time she was a kidnapping victim.

Sally's story is little known, other than her name appearing in Nabokov's <i>Lolita</i> when Humbert is worrying about what he is doing to a young girl himself. This book is a fictionalized account of a true story that appeared in a novel, but it stands on its own, even if you know nothing about the true Sally Horner or have ever read Nabokov.

It is a tragic story, not only for the things that she might have endured while in the presence of Frank LaSalle, but also tragic in that there were so many people that may have put a stop to it much sooner than they did. The idea she could be going to school and still not be found for almost two years speaks to the time in which this story happened. It was a time in America where you didn't meddle in people's personal lives; you could gossip, but you certainly wouldn't approach anyone even if you had the slightest bit of evidence; you may also not have heard a story because it stayed local, and she could have been someone's neighbor who wouldn't have a clue as to her real identity because they didn't pick up the right newspaper to read.

Because of all these instances potential, the story paints Sally as a strong little girl who stayed tough, even while she was being abused and tormented both physically and mentally. It may be difficult for some to read, but a narrative that is necessary.

5 Stars! This was a hard book to read. It is based on the real life kidnapping of Sally Horner by Frank La Salle. The book is a work of fiction. The author does write that she spent a year or more researching it and learning everything she could about Sally and her family and the abduction. "I studied the places she lived: from the row house where she lived in Camden, New Jersey, to the trailer park where she and Frank lived in Dallas. But mostly, I imagined. I dreamed myself into Sally's life."

"While I drew heavily on Sally's heartbreaking story, this novel is ultimately an imagined rendering of the years that she spent on the road with her captor and of the impact of her abduction on those she encountered along the way as well as those she left behind."

The story begins with an innocent little girl. She is lonely and wants friends. The girls at school are not very kind. One day she is told she can be accepted into the group if she completes a little initiation act, which is to steal something from Woolworths. What follows is among one of the saddest stories I have ever read as we follow the heart wrenching story of how Sally is taken and forced to live in fear and abuse by a cruel and selfish monster.

“They didn’t know of course. There was no way for them to understand what they were about to set into motion that day they took Sally to the Woolworth’s: the inevitable and irrevocable consequences of their quiet cruelty. They were just kids, just girls then. They didn’t understand that a single act of careless unkindness would have repercussions long after poor Sally tagged behind them as they giggled and whispered secrets they would later be unable to remember. Though for all these years, Vivi could still recall the sound of her loafers scuffing along the pavement behind them: Wait! Wait up! They were too young to know that they were somehow, in that moment, both powerful and powerless.”

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and T. Greenwood for providing an ARC to read for review. It’s a hard read, but highly recommended.

It was 1948 when 11-year-old Sally Horner, desperate to fit in, accepted a dare from the popular girls to shoplift something from a Woolworth’s store. She took a 5 cent notebook and was grabbed on her way out by Frank La Salle. He told her he was an FBI agent and she was under arrest, but if she did as he directed he could keep her out of prison. Terrified, Sally followed his instructions.

In truth, Frank La Salle was a pedophile who had just been released from prison where he was serving time for the statutory rape of young girls. Sally ends up being a captive of La Salle’s for nearly 2 years, years she was physically, mentally, and sexually abused. Sally Horner was the real-life inspiration for Vladimir Nabokov’s novel, Lolita. I’ve never read Lolita nor do I have any desire to do so. I had not heard of Sally Horner until reading this book.

In 1948 11-year-olds can’t be compared to today’s youth. The internet didn’t exist, there were no warnings of stranger danger, no Amber alerts or faces on milk cartons, and professionals weren’t trained in detecting abuse. Sally was naïve and trusting and believed whatever Frank told her. Frank was wily and cunning and knew just what to tell her to keep her in line.

Sally’s story is not an easy one to read but in the author’s hands she deals with the subject sensitively and respectfully, never giving the reader unnecessary details. The story is told through multiple points of view, with chapters narrated by Sally, her mother, her sister and brother-in-law, and some of the people who came into contact with her during her captivity. Sadly, there were so many missed opportunities to help Sally, but there were also people like Lena, Sister Mary Katherine, and Ruth who showed Sally kindness and love.

I’ve seen some people question why didn’t Sally tell others what was happening to her even though she attended school and was out in public? None of us know the threats and manipulations she was subjected to on a daily basis. Plus she was a child just trying to stay alive in the hope she would one day get to go home. In the words of Elizabeth Smart, also a victim of abduction and abuse:

“It is wrong for any person to ever judge someone in any situation saying, ‘Well, why didn’t you try to run? Why didn’t you scream? Why didn’t you try to do something?” she said. “That is so wrong and, frankly, offensive to even ask that question.”

