More like 2 1/2 stars.

For some reason I did not really like this book. And I don't know why as it's the kind of book I usually love... Coming of age, character study, southern gothic. The characters in this book never came to life for me. I never really felt I understood or especially cared for anyone in the extended Boarwright family. They were caricatures at best. I especially hated the ending. It did not ring true to me. I don't know, maybe because I was not raised white trash, but I can not see a mother running away with the husband she just witnessed raping and brutalizing her young daughter. I don't care how much she loved him before that day. Or how sorry she felt for him.

Or like the best thing the mother ever did for her child was get her a birth certificate without the word illegitimate on it. Oh gee, thanks for the effort mom.

Just, no.