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All the Things We Do in the Dark: A Dark YA Thriller of Secrets and Scars
Sadie meets Girl in Pieces in this dark, emotional thriller by acclaimed author Saundra Mitchell.
Something happened to Ava. The curving scar on her face is proof. Ava would rather keep that something hidden—buried deep in her heart and her soul.
But in the woods on the outskirts of town, the traces of someone else’s secrets lie frozen, awaiting Ava’s discovery—and what Ava finds threatens to topple the carefully constructed wall of normalcy that she’s spent years building around her.
Secrets leave scars. But when the secret in question is not your own—do you ignore the truth and walk away? Or do you uncover it from its shallow grave and let it reopen old wounds—wounds that have finally begun to heal?
Something happened to Ava. The curving scar on her face is proof. Ava would rather keep that something hidden—buried deep in her heart and her soul.
But in the woods on the outskirts of town, the traces of someone else’s secrets lie frozen, awaiting Ava’s discovery—and what Ava finds threatens to topple the carefully constructed wall of normalcy that she’s spent years building around her.
Secrets leave scars. But when the secret in question is not your own—do you ignore the truth and walk away? Or do you uncover it from its shallow grave and let it reopen old wounds—wounds that have finally begun to heal?
296 pages, Hardcover
First published October 29, 2019
54 people are currently reading
5182 people want to read
About the author
Saundra Mitchell
30 books578 followersSaundra Mitchell is the author of SHADOWED SUMMER, THE VESPERTINE, THE SPRINGSWEET, THE ELEMENTALS, MISTWALKER, and ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK. In non-fiction, she’s the author of the non-fiction THEY DID WHAT!? series for middle grade readers. Her first adult novel, THIS SIDE OF GONE, will be published by William Morrow in January 2026.
She’s also the co-author of the CAMP MURDERFACE series with Josh Berk, and the editor of four YA anthologies: DEFY THE DARK, ALL OUT, OUT NOW, and OUT THERE. She also adapted the hit Broadway Musical THE PROM for teen readers!
Mitchell writes under multiple pen names, including Jessa Holbrook (WHILE YOU’RE AWAY,) Alex Mallory (WILD,) and Rory Harrison (LOOKING FOR GROUP.)
SHADOWED SUMMER was the 2010 winner of The Society of Midland Authors Book Award for Children’s Fiction and a 2010 Edgar® Award Nominee. It was chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection and an ALAN Pick in 2009. In 2020, ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK was a Lambda Finalist, and the winner of the Indiana Authors Award for Young Adult Fiction.
Her short story “Ready to Wear” was nominated for a 2007 Pushcart Prize after appearing in Vestal Review Issue 27. Her short fiction and non-fiction has appeared in anthologies including TRANSMOGRIFY!, FORESHADOW, YOU TOO?, A TYRANNY OF PETTICOATS, FORETOLD, and DEAR BULLY.
For twenty years, she was the head screenwriter and an executive producer with Dreaming Tree Films on their various teen filmmaking programs, including the largest teen filmmaking program in the United States, Fresh Films. They produced more than four hundred films from her screenplays, and she earned Academy Award eligibility ten times during her tenure.
In other arenas, Ms. Mitchell was interviewed by the New York Times and the BBC for her part in exposing the Kaycee Nicole hoax, and she’s been tapped by morning radio shows all over the United States as a guest expert on Urban Legends & Folklore.
In her free time, she enjoys fandom, studying history, playing ttrpgs and video games, and spending time with her wife and daughters. Her pronouns are she/they.
She’s also the co-author of the CAMP MURDERFACE series with Josh Berk, and the editor of four YA anthologies: DEFY THE DARK, ALL OUT, OUT NOW, and OUT THERE. She also adapted the hit Broadway Musical THE PROM for teen readers!
Mitchell writes under multiple pen names, including Jessa Holbrook (WHILE YOU’RE AWAY,) Alex Mallory (WILD,) and Rory Harrison (LOOKING FOR GROUP.)
SHADOWED SUMMER was the 2010 winner of The Society of Midland Authors Book Award for Children’s Fiction and a 2010 Edgar® Award Nominee. It was chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection and an ALAN Pick in 2009. In 2020, ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK was a Lambda Finalist, and the winner of the Indiana Authors Award for Young Adult Fiction.
Her short story “Ready to Wear” was nominated for a 2007 Pushcart Prize after appearing in Vestal Review Issue 27. Her short fiction and non-fiction has appeared in anthologies including TRANSMOGRIFY!, FORESHADOW, YOU TOO?, A TYRANNY OF PETTICOATS, FORETOLD, and DEAR BULLY.
For twenty years, she was the head screenwriter and an executive producer with Dreaming Tree Films on their various teen filmmaking programs, including the largest teen filmmaking program in the United States, Fresh Films. They produced more than four hundred films from her screenplays, and she earned Academy Award eligibility ten times during her tenure.
In other arenas, Ms. Mitchell was interviewed by the New York Times and the BBC for her part in exposing the Kaycee Nicole hoax, and she’s been tapped by morning radio shows all over the United States as a guest expert on Urban Legends & Folklore.
In her free time, she enjoys fandom, studying history, playing ttrpgs and video games, and spending time with her wife and daughters. Her pronouns are she/they.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
May 2, 2019
I blame this book -in a good way- for staying up really late with it on my hands. First of all, thank you for writing this. It's a powerful, raw book. It doesn't sugarcoats, it delivers in a way you feel the stress and the fears of the main protagonist, and that can only come from experience. This is a book about a girl of 9 who is raped by a man, and survives to tell the tale. And that is what she does, share her story. The highs and the lows, how everything she does or doesn't do can or can't be marked by that fatidic moment. How there are scars in the inside and the outside, and how are things you carry on in yourself all your life.
This book makes you feel, connects you, and it scares you because it can be you. It's narrated masterfully, with a powerful voice, and I especially liked how the author worked out the internal monologues when Ava is losing her thread and her fears, and PTSD is making an appearance. I loved how respectfully her mental health is fleshed out , and how believable she is.
