Harrowing but compelling

Told from the viewpoint of Alexandra Gracie (Girl A) – the only one who managed to eventually escape and raise the alarm – ‘Girl A’ is the story of seven siblings, and the horrifying treatment they receive at the hands of their fanatically religious father and compliant mother. Make no mistake, this is not an easy read, but it is nevertheless a compelling and absorbing one.

There is, however, an uplifting aspect to the novel as, later in life, Alexandra determines to salvage something good from the tragedy of their childhood. This plan means contacting her now geographically scattered siblings.

Divided into seven chapters, the story switches between the present and the past as each chapter explores the experience of one of the children, and the particular cruelties and humiliations inflicted on them. This is a well-written account, highlighting the unimaginable horrors of child abuse, which is all too often hidden behind closed doors.

Although traumatised, each child manages to develop his or her own particular survival mechanism – sometimes to the detriment of other siblings. As can sometimes happen in life-threatening situations, self-preservation eventually dictates that two of the children cultivate an ‘it’s you or me’ attitude.

The graphic descriptions of their ordeals are deeply upsetting and heart-rending. However, despite this, I found the book impossible to put down. As each chapter vividly reveals new levels of cruelty, I soon wanted to call the police myself.

Unlike some thrillers, ‘Girl A’ is a slow burn story, echoing the years of incarceration suffered by the children. The stories of the victims are revealed gradually, including one particularly shocking twist at the end.

I really enjoyed this book, despite the subject matter. The only problem I had was the switching between past and present within the same chapter, which I sometimes found confusing. However, it was certainly not enough to spoil the flow, and I whole-heartedly recommend this book to others.