One other thing that I want to mention is how the press treated Sally. There were no laws protecting minors or victims of sexual crimes. The press printed her name and details of her sexual abuse. They called her chubby even though at 5# tall she weighed 110#. Hardly chubby! Even if she was chubby, how offensive to mention a victim's weight, as if it matters.

Upon her rescue Sally did not receive counseling or psychiatric help. One can only wonder at the emotional damage and the pain and anguish she endured long after her captivity ended. My heart hurt for Sally. Although it can be difficult to read, I think it's important that on behalf of all victims of abuse we know her story.

The author’s note indicates this story mirrors the real-life Sally Horner, although some details and conversations were imagined. I did my own internet research into the case and was pleasantly surprised at how closely the author’s story followed the truth. The author’s writing is a fitting tribute to Sally in making her story known to the world.

• Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Prior to reading this book, I knew very little about the real life abduction case that had served as the inspiration behind Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial classic Lolita. All I knew was that such a case existed and that the name of the “real-life Lolita” was Sally Horner, who was 11-years-old when she was abducted. Going into this book, all I knew was that it would be a fictional retelling of Sally Horner’s story and with my limited knowledge of that case, my first instinct was to do my own research and get some details down before starting – but one of my friends who had read this book earlier suggested that, in order to get the full impact of the story, I should wait until I finished the book before looking up any further details about the case, so I decided to follow that advice. While I’m not sure whether knowing details of the case beforehand would’ve affected my reaction to the book or not, I can say that almost immediately after finishing the last page and closing the cover, I went online in a frenzy and looked up everything I could possibly find about Sally Horner’s case. At the time, I felt an overwhelming sense of urgency to look up the real-life facts of the case, not because I wanted to validate what I had just read (since I already knew this would be a fictionalized account), but because the story had such a huge impact on me emotionally – looking back now, I realize I wanted to find out details of the real-life case so I could convince myself that what I had read in this book was more fiction than fact and in doing so, hopefully restore the confidence I had lost in a society that had let a depraved, sick individual like Frank LaSalle – whose previous offenses should’ve been enough to keep him locked up for good – out loose into the world and do the horrible things that he did to Sally. Unfortunately, the society we live in currently hasn’t changed for the better, as these horrific cases continue to happen even now -- the Frank LaSalles of the world continue to get let out into society (when there is absolutely no sensible reason for them to still be walking the streets) and continue to destroy the lives of innocent children as well as their families.

Needless to say, this book was tough to read and while I applaud the respectful and sensitive way that the author T. Greenwood handled the subject matter, reading this book still left me emotionally drained. My heart broke over and over again reading about Sally’s horrific ordeal and I found myself crying out in angry frustration over each missed opportunity, each dashed hope, each chance that people had to “do something” but either couldn’t or didn’t want to bother. The way that Greenwood handled the narrative, alternating the voice between Sally and the various characters in the story (thankfully never from the abductor’s point-of-view) was hauntingly powerful and for me, played a huge role in making the story so emotional and heartfelt for me – I especially appreciate how Greenwood gave each member of Sally’s family a voice and explored their feelings, emotions, actions, etc. in so much depth, giving this fictionalized story a necessary realistic depth that is not often found in imagined retellings of real-life events.

Greenwood did a phenomenal job with this book – the delicate way in which she handled the story, telling what needed to be told but in a manner that was careful not to exploit and that was sensitive to both Sally’s family as well as the readers of this story; the way she was able to bring the characters to life so wholly and completely and have them occupy her readers’ hearts so fully, to the point that I will admit I felt a little disappointed when I learned from the Author’s Note at the end of the book that some of the characters I had taken to were actually not real, only figments of the author’s imagination. As for the writing, I have to say that I am completely in awe of Greenwood’s skill – the prose she used in telling the story is beautifully rendered, almost lyrical in some places, flows well, and is incredibly atmospheric. After I finished the book, I went online and found the HazLitt article that Greenwood mentioned in the Author’s Note (link to the article is here for those interested: https://hazlitt.net/longreads/real-lolita) and after reading the article, I am blown away by how well Greenwood was able to incorporate all those real-life details with the fictional elements of her story so seamlessly -- resulting in a retelling that is poignant, convincing, and comes across absolutely authentic!

