BOOK REVIEW: Lacy's End, by Victoria Schwimley

BOOK REVIEW:  LACY’S END, by Victoria Schwimley


Lacy's End


One high school student’s struggle through the silence of domestic violence with a mother that offered little protection against the brutality, being brutalized herself.  No one seemed to want to get involved; teachers, principal, neighbors, no one bothered to report the abuse, leaving her feeling that there was no way out.  Until the beatings became so severe, with repeated hospital visits, that’s when help arrived in more than one way.

Initially they both refused the help that was offered by lying and providing false accounts of just what would keep them coming back to the hospital with multiple injuries, always claiming these to be ‘accidents’.  One would think domestic violence was covered under law.  But, what if the abuser was the law? 

Through all of the violence, Lacy grew strong and wise beyond her years as she struggled to understand what made her mother stay with such a brutal man, yet, understanding on some level that her mother had gone through just as much as she had living in that house.

Because of what Lacy was experiencing at home, she experienced the alienation from her fellow classmates who belittled her, knowing by the bruises left just what she was experiencing at home.  Then along came Jake, who turned into the one being she could trust to share her deepest thoughts, show her spirit to.

As responsible as she was, Lacy had her own job and was saving money to get her and her mother away from the destruction, understanding on some level the weakness her mother exhibited was based on the fear that had been instilled in her from all the years of violence and sexual abuse.

Though the book made me teary at times, through all the drama there was also laughter, love and lessons learned.

A well written riveting and real storyline, well developed characters, truth is, it was hard to put down as I was relating, on some emotional level, my life to theirs.

This was definitely a relevant read - something to think about, maybe even claim and change!



Reviewed by:  Connie Jordan
                           December 13, 2015