A gripping opening with intriguing characters
From the prologue alone, I am hooked and need to find out just what happened 3 years ago on that fateful Friday afternoon in May. Although we do not yet know who the narrative is being told by, it is evident that this person has suffered great loss and is troubled by their actions which have led to other people getting hurt too. They are reflecting upon this whilst sitting with their legs hanging over a cliff edge, a regular pursuit it seems which has led to them being sectioned under the Mental Health Act twice in the past.
In Chapter 1 we meet 40 year old Jenni, on a Friday morning in May three
years earlier. I love how much I have learnt about her already and she seems like a fascinating character. I am intrigued to learn more about her Alexithymia too, which causes her to struggle to recognise emotions in others. Jenni used to be in the army but has retrained as a teacher, and this is where we meet her, during her form’s registration.
Jenni is worried about a student in her form group, 15 year old Destiny who is regarded as exceptional in the school for two reasons. Firstly, due to her being the smartest child in school and secondly, for being a child in care. Social Services have labelled her as ‘unplaceable’ and she often plays truant which Jenni struggles with because she doesn’t want to see Destiny’s ability go to waste. However, on this day when she has arrived for class, Destiny has a black eye and upon answering her mobile phone in front of Jenni, appears extremely fearful of the caller. Destiny points to a van waiting outside the window and after ensuring the phone is covered with her hand says sorry to Jenni, adding as an afterthought the word run!
I love how gripping the opening has been and cannot wait to find out what is going to happen next to these characters! Why has Destiny told Jenni to run and are the rumours about Destiny true?
In Chapter 1 we meet 40 year old Jenni, on a Friday morning in May three
years earlier. I love how much I have learnt about her already and she seems like a fascinating character. I am intrigued to learn more about her Alexithymia too, which causes her to struggle to recognise emotions in others. Jenni used to be in the army but has retrained as a teacher, and this is where we meet her, during her form’s registration.
Jenni is worried about a student in her form group, 15 year old Destiny who is regarded as exceptional in the school for two reasons. Firstly, due to her being the smartest child in school and secondly, for being a child in care. Social Services have labelled her as ‘unplaceable’ and she often plays truant which Jenni struggles with because she doesn’t want to see Destiny’s ability go to waste. However, on this day when she has arrived for class, Destiny has a black eye and upon answering her mobile phone in front of Jenni, appears extremely fearful of the caller. Destiny points to a van waiting outside the window and after ensuring the phone is covered with her hand says sorry to Jenni, adding as an afterthought the word run!
I love how gripping the opening has been and cannot wait to find out what is going to happen next to these characters! Why has Destiny told Jenni to run and are the rumours about Destiny true?