This is the story of Celia Durst and a childhood friendship. Celia was best friends with a girl named Djuna when they were 11-years-old. They were confidant and so into their friendship with each other that they did not need anyone else. That kind of friendship developed followers and three girls began to follow them around and do whatever they could to become part of their clique. This all went on until a day when they were all walking home from school on a forbidden road. Celia and Djuna were arguing and the next thing that happened was Djuna disappeared. Celia had told people that she had gotten into a car with a stranger and neither the car or Djuna had ever been found. However twenty years later Celia is flooded by a memory of Djuna falling into a hole in the woods and Celia walking away and spreading a lie about the abduction.
Celia returns home to confess her new truth and to talk with the other girls who were there that day. As she talks with them she learns that they all remember seeing the car and that no one believes what she remembers about Djuna falling into a hole. She does learn more about her friendship with Djuna and some of the bullying that they had done to one of the girls who wanted to be their friend. Celia’s family and her boyfriend are able to open up with her about things that have been under the surface and unsaid for a long time. The book ends without knowing if Celia is able to move forward in her life after addressing these issues in her past.
This was a very interesting book and a fast read. I found myself liking Celia even after learning about some of the horrible bullying that she took part in as a young girl. It brought back memories of how mean children can be to each other and how serious small things seem. I wanted to know what the real version of the truth was, and I was thankful that the author included a short page at the end telling what happened.
19/02/2011 at 9:11 pm Permalink
Sounds intriguing. I’ll have to check it out.