What Am I Reading? Hyacinth Girls

"Do you know your children?" 

The story revolves around two main characters. First is Rebecca, a young woman in an uncertain situation of raising her deceased best friend's 13 year old daughter. The second is Callie, a popular teenage girl who's lost both parents at an early age due to tragedy. The story is told from both Rebecca and Callie's perspectives, although more attention is given to Rebecca's history and points of view. 

When Rebecca is called to Callie's school due to an incident of bullying by Callie towards another student, Rebecca's life is turned upside down. She travels uncharted waters as she convinces herself to believe that Callie is innocent and that the other girl has underlying issues that her mother is oblivious to. However, we find out that it is Rebecca who is oblivious to the events going on in Callie's life that have dire consequences.

Frankel tackles many very adult topics in the course of this writing, from suicide, jealousy, bullying and the fickleness of teenage friendship. There is a lot going on with this story, at times it seems it might be a bit too much. Minor characters from Rebecca's past drive this story and at times feels a bit forced in order to draw the books conclusions.

As a mother of a teenage daughter, this book did hit home with me. It makes one think could such things be going on in my own daughter's life without my knowledge. Callie never tells Rebecca the truth about what she has done as well as what is being done to her and does a good job of hiding her feelings. But it also shows how we want to believe the best in our children and completely ignore the signs in front of us until it's too late.

I would give this book 4 stars. I do believe that at times the story is a big convoluted and forced but it has many redeeming qualities that makes it well worth the read.