First published 2015
Pattyn Von Stratten's father is dead, and she has disappeared. Years of abuse ended in tragedy, costing her both Ethan and their unborn child. Her sister Jackie remains trapped at home with their mother, who lets community leaders bury the truth of that deadly night. Only Jackie knows what really happened. Pattyn assumes a false identity and finds work as a migrant laborer on a California ranch. She wants peace, but starting fresh proves harder than expected. Everything she once knew has crumbled. Jackie faces isolation without her sister's protection. Their mother clings to appearances while dangerous lies take root. Pattyn must decide whether hiding feels safer than confronting reality. Can someone rebuild when their foundation has turned to ash? Ellen Hopkins continues Pattyn's story from Burned, following her attempt to escape the past and forge a future worth living.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, abuse, mystery, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: California, United States
576 pages · Paperback · Margaret K. McElderry Books
Content warnings: abuse, domestic-violence, physical-abuse