Bull's Eye Book

In the photograph, Aunt Donna is very, very pregnant. My mother is not. I look up at my mom and she is crying-silently, with her hand over her mouth. After Emily's aunt dies, ...

Children's Literature

Seventeen-year-old Emily receives a parcel from her recently deceased Aunt Donna and carefully examines its contents as her mother, Sandra, watches. Emily feels confused and angry when she finds a 17-year-old photograph depicting a very pregnant Aunt Donna and a non-pregnant Sandra. Desperate for answers, Emily sets out on a fact-finding mission to uncover her lineage. Emily returns home a few days later and finds an unkempt Sandra. Later Emily is arrested for painting concentric circles representing herself and her biological parents on public property. In lieu of jail, Emily does community service where she meets an abused seven-year-old girl named April. With Sandra's blessing, Emily begins the evaluation process to become April's foster sister. Harvey's well-written novel, narrated in the first person, is a coming-of-age story that has a painful beginning and a joyful ending. Emily feels compelled to search for the truth after being lied to by her mother throughout her young life. Emily's journey takes her from the depths of despair to the summit of self-discovery. This title is an inspirational read for anyone who has been deceived by a loved one. Reviewer: Mary Jo Edwards