The HazLitt article mentions some of the abduction / captivity cases that occurred in recent years (Elizabeth Smart, Jaycee Dugard, Colleen Stan, etc.) and the fact that the victims in those cases “published or will publish books about their long-running ordeals. They can tell their stories the way they wish and when they choose, and attempt to make something meaningful of their lives. Sally Horner did not have that choice.” Now, through Greenwood’s beautifully written novel, Sally can finally get the chance to tell her story – for me, this is a little bit of solace given the heartbreakingly tragic life that this brave girl endured. This is another unforgettable story that I know will stay with me for a long time to come.

Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Rust & Stardust is a fictionalized retelling of the true story that inspired the classic novel, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. It centers around the girl that Dolores Haze was based off of, Sally Horner, an eleven year old who was kidnapped by a child molester named Frank la Salle in 1948. It’s a vital but heartbreaking book that chronicles Sally’s journey from her kidnapping to her rescue and beyond.

MY THOUGHTS

I was hesitant to read this novel at first. Often times, novels based on true stories, particularly true crime, and with a victim as young as this one under this kind of duress can lend itself to exploitation but Greenwood navigates these tricky waters with a certain finesse. This is Sally’s story and Sally’s story alone. Yes, Frank is the clear antagonist and he casts a shadow long and wide, but I never felt like I was being forced to sympathize with him or that he was overshadowing Sally's story. I think that is what makes this book so important. Many times when we see rape depicted in media, it is shown through the lens of the attacker or the victim’s friends and family, particularly for women, and it was a nice change of pace to just have the focus be on Sally and how she handled her trauma, always seeking the light even in the face of utter and endless darkness.

I also enjoyed the many different female relationships in this book. Even the beginning chapters were so painfully relatable, the aching, tender, and desperate desire to seek out that quiet acceptance that only other girls can provide. I enjoyed the development between Sally and Sister Mary Katherine, Lena, and Ruth, and back at her home in Camden we saw her sister, Susan, and mother, Ella, struggle with their grief over Sally's disappearance, each coping in their own way. I thought the portrayal of their grief was realistic and not always pretty. Ella in particular, plays a dubious role in this book, while it might feel easy to see her as a bad mother Greenwood is too good at ensuring we get multi-dimensional examination of her character, making things much trickier than the simple simplicity of defining her as good or bad.

Yes, I often wanted to grab every adult character in this book and shake them until they opened their eyes and did something to save Sally, it was frustrating to see her failed by so many adults but that is the real heart of Sally's story and anything other than that would be a disservice to her memory. It's all the more devastating to know that many of these relationships were fictionalized and there is no way of knowing  whether Sally had any form of support system during those stolen years. 

FINAL VERDICT

This is a coming-of-age story, albeit one told under nightmarish conditions. My heart broke for Sally time and time again. Greenwood's depiction of Sally’s voice suits her and her loss of innocence is well-reflected in the narrative. I would certainly recommend this book but warn that it is a heavy read. It’s not an easy book to get through at times and while even the hardest scenes are tastefully written, (truly want to thank the author for that), this is not a story you can simply close and put away once you're finished, but rather one that lingers long after you’ve read the final words. I think maybe that is the point of it all, that Sally Horner’s stardust transcends and remains, even now, she won’t be forgotten.

Thank you to NetGalley and T. Greenwood's publishers for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

From my blog: Always With a Book:

This is the first time I've read anything by T. Greenwood, though I am familiar with her name, and do have another book sitting on my shelf (or rather in a box somewhere is storage) by her. This book, though, will certainly go down as one of my favorites of hers - it is so beautifully written, despite the fact that it tore my heart into pieces time and again.

This book is the fictional retelling of Sally Horner's kidnapping by Frank LaSalle and I fully admit to not knowing much about this case. And I purposely did not look anything up prior to reading this book as I wanted to experience it as T. Greenwood presented it. And I'm so glad I did...as chilling and heartbreaking as it was.

This is the kind of story that totally gets under your skin, yet it is also one that you cannot walk away from until you read that very last page. T. Greenwood does a fantastic job putting us right into the story, telling it from not only Sally's point of view, but also from other peoples points of view that were integral in Sally's life - her mother, her sister and a few other important women Sally meets, as well as Sally's brother-in-law, Al. You feel their pain and their despair at not knowing what to do to get Sally back.

This book packs such an emotional punch. It is loaded with triggers - both physical and mental abuse - but written in such a way that you are left to use your imagination to fill in the blanks. It is not overtly graphic in any way, yet you know that abuse is happening.

An intense read that requires introspection while reading, it is definitely one of the best works of historical fiction I've read in a long time and certainly one I will for sure not be forgetting any time soon. I've never read Nabokov's Lolita, but knowing that Sally Horner's disappearance is what provided his inspiration, I am definitely putting it on my list to read. And this book is most definitely getting a place of honor on my bookshelf - it deserves it!!!