The book could be kind of a thriller, as she founds a body in the woods and her fears about what happens to survivors and victims of rape afloat and she wants to help the dead girl by finding out what and who happened to her; but to me, this book is more about awareness of the fact rape victims aren't guilty, they aren't the ones to blame and they carry it with them all their lives. Also, they are not their trauma. Also, I really loved the mental health awareness, about knowing sometimes things are too much, you can go from ok to destroyed in 0', and sometimes you will need to ask for help from friends, family or professionals, and it's okay. You might have a trauma, or an illness, but you're neither your trauma or your illness and they are part of you but they don't define you.
I loved this book. Is masterfully written, full of truths and daring you to look at them. Is full of understanding and compassion, but not pity. It has a powerful way to deliver its messages, and all the characters that live on its pages are so well developed, so rounded, that you feel they can jump out of the pages and resume their lives in the real world.
Do yourself a favor and read it. No, really. It stays with you.
This book makes you feel, connects you, and it scares you because it can be you. It's narrated masterfully, with a powerful voice, and I especially liked how the author worked out the internal monologues when Ava is losing her thread and her fears, and PTSD is making an appearance. I loved how respectfully her mental health is fleshed out , and how believable she is.
The book could be kind of a thriller, as she founds a body in the woods and her fears about what happens to survivors and victims of rape afloat and she wants to help the dead girl by finding out what and who happened to her; but to me, this book is more about awareness of the fact rape victims aren't guilty, they aren't the ones to blame and they carry it with them all their lives. Also, they are not their trauma. Also, I really loved the mental health awareness, about knowing sometimes things are too much, you can go from ok to destroyed in 0', and sometimes you will need to ask for help from friends, family or professionals, and it's okay. You might have a trauma, or an illness, but you're neither your trauma or your illness and they are part of you but they don't define you.
I loved this book. Is masterfully written, full of truths and daring you to look at them. Is full of understanding and compassion, but not pity. It has a powerful way to deliver its messages, and all the characters that live on its pages are so well developed, so rounded, that you feel they can jump out of the pages and resume their lives in the real world.
Do yourself a favor and read it. No, really. It stays with you.
dnf-lost-interest
September 4, 2019"Sadie meets Girl in Pieces in this dark, emotional thriller by acclaimed author Saundra Mitchell." <----- SOLD
I'm really grateful that YA fiction is tackling current, weighty issues for teens. I wish this type of fiction had been more mainstream when I was in high school.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
I'm really grateful that YA fiction is tackling current, weighty issues for teens. I wish this type of fiction had been more mainstream when I was in high school.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
October 28, 2019
"Everybody else gets to leave a mark on me. Why can't I leave my own?"
My first Goodread's update about this book was "this is gonna hurt", and boy was I right. All the Things We Do in the Dark came across my radar when I saw it pitched as The Lovely Bones meets Sadie. Normally, I try not to let the when X meets Y comparison be the reason I pick up books, but I mean, how I could I not for this one? This book centers largely around rape and PTSD and it's important that you go into this one understanding that and in that you're in the correct headspace for it. While the rape scene is not discussed in full detail it is still extremely unsettling, mainly because Ava, the MC, was nine when it happened. But the quotes in this book y'all, oooof they hit SO HARD. This is a story about survival, rape culture, moving forward after unimaginable trauma, and doing what we think is the best for our own healing purposes, even if it may be hurting us instead of helping us.
Here's a little example on the quotes hitting hard in this book:
Those two specific quotes come within the first 2% of the book...so yeah, it hurt. Ava, has lived her life completely in control of everything since her rape. She never leaves the house alone, has one best friend who is the only person (besides the cops and her mother) that knows the truth about what happened to her and her giant scar on her face, and has a whole slew of tattoos that SHE chose to put on her body. It's very apparent that even though Ava's rape happened several years ago she is still dealing with PTSD and understandably so. She's compartmentalized a lot of things in her life since the rape to keep herself in control and feeling safe, until one day after a fight with her best friend she's walking home and finds a body of a dead girl in the woods.
You would think that a normal reaction to finding a dead body would be to call the police, however, that's the exact opposite of what Ava does. Her reasoning is literally like a punch in the throat. She's trying to protect her "Jane Doe" from being picked apart and investigated by the police like she was when she was nine. She thinks that she's trying to help Jane even though she's dead and it's just the most heartbreaking thing ever. This book has a touch of magical realism in it because Ava starts to see Jane and without saying too much Jane helps her track down her murderer. All the while this is happening Ava meets a girl named Hailey and starts to develop feelings for her which is something she's never let herself experience before. Put all of this together and Ava is starting to loose control on what was her "normal" for years since her rape.
All in all, even though the overall theme of this was heavy I loved the message that this story conveys. We all deal with trauma and grief and different ways and sometimes it's easier to make the choices that will end up hurting us for a quick fix of how we feel vs. taking the long road, asking for help, and working for a better tomorrow. If you think you're in an okay headspace for this one I highly recommend giving it a go!
Thank you HarperTeen for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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My first Goodread's update about this book was "this is gonna hurt", and boy was I right. All the Things We Do in the Dark came across my radar when I saw it pitched as The Lovely Bones meets Sadie. Normally, I try not to let the when X meets Y comparison be the reason I pick up books, but I mean, how I could I not for this one? This book centers largely around rape and PTSD and it's important that you go into this one understanding that and in that you're in the correct headspace for it. While the rape scene is not discussed in full detail it is still extremely unsettling, mainly because Ava, the MC, was nine when it happened. But the quotes in this book y'all, oooof they hit SO HARD. This is a story about survival, rape culture, moving forward after unimaginable trauma, and doing what we think is the best for our own healing purposes, even if it may be hurting us instead of helping us.
Here's a little example on the quotes hitting hard in this book:
"I had a "good" rape. The kind where I was young enough that it was definitely not my fault. I was not sexy enough for people to think I might have secretly wanted it. My rape was committed by a pyscho-stranger-bad-man-not-anybody-nice-we-know.
Extremely not my fault.
Of course it's never anyones fault."
"I'm obligated to say it out loud for everyone who can't. For the ones who don't have bulletproof stories even though we we're all equal: something evil happened, and it happened to us. We didn't make that evil happen."
