What would you do if you were in the car with your family and your angry mother demands your little sister to get out, and then drives off, leaving her stranded on the side of the road, five or six miles from home, left in the dark?

This is the beginning of Una Mannion’s blisteringly atmospheric, tense family drama, A CROOKED TREE. The story unfolds in the events that follow the misfortune of Libby’s younger sister, Ellen. Libby is fourteen years old. She narrates the panic-stricken summer of 1981 in Valley Forge on the edge of route 252, Pennsylvania. Her elder sister is leaving home, her mother is taking her younger half-sister to camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains, her brother is becoming anti-social at home, escaping into his own world of astronomy, and Ellen is quiet, harmed in ways that might not yet be apparent. Libby is increasingly isolated, and all the while, she has to save her sister, keep her safe from the Barbie Man, from letting anybody know what happened to her. But there’s only so much power a fourteen year old can wield… especially when your friends can no longer be trusted and your family is gone…

In this vivid novel, Mannion manages to bridge an exquisitely heartfelt study of familial love and despair, alongside a traumatic coming-of-age tale full of angst, grief, and loneliness. Indeed, few pains and agonies are left out, such that the intensity of narration can be a lot to stomach. But equally, there is a strong taste for freedom, of actual hope for the future, and forgiveness, understanding, the happiness of enduring friendships. There is loss and despair, but conflict is knowing how to deal with it. And Libby is a fighter. She endures. Her struggle is an inspiration to any family individual – which includes most, if not all of us.

Highly recommended for readers of literary and commercial fiction. The book has a knife-edge plot as well as rich atmospheric prose, both elements to keep the reader hooked. Young adults may also enjoy this book because it speaks directly to teenagers, but be fully aware of the disturbing subject matter (abuse content).

The story follows, Libby a 15 year old  in the late 70's who has a deprived and chaotic homelife in semi rural Pennsylvania.. She has four siblings, her father is dead and her mother is totally disengaged from family life and has a secret boyfriend who is the father of the youngest child. One evening driving the family back from school Ellen, the twelve year old who looks much younger annoys their mother and she orders her out of the car on a busy highway miles from home and drives on. The events that stem from this act affect the rest of the narrative. It is a coming of age type story, in which Libby reflects on her past whilst dealing with the dramatic events unfolding from Ellen's abandonment. Not every storyline is tied up neatly and sometimes I questioned where the narrative was heading or whether the introduction of a new character and their backstory was really needed. However, I did really enjoy the book and how it evoked a time before mobile phones and the internet and the feelings of being a teenager.

This was such a great read, enjoyed it thoroughly, i was hooked from the first page, great storyline and loads of twists and turns , highly recommend this book x

A Crooked Tree is a very accomplished debut from Una Mannion. The setting is suburban Pennsylvania in the early 1980's , and the book tells the story of one family through the eyes of fifteen year old Libby. Libby and her siblings are dealing with the loss of their father, who passed away not long ago, but who had separated from their mother several years ago. Libby who was particularly close to her Dad is finding the transition difficult, and the anger she feels towards her mother causes tension, especially since her mother has been seeing a new man and has shifted her attention away from the family. 
The book opens with the event that underpins the rest of the story, a frustrated and harried mother , fed up with the squabbling in the car, forces twelve year old Ellen to get out and drives off, leaving her on the side of the road to make her own way home, despite the protestations of Libby and the rest of the family. When a bruised and bloody Ellen makes her way to the house where Libby is babysitting later that night, it is clear that something bad has happened. Libby and her friends decide to take matters into their own hands , and from this one bad decision things spiral to a dramatic conclusion. 
This book is a wonderful coming of age story , and I absolutely loved the portrayal of the bonds between the various siblings, I have rarely found such a real depiction of the way siblings fight and squabble but will unite to defend one of their own. The writing is very descriptive, and the author does a wonderful job of firmly rooting the book in time and place. There is also some interesting social commentary woven into the storytelling, the "stigma" of divorce and its impact on social and financial status for example.  This is not a book I would recommend for someone looking for a fast paced thriller but rather for readers who like descriptive and evocative writing and interesting and well developed characters. 
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. The storyline was great. Had everything you want in a gripping book. Would definitely be making a recommendation to other readers that this book is good