Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Jun 2018
448 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
The Lovely Bones meets Thirteen Reasons Why in this gorgeous, haunting, and tragic novel that examines the crippling--and far-reaching--effects of one person's trauma on her family, her community, and herself.
For the past eight years, sixteen-year-old Emilia DeJesus has done her best to move on from the traumatic attack she suffered in the woods behind her elementary school. She's forced down the memories--the feeling of the twigs cracking beneath her, choking on her own blood, unable to scream. Most of all, she's tried to forget about Jeremy Lance, the boy responsible, the boy who caused her such pain. Emilia believes that the crows who watched over her that day, who helped her survive, are still on her side, encouraging her to live fully. And with the love and support of her mother, brother, and her caring boyfriend, Emilia is doing just that.
But when a startling discovery about her attacker's identity comes to light, and the memories of that day break through the mental box in which she'd shut them away, Emilia is forced to confront her new reality and make sense of shifting truths about her past, her family, and herself.
A compulsively-readable tragedy that reminds us of the fragility of human nature.
"Starred Review. Sanchez deftly shows the long-lasting impact of the assault. ... An intimate and tragic look at how traumatic incidents affect individuals, their families, and others around them." - Kirkus Reviews
"Starred Review. Sanchez writes with stunning detail, showcasing the beauty that can be found in small moments, in family interactions, in nature, and in seemingly everyday objects... and illustrates how a trauma like Emilia's has widespread effects." - School Library Journal
"Emilia's inner world both captivates and devastates." - Publishers Weekly
"Internal and contemplative, [this novel's] haunting quality lingers." - Booklist
This information about The Fall of Innocence was first featured
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Jenny Torres Sanchez is a full-time writer and former English teacher. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, but has lived on the border of two worlds her whole life. She is the author of We Are Not From Here; The Fall of Innocence; Because of the Sun; Death, Dickinson, and the Demented Life of Frenchie Garcia; and The Downside of Being Charlie. She lives in Orlando, Florida, with her husband and children.
The Flower Sisters
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From the new Fannie Flagg of the Ozarks, a richly-woven story of family, forgiveness, and reinvention.
The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant
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