Those two specific quotes come within the first 2% of the book...so yeah, it hurt. Ava, has lived her life completely in control of everything since her rape. She never leaves the house alone, has one best friend who is the only person (besides the cops and her mother) that knows the truth about what happened to her and her giant scar on her face, and has a whole slew of tattoos that SHE chose to put on her body. It's very apparent that even though Ava's rape happened several years ago she is still dealing with PTSD and understandably so. She's compartmentalized a lot of things in her life since the rape to keep herself in control and feeling safe, until one day after a fight with her best friend she's walking home and finds a body of a dead girl in the woods.
You would think that a normal reaction to finding a dead body would be to call the police, however, that's the exact opposite of what Ava does. Her reasoning is literally like a punch in the throat. She's trying to protect her "Jane Doe" from being picked apart and investigated by the police like she was when she was nine. She thinks that she's trying to help Jane even though she's dead and it's just the most heartbreaking thing ever. This book has a touch of magical realism in it because Ava starts to see Jane and without saying too much Jane helps her track down her murderer. All the while this is happening Ava meets a girl named Hailey and starts to develop feelings for her which is something she's never let herself experience before. Put all of this together and Ava is starting to loose control on what was her "normal" for years since her rape.
All in all, even though the overall theme of this was heavy I loved the message that this story conveys. We all deal with trauma and grief and different ways and sometimes it's easier to make the choices that will end up hurting us for a quick fix of how we feel vs. taking the long road, asking for help, and working for a better tomorrow. If you think you're in an okay headspace for this one I highly recommend giving it a go!
Thank you HarperTeen for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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July 31, 2019
Thank you to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for proving an E-arc in exchange for an honest review.
dnf
October 12, 2020DNF at 27%. I was no longer sure if I still wanted to read this and decided to just give the audiobook a chance but this book was just not for me whatsoever. I also wouldn't necessarily recommend the audiobook for this reading experience because I don’t think that the voice of the narrator and the tone in which they read it really fit the book or rather it just very much immediately creates a certain atmosphere that didn't fit for me personally.
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August 19, 2020
I’m at a loss for several reasons when it comes to this novel. I have plenty of praises, but each of them seem to come hand in hand with something negative.
The writing, for instance. There were plenty of times through the book where I thought “Wow, this writing is gorgeous!” But then, other times I found the writing to be...not good, especially the dialogue, which I found mostly cringey. I think the writing also made me a bit more distanced from the characters for whatever reason, maybe not so much Ava, but our side characters Syd and Hailey. Those two h(Hailey in particular) could have been developed a bit more.
Speaking of Hailey, I really did enjoy the romance. However, it was *slighty* instalove, but also not really? Whatever, that only bugged me a tiny bit. But yeah, the romance was good!
The plot was a bit slow moving and not a lot really happened. I feel like I went into this expecting it to be a thriller/mystery and it was more of a hard hitting contemporary. I’m cool with those, but I don’t feel like that message was properly conveyed by the synopsis or cover or anything. And the end was a bit...meh? It didn’t do a lot for me.
The topics handled and discussed in this book I thought were great though. So many quotes that I could pull that just made me want to scream “YES!”
So overall, I wouldn’t say it’s a bad book, I’d say it’s just okay.
The writing, for instance. There were plenty of times through the book where I thought “Wow, this writing is gorgeous!” But then, other times I found the writing to be...not good, especially the dialogue, which I found mostly cringey. I think the writing also made me a bit more distanced from the characters for whatever reason, maybe not so much Ava, but our side characters Syd and Hailey. Those two h(Hailey in particular) could have been developed a bit more.
Speaking of Hailey, I really did enjoy the romance. However, it was *slighty* instalove, but also not really? Whatever, that only bugged me a tiny bit. But yeah, the romance was good!
The plot was a bit slow moving and not a lot really happened. I feel like I went into this expecting it to be a thriller/mystery and it was more of a hard hitting contemporary. I’m cool with those, but I don’t feel like that message was properly conveyed by the synopsis or cover or anything. And the end was a bit...meh? It didn’t do a lot for me.
The topics handled and discussed in this book I thought were great though. So many quotes that I could pull that just made me want to scream “YES!”
So overall, I wouldn’t say it’s a bad book, I’d say it’s just okay.
April 5, 2020
4 stars
I've been meaning to read this book for so long and now that I have and two months have passed since I finished it, I truly have no idea what to say about it.
I'm not quite sure how to give a synopsis for this book because it's about so many things that narrowing it down to just one doesn't feel right. It's about the way trauma manifests in different ways throughout a person's life, it's about friendship, it's about love, it's about the way trauma affects your relationships, it's about the mystery of a body hidden in the woods, buried under however many feet of snow.
I absolutely adored Ava, our main character. She is such a complex character with so many different aspects to her personality that make her who she is. She is messy and sometimes she doesn't understand why she makes the decisions she makes, but she is always trying her best to do what she thinks is right. TW: rape for the spoiler tag (no spoilers)
I also really loved the plot and the mystery aspect of it. I thought it was incredibly well done and it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and I never knew where the plot was going, but I was quite pleased with the way things turned out. I really liked the ending, as well, and I thought it was very fitting for the story. I don't want to say much else about the plot because I don't want to spoil y'all when you should really just read this book for yourselves and see.
The last thing I would like to talk about here is the way Ava's relationships are explored in this book. The relationship between Ava and her mother is one that I would have been interested in seeing explored more because I thought their dynamic was really interesting and not really one that is explored much in fiction and I thought that this was a great opportunity for that. I really liked the exploration of how friendships grow and change throughout time and how sometimes friends grow out of each other, but also sometimes, people want to give others second chances and it's worth it!! And I really enjoyed the romance in this book and I thought the discussion of Ava's trauma when it came to the romantic relationship was really well done.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it's one that's about so much more than is promised in the synopsis, so I would definitely recommend picking this one up, if you haven't yet.
I've been meaning to read this book for so long and now that I have and two months have passed since I finished it, I truly have no idea what to say about it.
I'm not quite sure how to give a synopsis for this book because it's about so many things that narrowing it down to just one doesn't feel right. It's about the way trauma manifests in different ways throughout a person's life, it's about friendship, it's about love, it's about the way trauma affects your relationships, it's about the mystery of a body hidden in the woods, buried under however many feet of snow.
