5/21/2023 0 Comments Pearl by Jo KnowlesThat’s the same age, mind, that Gus was hitting so hard she fell to the ground, burning her belongings, and barraging her with verbal abuse. Instead of calling out this abuse apologism for what it is, Lexie tells Pearl she's proud of her, and wishes she “could have been half as thoughtful and forgiving” as her daughter when she was her age (p. After Lexie reveals the truth about Pearl's grandfather, Pearl admits that she can't hate him and in fact wishes her mother could see his good side. Despite the psychological and physical trauma to which Gus, the grandfather figure, subjects Lexie, Pearl is lauded for her reluctance to accept this side of her grandfather. My rating is a solid three, not four, however, for several reasons. Although I was bothered by the lack of physical description of most of the characters, they show distinct and developed personalities, moving the narrative along relatively quickly. With simple but precise prose, the author Jo Knowles weaves an engaging and unique story in young adult fiction. Feeling that her mother, Lexie's, life would have been better off without her, Pearl struggles with her sense of belonging, unaware of her mother's own struggles with a second life she has kept secret from Pearl and her father for years. Pearl, age 15, is raised by a mother who her age when she was born, and by a grandfather who treats Pearl kindly but torments his own daughter.
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