Trail of Crumbs
by Lisa J. Lawrence
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Pub Date Mar 26 2019 | Archive Date Mar 20 2019
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Description
While Greta deals with the confusion and shame of that night, her stepmother and father choose that moment to disappear, abandoning Ash and Greta to the mercy of their peculiar landlord, Elgin, who lives upstairs. Even as Greta struggles to make sense of what happened to her, she finds herself enjoying her new and very eccentric family, who provide the shelter and support that has long been absent from her life. Much to Greta's surprise, she realizes there is still kindness in the world—and hope.
Advance Praise
"Lawrence has an admirable relationship with the written word, and after many chapters of sharp edges and dark corners, readers will discover reason for hope."—Kirkus Reviews
"Hard realism with a heart."—Kirkus Reviews starred review for Rodent
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781459821217 |
PRICE | CA$14.95 (CAD) |
PAGES | 256 |
Featured Reviews
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Parental neglect, rape, slut-shaming
MY RATING:
5 STARS
Initially, I requested this ARC on NetGalley due to my misconception that it was a Hansel and Gretal retelling. While it certainly does contain some noticeable elements found in the classic fairy tale we all know and love, I definitely wouldn’t deem it a “retelling”.
Because it’s honestly so much more than that.
Trail of Crumbs follows young Greta and her twin brother, Ash, as they deal with the aftermath of their neglectful father and cruel step-mother leaving them. As they struggle to come up with the funds needed to provide for themselves, they find an unlikely companion in their eccentric landlord along with his strong-willed daughter. At the same time, Greta finds herself trying to come to terms with what actually happened during a party where she presumably “had sex” and blacked out… She wants the justice she deserves, but will anyone believe her when she reveals how that night really played out?
This beautiful book surpassed my expectations by a landslide.
I loved everything about it, starting with the characters. Greta was a likeable protagonist from the beginning, with her thoughtful narration and her relatable experiences. I loved how she had such a close-knit relationship with Ash, for most siblings in YA literature are portrayed as cold, distinct, and often cruel towards the main character. Ash and Greta were constantly helping, protecting, and looking out for each other. Their connection was so heartwarming to read about!
Additionally, I really enjoyed getting to see Greta’s character grow and develop as the novel progressed. Throughout the book, Greta is constantly thrown into tragic and heartbreaking situations that no teenage girl should have to endure… But, fortunately, because of these experiences, Greta becomes a stronger individual and proves that it is possible to recover and rebuild yourself after hardships.
Not only did I like the primary characters in this novel, but I also appreciated the supporting ones. Elgin, Alice, Noah, and Priya were all unique secondary characters that managed to be just as fleshed out as the main ones! Personally, as an avid reader, I believe that supporting characters should be just as interesting to read about as primary characters. Lisa J. Lawrence did an excellent job of creating a complex and diverse cast of characters, so kudos to her!
Moving on, might I just mention how much I love the author’s writing style? Ms. Lawrence has managed to weave a beautiful and lyrical story that will have you compelled until the very last page. Her writing is so unique and refreshing to see amongst many of the poorly paced, trope-filled novels you see on shelves today (No shade or anything)!
All in all, I really enjoyed Trail of Crumbs and would recommend it to anyone who appreciates a well-written contemporary read that tackles significant issues found in society today.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Orca Book Publishers, and Lisa J. Lawrence for providing me with this book! It’s been a pleasure working with you!
"Elgin turned back to the window, studying the stark black and white of night. 'This can't be it. I won't accept it. I refuse it, in fact.' Grief hardened his gentle voice. 'Impossible that this is the real world.'"
Wow.. Just wow. It takes a lot for a book to make me cry - I can count on one hand the number of stories that have actually moved me to tears. This is one of them. I was caught off-guard by the beautiful words that flowed from the page in the second half of this book.
Lisa J. Lawrence's Trail of Crumbs tells the reckoning story of teenaged Greta, who is navigating a fragile world in which everything she once knew has been turned upside down. Her and her twin brother, Ash, are the only constants in each other's lives after their mother dies, their father leaves them, and Greta's new-found friends coldly dump her and leave her shattered. Greta struggles with the aftermath of a sexual assault from the boy she liked, while also trying to survive on the generosity of her neighbours.
The feelings Greta has that Lawrence portrays are so well articulated that it resonated deep within me. Trail of Crumbs puts words to the feelings that a young girl experiences after being sexually assaulted, and beautifully shows how that same young girl can take her power back by off-loading her burden of shame onto those it rightfully belongs to. Trail of Crumbs seems like it will be an important book for any teenage girl to read, regardless of her past experiences. Lawrence touches on loss of self and identity through this storyline, but also explores loss through death and emotional distance. It never feels like there's too many big emotional events happening - it all seems natural, and fitting.
Greta and Ash's neighbour-across-the-street, Nate, is a small but important character in the story as well. He provides a sense of stability in Greta's life, though she may not even realize it herself. I appreciate that Lawrence didn't turn Nate into a romantic interest in this story - that's not the point of Nate. It's refreshing to read a YA fiction story that doesn't have a particular love interest, but instead focuses on how the protagonist lives out her daily life on her own, exploring herself and the people around her without the tint of a sappy relationship overshadowing everything.
I read this entire book in one sitting without once looking up from the page. I was captivated by the emotions shown by Greta. Her relationship with Elgin, her landlord, kept my heart full while also keeping me on edge - much like how Greta feels around him in the story. Trail of Crumbs left me gutted, feeling sad and hopeful and powerful all at once. An important and beautiful story that I'm glad to have been able to read!
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