I absolutely adored Ava, our main character. She is such a complex character with so many different aspects to her personality that make her who she is. She is messy and sometimes she doesn't understand why she makes the decisions she makes, but she is always trying her best to do what she thinks is right. TW: rape for the spoiler tag (no spoilers)
I also really loved the plot and the mystery aspect of it. I thought it was incredibly well done and it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and I never knew where the plot was going, but I was quite pleased with the way things turned out. I really liked the ending, as well, and I thought it was very fitting for the story. I don't want to say much else about the plot because I don't want to spoil y'all when you should really just read this book for yourselves and see.
The last thing I would like to talk about here is the way Ava's relationships are explored in this book. The relationship between Ava and her mother is one that I would have been interested in seeing explored more because I thought their dynamic was really interesting and not really one that is explored much in fiction and I thought that this was a great opportunity for that. I really liked the exploration of how friendships grow and change throughout time and how sometimes friends grow out of each other, but also sometimes, people want to give others second chances and it's worth it!! And I really enjoyed the romance in this book and I thought the discussion of Ava's trauma when it came to the romantic relationship was really well done.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it's one that's about so much more than is promised in the synopsis, so I would definitely recommend picking this one up, if you haven't yet.
December 10, 2019
You can find this review on my blog Shades of Paper.
I was super intrigued about this book, and even though lately I haven’t been reading a lot of YA contemporary books, I love me a good dark contemporary, but unfortunately even though I had such high expectations I didn’t end up liking All the Things We Do in The Dark as much as I thought I would.
First of all, I deeply respected the author for writing about something that hit so close to her and I don’t really have an opinion of that. I think there was nothing wrong with the story and more a this wasn’t the book for me kind of situation, because I could see how this book would be a hit for so many people, but I just didn’t click with it.
One of the main issues that I had with this novel was that I wasn’t the biggest fan of the writing. Though it was descriptive and flowy, there was something about it that made me disconnect with the characters and the book, thus why I struggled a lot to continue reading it and not put it down. The way the author portrayed the characters and describe them was a bit juvenile and childish, and I think that had something to do with her writing and less with the characters themselves.
Also, I just didn’t like our protagonist. Despite the novel being told in first person so the reader could relate and understand the main character more, I just simply couldn’t. I didn’t particularly like her storyline and her personality, and I think that the relationship she had with her love interest/friend was so odd and strange. The way everything was done made me disconnect with the characters and the plot till the point when I didn’t care what happened to any of them.
I also struggled with the pacing of the story and the plot. I don’t know, but even though it was such a short book I think there were a lot of things that didn’t add much to the story and could have been cut out.
Overall, I wasn’t the biggest fan of All the Things We Do in The Dark. I had such high expectations and I honestly thought I was going to really enjoy the book, given the fact that I’ve loved similar stories, but I guess that it wasn’t for me.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This doesn’t change my opinion whatsoever. All thoughts are my own.
....
Thank you HarperCollins for giving me an ARC of this book
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I was super intrigued about this book, and even though lately I haven’t been reading a lot of YA contemporary books, I love me a good dark contemporary, but unfortunately even though I had such high expectations I didn’t end up liking All the Things We Do in The Dark as much as I thought I would.
First of all, I deeply respected the author for writing about something that hit so close to her and I don’t really have an opinion of that. I think there was nothing wrong with the story and more a this wasn’t the book for me kind of situation, because I could see how this book would be a hit for so many people, but I just didn’t click with it.
One of the main issues that I had with this novel was that I wasn’t the biggest fan of the writing. Though it was descriptive and flowy, there was something about it that made me disconnect with the characters and the book, thus why I struggled a lot to continue reading it and not put it down. The way the author portrayed the characters and describe them was a bit juvenile and childish, and I think that had something to do with her writing and less with the characters themselves.
Also, I just didn’t like our protagonist. Despite the novel being told in first person so the reader could relate and understand the main character more, I just simply couldn’t. I didn’t particularly like her storyline and her personality, and I think that the relationship she had with her love interest/friend was so odd and strange. The way everything was done made me disconnect with the characters and the plot till the point when I didn’t care what happened to any of them.
I also struggled with the pacing of the story and the plot. I don’t know, but even though it was such a short book I think there were a lot of things that didn’t add much to the story and could have been cut out.
Overall, I wasn’t the biggest fan of All the Things We Do in The Dark. I had such high expectations and I honestly thought I was going to really enjoy the book, given the fact that I’ve loved similar stories, but I guess that it wasn’t for me.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This doesn’t change my opinion whatsoever. All thoughts are my own.
....
Thank you HarperCollins for giving me an ARC of this book
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November 2, 2019
2.5 STARS
Nine-year-old Ava is scarred by her rapist. Eight years later she carries the weight of her experience within her and a large scar on her face, a mark that reminds everyone what happened. When Ava discovers the naked body of a murdered teen in the woods, she feels a kinship and names her Jane. Not trusting the police, Ava decides to solve the murder.
ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK is a beautifully written novel, but one that I didn’t enjoy reading. Saundra Mitchell chose to write ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK in one long chapter, perhaps because Ava’s narration felt like one long, often psychotic, stream of consciousness storytelling. Mitchell’s word-building is exquisite.
I questioned the reliability of Ava’s words from the beginning, once she began hallucinating Jane, I never knew what was real and what wasn’t. Ava’s dishonesty, though a component of her unnamed mental illnesses, added to my reasons to distrust her narration. I felt much empathy for her, but I didn’t like her very much.
Plot-wise, ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK felt weak and underdeveloped. Ava was the only character with depth and dimension.
The writing carries ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK.
Nine-year-old Ava is scarred by her rapist. Eight years later she carries the weight of her experience within her and a large scar on her face, a mark that reminds everyone what happened. When Ava discovers the naked body of a murdered teen in the woods, she feels a kinship and names her Jane. Not trusting the police, Ava decides to solve the murder.
ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK is a beautifully written novel, but one that I didn’t enjoy reading. Saundra Mitchell chose to write ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK in one long chapter, perhaps because Ava’s narration felt like one long, often psychotic, stream of consciousness storytelling. Mitchell’s word-building is exquisite.
I questioned the reliability of Ava’s words from the beginning, once she began hallucinating Jane, I never knew what was real and what wasn’t. Ava’s dishonesty, though a component of her unnamed mental illnesses, added to my reasons to distrust her narration. I felt much empathy for her, but I didn’t like her very much.
