What do you think?
Rate this book
The Second Trial
Danny McMillan didn't know his father was abusing his mother. But before he can figure out how he feels, he is thrown into a victim protection program where he has to leave everything behind, including his own identity.
319 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2010
23 people are currently reading
257 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 23, 2011
The plot is very interesting, which is the reason that I first picked up this book. However, The author had a poor writing style for this book, There are a lot of places where it was more thought of from a lawyers perspective, instead of a child's. Another problem i had with this book was it's constant jumps in emotions, one minute the child will feel one emotion, then it is yanked away into a totally different thought and feeling. I think the basis is good, but the author needs improvement. I would not recommend this book to others.
August 9, 2021
It’s no secret that I love intense, emotional contemporary stories, and the final book I’m reading from my high school years for my birthday month TBR is one such, intense, emotional story: “The Second Trial” by Rosemarie Boll.
It’s 2002, and 13-year-old Danny’s family has been torn apart by domestic violence. Fearing for her life, and the lives of her children, Danny’s mother Catherine works with the Alberta government to move her children somewhere safe, complete with new identities. Danny (now called David) intensely dislikes his new normal, and doesn’t understand why all of this was necessary. His father had apologized, after all.
Danny starts to rebel, getting into trouble and hanging around with the wrong crowd, but when he meets a girl who also has her own secrets, he starts to wonder if maybe his new normal isn’t so bad after all.
This book was searing, unflinching, powerful and so, SO important. The topic of domestic violence can be triggering for some but the author handles it as sensitively and respectfully as she can, while also not sugar-coating it. Seeing the events through Danny/David’s eyes was a brilliant narrative decision, and he’s a flawed, rebellious narrator. He doesn’t make the best decisions, but none of us do at that age and seeing his personal growth throughout the course of the novel was incredibly impactful. This isn’t quite a 5-star book in my opinion, but it’s certainly worth a read, and especially if you enjoyed Yasmin Rahman’s novel, “This is My Truth,” I highly recommend reading this!
It’s 2002, and 13-year-old Danny’s family has been torn apart by domestic violence. Fearing for her life, and the lives of her children, Danny’s mother Catherine works with the Alberta government to move her children somewhere safe, complete with new identities. Danny (now called David) intensely dislikes his new normal, and doesn’t understand why all of this was necessary. His father had apologized, after all.
Danny starts to rebel, getting into trouble and hanging around with the wrong crowd, but when he meets a girl who also has her own secrets, he starts to wonder if maybe his new normal isn’t so bad after all.
This book was searing, unflinching, powerful and so, SO important. The topic of domestic violence can be triggering for some but the author handles it as sensitively and respectfully as she can, while also not sugar-coating it. Seeing the events through Danny/David’s eyes was a brilliant narrative decision, and he’s a flawed, rebellious narrator. He doesn’t make the best decisions, but none of us do at that age and seeing his personal growth throughout the course of the novel was incredibly impactful. This isn’t quite a 5-star book in my opinion, but it’s certainly worth a read, and especially if you enjoyed Yasmin Rahman’s novel, “This is My Truth,” I highly recommend reading this!
December 14, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
The second trail is about a boy who is dealing with family problems. At the beginning Danny has no idea his farther is abusing his mother. But after he finds his mother hurt down by the stairs, he decides to dial 9-1-1. After the problem revealed, Danny is totally confused and upset about all the problems he had. After the court and living with his grandparents, Danny begins to act out and distances himself from his mother and sister. Finally Danny faces his own trial when he is arrested for his involvement in the assault of a classmate. The crisis finally causes him to face the truth about his father and to let go of his former life.
The Second Trial is a well written, emotionally charged story that brought me to tears on more than one occasion. Danny and his family are realistic and endearing characters who display both strengths and weaknesses. Even when Danny is being unkind to others it’s difficult to dislike him because one can’t help but be sympathetic to his plight. The author does a wonderful job of detailing the stressful situations that arise when a family falls apart, and the frustration and despair of Danny and his mother are palpable. While the story is not action packed, there is a sense of urgency throughout because one simple mistake could ruin everything for Danny and his family.
I thought that the characterization of Danny and his family was very well done, his love for his father despite his shortcomings felt realistic, along with his resentment for his mother relocating them. It was very like a 13 year old boy to rebel like he did, especially for reasons he doesn’t fully understand yet. The sibling relationship was okay for me, but it was understandable because Danny was his father’s favourite, and his sister was just “there”, something that’s foreign to him.
A very convincing portrayal of the results that abuse can have on a family, The Second Trial will touch readers of all ages, especially in my age. Those whose lives have been affected by abuse will likely find this story even more poignant.
The second trail is about a boy who is dealing with family problems. At the beginning Danny has no idea his farther is abusing his mother. But after he finds his mother hurt down by the stairs, he decides to dial 9-1-1. After the problem revealed, Danny is totally confused and upset about all the problems he had. After the court and living with his grandparents, Danny begins to act out and distances himself from his mother and sister. Finally Danny faces his own trial when he is arrested for his involvement in the assault of a classmate. The crisis finally causes him to face the truth about his father and to let go of his former life.
