Don't be afraid, read it. Nov 29, 2007
I waited years to read this book because I had the idea that it would be darkly disturbing. In essence it is disturbing, but not at all hard to read. It went by so quickly I was shocked when I came to the last page.
Five sisters, controlled by a mother who has no idea what kind of harm she is inflicting, kill themselves within a year of each other. The story is told from the neighbors' point of view. A group of young men who go to school with the girls, but because of their own innocence and lack of understanding, the story does not come across as harsh or dark. They don't know what to do to help, and I'm honestly not even sure it occured to the boys to try to help. That is adult territory.
The story is strange, but the writing is superb.