Plot-wise, ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK felt weak and underdeveloped. Ava was the only character with depth and dimension.
The writing carries ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK.
November 3, 2020
This book was all over the place.
Which made it a real struggle to follow.
Which in turn made reading it quite unenjoyable.
Which made it a real struggle to follow.
Which in turn made reading it quite unenjoyable.
October 13, 2021
3.5*
This book was a bit chaotic and confusing in the beginning, but it mirrors the way the MC thinks/feels. So in this case it is a good thing that I was a bit confused and had a hard time putting together what happened that day when Ava got her visible scar. You really get some insight to the why Ava thinks and acts like she does and even how "falling in love" can trigger memories and fears...
Only the part when Ava is "arrested" felt a bit rushed. Suddenly so many things happen/are solved at once, that it is hard to wrap my head around.
This book was a bit chaotic and confusing in the beginning, but it mirrors the way the MC thinks/feels. So in this case it is a good thing that I was a bit confused and had a hard time putting together what happened that day when Ava got her visible scar. You really get some insight to the why Ava thinks and acts like she does and even how "falling in love" can trigger memories and fears...
Only the part when Ava is "arrested" felt a bit rushed. Suddenly so many things happen/are solved at once, that it is hard to wrap my head around.
April 25, 2025
I had to read this because of my English 2 class book club and I hate reading but will read if I have to but this book sucks. In the beginning she says she doesn’t have a dad but then in the middle she says she does but now at the end she says she doesn’t again. Also the summary that the teacher gave happens in the first 3 chapters and so now there’s basically nothing going on. I will never read this again in my life and I would never recommend this to anyone not even my worst enemies. Don’t read unless you want to crash out. Who let this be published?
May 17, 2022
Not the most memorable read, I have to say. But I enjoyed it.
This was a book about opening old wounds and healing. And I guess I gotta do some of that too.
The author had my entire heart in the palm of her hand. The story felt raw and real and not like all the other stories like it that have been written at best with a sympathetic pen. This one was much more than that and appreciated that.
This was a book about opening old wounds and healing. And I guess I gotta do some of that too.
The author had my entire heart in the palm of her hand. The story felt raw and real and not like all the other stories like it that have been written at best with a sympathetic pen. This one was much more than that and appreciated that.
October 26, 2019
3.5 stars review to come
December 29, 2019
This book was fucking phenomenal. All the Things We Do in the Dark is a dark, beautifully written book about Ava, a teenage girl who was raped as a child and left with a scar across her face. She doesn’t have many friends and spends most of her time at home. But when she finds the body of a girl in the woods, her life is turned upside down again.
From the very first pages, this book is so intense. It covers rape, PTSD, mental health, and victim blaming in a way that is seamlessly integrated into the story. While there is the external plot of figuring out what happened to the girl in the woods, the most important part of the story is the internal journey that Ava goes on. How this experience reminds her of her own trauma and how she deals with that. On top of all that there’s also tension with her best friend Syd and Ava starting to like a girl named Hailey.
I just loved this book so much. After finishing it I literally said “holy shit” out loud. I think it has a really important message that is delivered through beautiful writing, a compelling plot, and interesting characters.
From the very first pages, this book is so intense. It covers rape, PTSD, mental health, and victim blaming in a way that is seamlessly integrated into the story. While there is the external plot of figuring out what happened to the girl in the woods, the most important part of the story is the internal journey that Ava goes on. How this experience reminds her of her own trauma and how she deals with that. On top of all that there’s also tension with her best friend Syd and Ava starting to like a girl named Hailey.
I just loved this book so much. After finishing it I literally said “holy shit” out loud. I think it has a really important message that is delivered through beautiful writing, a compelling plot, and interesting characters.
July 9, 2023
i’m gonna say it. this deserves the same hype sadie got.
fuck. this is so good.
content/trigger warnings; mentions and affects of past child rape, blood, violence, ptsd, ableism, masturbation, kissing, arophobic language, murder,
rep; ava (mc) is pansexual and has ptsd. syd (sc) is queer (attracted to all genders, no label used). hailey (li) is korean-american and queer (no label used). nick (sc) has a stutter.
fuck. this is so good.
content/trigger warnings; mentions and affects of past child rape, blood, violence, ptsd, ableism, masturbation, kissing, arophobic language, murder,
rep; ava (mc) is pansexual and has ptsd. syd (sc) is queer (attracted to all genders, no label used). hailey (li) is korean-american and queer (no label used). nick (sc) has a stutter.
June 30, 2020
I hope this isn't wrong of me, but I disliked this because it was not what I thought it was going to be. This is not a mystery or a thriller. This is a hard hitting contemporary. It has an important, crucial message, really. But I was looking for a plot and twists.
September 18, 2019
See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/yafict...
ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK is an intensely challenging and thought-provoking read with some magical realism elements. In the book, there is a trigger/content warning up front and center, but this does not always appear on online listings, so I will start by saying that this book contains sexual assault, sexual and physical violence, and PTSD. This story is made all the more poignant for the basis of the assault being from the author's own life. This is also what gives it a very real feel and makes the characters come to life all the more.
The main character, Ava, was sexually assaulted by a stranger when she was nine years old. The traumatic event left her with a scar on her face in addition to the many invisible scars she carries. She carries this with her, and events that happen after are often defined by others as relating to the assault. This is inseparable, however.
Ava has found a body of a woman/girl in the woods. Knowing what could happen if she reports it, she instead tries to protect this body, which she refers to as Jane, and to try to figure out what happened to her. She begins to see Jane and speak with her, leading her to do things she has never has done before. She lives a relatively sheltered life, and her desire to protect Jane is taking her outside of that.
At the same time, she is bonding with a new romantic partner, a girl who she is getting to know better. She has never sought out such relationships, and this one marks an important change in herself and her life. The romance is both complimentary to the main story and beautiful in its own right.
What I loved: This is not an easy read, and the fact that it is challenging is part of what makes it important. Ava's experiences and reflections are really poignant and carry off the page very well. It is easy to understand her and slide into her world, making this a really strong story. I also really enjoyed the romance and how raw, lovely, and true it felt.
What left me wanting more: As a relatively smaller point, I really wish that there had been some therapy involved. I know that not everyone gets help in these situations, but I love for people to see resources and how to get help. On the plus side, there will be an inclusion of a resources list for readers.
