In his second novel (after The Sandbox), Zimmerman presents an engrossing and unforgettable tale based on actual events. The story revolves around bored Georgia teenager Lynn and her struggling, overworked mother. Lynn's narrative voice combines the naïveté of a lonely only child and the tough maturity born of her hardscrabble life. The various troubles of mother and daughter are intensified through a series of bad decisions and interactions with an often seedy cast of characters. Zimmerman skillfully creates an atmosphere of tension and impending danger brewing beneath the sweltering heat of a Georgia summer. Readers cannot help but sense disaster as the story progresses, prompting the question, "What might have happened to the characters if they had made different choices?"
VERDICT Although the story's main character is a 15-year-old girl, the dark subject matter and several violent events limit the recommended audience to the mature reader. Those who can empathize with flawed characters in dire situations will not be able to put this book down.
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