Trapped in a masquerade of normalcy, Anke struggles to figure out her role in her dysfunctional family.  She lives in fear of her father's rage, yet longs for his love and attention.  Her brother Darren is physically abused, her sister Yaicha is sexually abused, and her mother lives in denial, while Anke feels like furniture: present, unnoticed, non-living.  Only when she defies her father to join the school volleyball team does Anke find her own strength, her own voice, and the power to stand up for what is right even at high personal cost.

On one hand, Thalia Chaltas's explosive debut novel explores the dark reality of living with abuse as a witness, and the complex psychological drama endured by a family trapped in a cycle of violence.  On the other hand, the book delicately balances the trauma at home with Anke's relatively normal school life -- an accurate depiction of a fifteen year old's confusion about boys, wry observations about high school, and fixation on appearances.  Chaltas weaves images of Anke's love of nature and its beauty throughout the novel, a counterpoint to the unnatural behavior of her father.

Written in well-crafted poems, the novel's structure gives the reader breathing space to deal with the devastation Anke experiences, and the volatility of her emotions.  Provacative, intense, and empowering, this unflinching and brave book will resonate deeply with readers and shine a light of hope to those who long to make their voices heard.  To learn more about the author, visit her Web site.



Update:  Thalia Chaltas received a starred review in Publisher's Weekly!  Her novel is due out in April.