Final verdict: Compelling and thought-provoking, this book is SADIE meets THE LOVELY BONES. Would recommend for people looking for a deep, psychological, and challenging but ultimately pensive and raw read.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK is an intensely challenging and thought-provoking read with some magical realism elements. In the book, there is a trigger/content warning up front and center, but this does not always appear on online listings, so I will start by saying that this book contains sexual assault, sexual and physical violence, and PTSD. This story is made all the more poignant for the basis of the assault being from the author's own life. This is also what gives it a very real feel and makes the characters come to life all the more.
The main character, Ava, was sexually assaulted by a stranger when she was nine years old. The traumatic event left her with a scar on her face in addition to the many invisible scars she carries. She carries this with her, and events that happen after are often defined by others as relating to the assault. This is inseparable, however.
Ava has found a body of a woman/girl in the woods. Knowing what could happen if she reports it, she instead tries to protect this body, which she refers to as Jane, and to try to figure out what happened to her. She begins to see Jane and speak with her, leading her to do things she has never has done before. She lives a relatively sheltered life, and her desire to protect Jane is taking her outside of that.
At the same time, she is bonding with a new romantic partner, a girl who she is getting to know better. She has never sought out such relationships, and this one marks an important change in herself and her life. The romance is both complimentary to the main story and beautiful in its own right.
What I loved: This is not an easy read, and the fact that it is challenging is part of what makes it important. Ava's experiences and reflections are really poignant and carry off the page very well. It is easy to understand her and slide into her world, making this a really strong story. I also really enjoyed the romance and how raw, lovely, and true it felt.
What left me wanting more: As a relatively smaller point, I really wish that there had been some therapy involved. I know that not everyone gets help in these situations, but I love for people to see resources and how to get help. On the plus side, there will be an inclusion of a resources list for readers.
Final verdict: Compelling and thought-provoking, this book is SADIE meets THE LOVELY BONES. Would recommend for people looking for a deep, psychological, and challenging but ultimately pensive and raw read.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
August 5, 2020
I can't speak about how much this book means to me, and why, but it does. Especially the ending. Not the solve of the mystery, but the other stuff. You'll see.
Also! This book has trigger warnings at THE FRONT OF THE BOOK. That's huge (it shouldn't be, though) and I don't think I've ever seen any other book do it. This is where trigger warnings should always be - screw those who think spoilers matter more than the feelings of real people.
Sorry. Off my soapbox now.
Anyway, even putting aside how meaningful this book was personally, I still think it's fantastic. I can understand some people being put off by the stylistic choices, but they work. They're consistent with the way Ava thinks. It's not quite stream of consciousness (which I can find a little gimmicky) but it's almost. And I loved that it was so realistic with PTSD and triggers and yet still solving a mystery. And that it's not JUST about Ava's history, or the mystery, but normal teen stuff, too. And so feminist! God, I love it.
I'm not going to say everyone should read this book; it has trigger warnings for a reason. Plus, even outside of those, it's a dark book, and that might not be what you can currently handle. But if you CAN, I think you should give it a go. Even if you don't like mysteries, or issue books, or YA, or what have you.
It's just that spectacular.
Also! This book has trigger warnings at THE FRONT OF THE BOOK. That's huge (it shouldn't be, though) and I don't think I've ever seen any other book do it. This is where trigger warnings should always be - screw those who think spoilers matter more than the feelings of real people.
Sorry. Off my soapbox now.
Anyway, even putting aside how meaningful this book was personally, I still think it's fantastic. I can understand some people being put off by the stylistic choices, but they work. They're consistent with the way Ava thinks. It's not quite stream of consciousness (which I can find a little gimmicky) but it's almost. And I loved that it was so realistic with PTSD and triggers and yet still solving a mystery. And that it's not JUST about Ava's history, or the mystery, but normal teen stuff, too. And so feminist! God, I love it.
I'm not going to say everyone should read this book; it has trigger warnings for a reason. Plus, even outside of those, it's a dark book, and that might not be what you can currently handle. But if you CAN, I think you should give it a go. Even if you don't like mysteries, or issue books, or YA, or what have you.
It's just that spectacular.
May 21, 2020
Wow.. this book hit me hard.
When Ava was 9 years old, she was led away by a stranger and raped. Her rapist left her with a facial scar and internal scars. He was never found or prosecuted for what he did to her. Growing up, Ava has had many struggles (obviously) and finds comfort in her easy predictable life with her best friend Syd. But when Ava comes across a dead body in the woods, her first instinct is to keep the body a secret, not wanting anyone else to hurt the dead girl. Suddenly, she starts to see the dead girl everywhere and finds that some secrets are not so easy to hide..
This book was dark and upsetting but I couldn't put it down. It deals with some very heavy topics including child rape, murder and PTSD. The writing is great and Ava's story is heartbreaking but I feel it's important to have books like this for teens. Books that help them identify with characters that have been through what they have and help them survive and thrive.
I can't say that I've read many books that deal with PSTD but I really enjoyed this book. You could almost get into Ava's head and rationalise what she's doing and why she's doing it. It was very well done on the author's part.
This book broke me and I loved it. Heartbreakingly beautiful.
When Ava was 9 years old, she was led away by a stranger and raped. Her rapist left her with a facial scar and internal scars. He was never found or prosecuted for what he did to her. Growing up, Ava has had many struggles (obviously) and finds comfort in her easy predictable life with her best friend Syd. But when Ava comes across a dead body in the woods, her first instinct is to keep the body a secret, not wanting anyone else to hurt the dead girl. Suddenly, she starts to see the dead girl everywhere and finds that some secrets are not so easy to hide..
This book was dark and upsetting but I couldn't put it down. It deals with some very heavy topics including child rape, murder and PTSD. The writing is great and Ava's story is heartbreaking but I feel it's important to have books like this for teens. Books that help them identify with characters that have been through what they have and help them survive and thrive.
I can't say that I've read many books that deal with PSTD but I really enjoyed this book. You could almost get into Ava's head and rationalise what she's doing and why she's doing it. It was very well done on the author's part.
This book broke me and I loved it. Heartbreakingly beautiful.
April 20, 2023
I almost stopped reading this many times. I generally like Teen books but this one was juvenile despite the deeper issues which were mentioned but not explored well. I struggled through the book and felt relief when it was over.
January 5, 2025
This was TOO LONG
For me at least
Ava goes on about one thing for at least 10 chapters in a row and I got a little bored..
For me at least
Ava goes on about one thing for at least 10 chapters in a row and I got a little bored..
January 6, 2025
really strange??? idk i didn't enjoy it
July 11, 2023
She's just obsessed with a dead body. The only plot was that that the killer was somebody else than Nick and there are also too many details that just makes the story boring to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2023
Just so disappointing. Poor writing. Poor plot. There was so much potential.
February 10, 2022
One hot summer when nine-year-old Ava is outside riding her bike around the apartment complex where she lives, a man tells her “I have something that will keep you cool…” He leads Ava down a lane between the apartments and the trees and assaults her. This is the beginning of Saundra Mitchell’s YA novel All the Things We Do in the Dark.
Flash forward and Ava is now seventeen. Her parents are divorced. She has one best friend, Syd. She tries to be as invisible as possible, although she lives in small-town Maine where everyone knows who she is and what happened to her and if they didn’t, the scar the man left down the side of her face would certainly be cause for curiosity.
Ava has never really dealt with the trauma of her assault. Her mother keeps close tabs on her, but even she doesn’t know everything and Ava is prone to keeping secrets. This becomes evident when one day, walking home through the woods, she stumbles upon the body of a young girl.
She’s twisted like a Barbie doll at the waist. Her top half points forward, baring her face, her chest, those Vs. It takes me a minute to realize they’re stab wounds. Her bottom half faces down. Somehow both her breasts and her butt are exposed at the same time.
…
Human people, alive people, they don’t make that shape.
Ava makes a decision: she doesn’t tell anyone about the body. Chalk it up to shock or her own bad experience post-assault, but she decides to protect her. It’s a ridiculous decision to make – readers will know that – but Ava hasn’t ever really recovered from her own post-assault experience.
When Ava returns to the scene of the crime, she discovers someone else there, and convinced that she has stumbled upon the murderer, she gives chase. That’s where Mitchell’s book morphs from an examination of the trauma of assault to a straight-up mystery. I think I found this part of the book a little less successful, mostly because some of the decisions Ava makes (even though I could sort of understand why she was making them) seemed a little unrealistic.
Mitchell does do a wonderful job of crafting a character who has been through something horrific, something she still struggles with many years later as she tries to navigate relationships (with her bestie and a new friend, Hailey) and her own complicated feelings about her body and sexuality.
While I found the writing a bit choppy, a students in my class (who recommended the book) said that she liked the writing, that it felt like a conversation with her friends and that she related to some of the relationships in the book. That’s the true test of a YA book, I think: does it speak to its intended audience?
Flash forward and Ava is now seventeen. Her parents are divorced. She has one best friend, Syd. She tries to be as invisible as possible, although she lives in small-town Maine where everyone knows who she is and what happened to her and if they didn’t, the scar the man left down the side of her face would certainly be cause for curiosity.
Ava has never really dealt with the trauma of her assault. Her mother keeps close tabs on her, but even she doesn’t know everything and Ava is prone to keeping secrets. This becomes evident when one day, walking home through the woods, she stumbles upon the body of a young girl.
She’s twisted like a Barbie doll at the waist. Her top half points forward, baring her face, her chest, those Vs. It takes me a minute to realize they’re stab wounds. Her bottom half faces down. Somehow both her breasts and her butt are exposed at the same time.
…
Human people, alive people, they don’t make that shape.
Ava makes a decision: she doesn’t tell anyone about the body. Chalk it up to shock or her own bad experience post-assault, but she decides to protect her. It’s a ridiculous decision to make – readers will know that – but Ava hasn’t ever really recovered from her own post-assault experience.
When Ava returns to the scene of the crime, she discovers someone else there, and convinced that she has stumbled upon the murderer, she gives chase. That’s where Mitchell’s book morphs from an examination of the trauma of assault to a straight-up mystery. I think I found this part of the book a little less successful, mostly because some of the decisions Ava makes (even though I could sort of understand why she was making them) seemed a little unrealistic.
Mitchell does do a wonderful job of crafting a character who has been through something horrific, something she still struggles with many years later as she tries to navigate relationships (with her bestie and a new friend, Hailey) and her own complicated feelings about her body and sexuality.
While I found the writing a bit choppy, a students in my class (who recommended the book) said that she liked the writing, that it felt like a conversation with her friends and that she related to some of the relationships in the book. That’s the true test of a YA book, I think: does it speak to its intended audience?
July 10, 2023
trigger warnings for this book, that this review may also briefly mention as well: rape of a child (described/main part of story), murder (gorey/described), PTSD, hp references
sometimes you go into a book, no expectations. i found this book while trying to fill up a bingo board in june, and wanted an audiobook with pansexual rep. basically none of my mutuals have read it, i’ve never heard of it before. sometimes when you go into a book with no expectations, it’s magical getting to feel like you’re the first to experience it.
i have to start this by shouting out the audiobook narrator; their name is kelly pruner i believe. it’s definitely a book that i felt was meant to be read on audio… the narrator brought it to life, and the writing is so gorgeous . the story is so gritty and painful, and it’s not easy. and yet listening to it, it’s so real, words that contain tangents and confusion about what’s truly real, words that question actions and what it means when people change, when you start to loose recognition of self.
let’s back up. this book follows ava, and she’s not only the main character, but the story very heavily encompasses her thoughts/the ways she chooses to tell her story and address the reader. in other YA books, this style tends to make the narration sound immature and harder to take seriously, but mitchell executed this beautifully. ava was raped when she was nine years old, and it still shapes how she sees the world, with a mother that is overprotective of her and with a hard time connecting with anyone else other than her lifelong best friend. but then she finds a body on the side of the road one night, and she’s determined to protect it, do whatever she needs to do to protect it not only from the killer, but the cops, and whoever could taint it.
this book is presented more as a mystery/thriller, and yes, ava does go to some extreme extents, and there are high stakes, and ultimately there is an emphasis on justice for victims. but ultimately, this is a book about redefining yourself in the midst of trauma, of cycles of PTSD and hurt and the role that plays in sustaining self. it’s also about letting yourself be loved by someone fully, about trusting others to love you even with that pain and trauma.
it’s truly an underrated novel, we get great pansexual rep and even though it’s not a light read by any means, it’s so apparent that saundra mitchell put so much of themself into this story. i definitely recommend it if you’re in the mind space to listen!
sometimes you go into a book, no expectations. i found this book while trying to fill up a bingo board in june, and wanted an audiobook with pansexual rep. basically none of my mutuals have read it, i’ve never heard of it before. sometimes when you go into a book with no expectations, it’s magical getting to feel like you’re the first to experience it.
i have to start this by shouting out the audiobook narrator; their name is kelly pruner i believe. it’s definitely a book that i felt was meant to be read on audio… the narrator brought it to life, and the writing is so gorgeous . the story is so gritty and painful, and it’s not easy. and yet listening to it, it’s so real, words that contain tangents and confusion about what’s truly real, words that question actions and what it means when people change, when you start to loose recognition of self.
let’s back up. this book follows ava, and she’s not only the main character, but the story very heavily encompasses her thoughts/the ways she chooses to tell her story and address the reader. in other YA books, this style tends to make the narration sound immature and harder to take seriously, but mitchell executed this beautifully. ava was raped when she was nine years old, and it still shapes how she sees the world, with a mother that is overprotective of her and with a hard time connecting with anyone else other than her lifelong best friend. but then she finds a body on the side of the road one night, and she’s determined to protect it, do whatever she needs to do to protect it not only from the killer, but the cops, and whoever could taint it.
this book is presented more as a mystery/thriller, and yes, ava does go to some extreme extents, and there are high stakes, and ultimately there is an emphasis on justice for victims. but ultimately, this is a book about redefining yourself in the midst of trauma, of cycles of PTSD and hurt and the role that plays in sustaining self. it’s also about letting yourself be loved by someone fully, about trusting others to love you even with that pain and trauma.
it’s truly an underrated novel, we get great pansexual rep and even though it’s not a light read by any means, it’s so apparent that saundra mitchell put so much of themself into this story. i definitely recommend it if you’re in the mind space to listen!
June 7, 2023
Challenged in CBSD
Sadie had something happen one summer when she was 9 leaving her with a scar across her face — she tried to hide her scar like she does her trauma covering her body in tattoos and rainbow hair. Sadie has one friend and so many fears — one night she stumbles across something that makes her confront her trauma and she slowly breaks open her box — finding love, confronting fear, allowing herself to admit it isn’t her fault.
Sadie is an unreliable narrator— calling herself a liar and you can see her mind fracturing as she continues with the story then coming whole again towards the end. I loved the ending but wish the story was a little more fluid… or flowed a little better, I felt it was kind of choppy how all the pieces of Sadie’s story came together. Overall I think it is an excellent look at rape and how it affects a person who experienced it and hides it — how it truly affects every aspect of your life. There are parts that are hard to read… but it feels real and necessary.
This book contains rape of a child (but not descriptive), a dead body, queer characters… the message was clear and important— the authors note at the end was a great addition… please tell me why it is challenged? I would feel comfortable with a student 13 or older reading it.
Sadie had something happen one summer when she was 9 leaving her with a scar across her face — she tried to hide her scar like she does her trauma covering her body in tattoos and rainbow hair. Sadie has one friend and so many fears — one night she stumbles across something that makes her confront her trauma and she slowly breaks open her box — finding love, confronting fear, allowing herself to admit it isn’t her fault.
Sadie is an unreliable narrator— calling herself a liar and you can see her mind fracturing as she continues with the story then coming whole again towards the end. I loved the ending but wish the story was a little more fluid… or flowed a little better, I felt it was kind of choppy how all the pieces of Sadie’s story came together. Overall I think it is an excellent look at rape and how it affects a person who experienced it and hides it — how it truly affects every aspect of your life. There are parts that are hard to read… but it feels real and necessary.
This book contains rape of a child (but not descriptive), a dead body, queer characters… the message was clear and important— the authors note at the end was a great addition… please tell me why it is challenged? I would feel comfortable with a student 13 or older reading it.
January 13, 2021
This was by no means an easy book to read, although there’s a lot to admire within its pages. First and foremost, I take my figurative hat off to Saundra Mitchell for having the courage to write this novel, an undertaking which must have been incredibly painful. Sexual abuse is a sensitive subject to tackle in any circumstances. In All the Things We Do in the Dark, however, the author shares her own experience of being raped as a young child, and this bravery and generosity blew me away.
My favourite part of this book, probably because it adds some sweeter moments to an otherwise dark story, was the romance. Due, I’m sure, to her traumatic past, Ava has never considered anyone in a romantic sense. Then, when Hailey returns her dropped glove, the two girls talk properly for the first time and a whole new world opens up for Ava. Hailey’s trusting nature and sweet friendliness provide a contrast to Ava’s introverted awkwardness, and I found Ava’s gradual blossoming extremely moving.
Read my full review here.
My favourite part of this book, probably because it adds some sweeter moments to an otherwise dark story, was the romance. Due, I’m sure, to her traumatic past, Ava has never considered anyone in a romantic sense. Then, when Hailey returns her dropped glove, the two girls talk properly for the first time and a whole new world opens up for Ava. Hailey’s trusting nature and sweet friendliness provide a contrast to Ava’s introverted awkwardness, and I found Ava’s gradual blossoming extremely moving.
Read my full review here.
November 1, 2024
While looking for an audiobook to read, I found this selection from Saundra Mitchell who was the editor of another book on my to read list. It was fitting to find a thriller/ dark fiction during the last week of October, even though it is not a genre I would typically read. There were parts of the book I read slowly due to the graphic nature of the scene and/ or took a beat after an anxiety attack or string of intrusive thoughts were taking a toll on the narrator. I appreciated the point of view being rooted in a teenage voice, as they experience a string of events adults might have wittinesses to classify them “at risk” or “troubled”. So often teens are put into boxes based upon their actions/ reactions, and struggle to feel heard… the perspective of the narrator shows there is often much more to the story than adults see on the outside. This book gives voice to the struggle of handling co-occurring events that are terrifying and joy filled, exhilarating and grief ridden. Without including spoilers, I appreciated the growth of the narrator depicted at the end. I feel this story could be modified for screen.
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