The Second Trial is a well written, emotionally charged story that brought me to tears on more than one occasion. Danny and his family are realistic and endearing characters who display both strengths and weaknesses. Even when Danny is being unkind to others it’s difficult to dislike him because one can’t help but be sympathetic to his plight. The author does a wonderful job of detailing the stressful situations that arise when a family falls apart, and the frustration and despair of Danny and his mother are palpable. While the story is not action packed, there is a sense of urgency throughout because one simple mistake could ruin everything for Danny and his family.
I thought that the characterization of Danny and his family was very well done, his love for his father despite his shortcomings felt realistic, along with his resentment for his mother relocating them. It was very like a 13 year old boy to rebel like he did, especially for reasons he doesn’t fully understand yet. The sibling relationship was okay for me, but it was understandable because Danny was his father’s favourite, and his sister was just “there”, something that’s foreign to him.
A very convincing portrayal of the results that abuse can have on a family, The Second Trial will touch readers of all ages, especially in my age. Those whose lives have been affected by abuse will likely find this story even more poignant.
October 13, 2010
This is a weird and awfully didactic book. I didn't find the characters convincing and it seemed more like the kind of character sketches we got in foster parent training, but the idea of a witness protection program for victims of domestic violence was interesting.
January 15, 2019
Personal Response-
This is my first time reading a book by author Rosemarie Boll. I read her first book published, The Second Trial. In my opinion, I really enjoyed reading this book because of how true and real the situation was and how it could happen to anybody. The book always kept me on my toes and wanting to read more and more each day. My favorite part was how in the end David could have always had a friend there for him no matter how bad his past life was.
Summary-
Danny McMillan never knew that his father was abusing his mother, until a night of violence that shattered his family forever. Watching in the courtroom as his father is sentenced, Danny struggles to decide who he should believe. His father who he wants back in his life, or his mom who is pleading for help from Danny? After one trial is over, another begins for Danny. Social services and the police convince Danny’s mother that they must go into a victim protection program. Danny is asked to leave everything behind including his home, friends, and the love and support of his grandparents. In a new city and attending a new school, Danny is even given a new name, David Mayer, who is someone that Danny does not want to be, living a life he cannot accept. Like David, he is pushing boundaries he never would have pushed.
Recommendation-
I recommend this book to anyone who likes books with real-life situations and a learning experience. The Second Trial is a great book for teenagers, male or female, because what happened in the book can happen to anyone. You could try to prevent something, like what happened in the book, to not happen to your parents, or to anyone you care about.
This is my first time reading a book by author Rosemarie Boll. I read her first book published, The Second Trial. In my opinion, I really enjoyed reading this book because of how true and real the situation was and how it could happen to anybody. The book always kept me on my toes and wanting to read more and more each day. My favorite part was how in the end David could have always had a friend there for him no matter how bad his past life was.
Summary-
Danny McMillan never knew that his father was abusing his mother, until a night of violence that shattered his family forever. Watching in the courtroom as his father is sentenced, Danny struggles to decide who he should believe. His father who he wants back in his life, or his mom who is pleading for help from Danny? After one trial is over, another begins for Danny. Social services and the police convince Danny’s mother that they must go into a victim protection program. Danny is asked to leave everything behind including his home, friends, and the love and support of his grandparents. In a new city and attending a new school, Danny is even given a new name, David Mayer, who is someone that Danny does not want to be, living a life he cannot accept. Like David, he is pushing boundaries he never would have pushed.
Recommendation-
I recommend this book to anyone who likes books with real-life situations and a learning experience. The Second Trial is a great book for teenagers, male or female, because what happened in the book can happen to anyone. You could try to prevent something, like what happened in the book, to not happen to your parents, or to anyone you care about.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2010
Danny’s life has been turned upside down in an instant. Or so it seems to him. One night he heard his parents fighting, and when he emerged from his room he found his mother unconscious at the bottom of the stairs. He had no idea that the phone call to 9-1-1 would start a chain of events that would change everything forever. Now he and his mother and little sister are about to start a whole new life, complete with new names and new identities. Danny is furious with his mother for forcing him to leave everything he loves behind and begins to bury himself in bitterness and anger. What will it take for Danny to come to terms with his new life?
Review
The Second Trial is a well written, emotionally charged story that brought me to tears on more than one occasion. Danny and his family are realistic and endearing characters who display both strengths and weaknesses. Even when Danny is being unkind to others it’s difficult to dislike him because one can’t help but be sympathetic to his plight. The author does a wonderful job of detailing the stressful situations that arise when a family falls apart, and the frustration and despair of Danny and his mother are palpable. While the story is not action packed, there is a sense of urgency throughout because one simple mistake could ruin everything for Danny and his family.
A very convincing portrayal of the results that abuse can have on a family, The Second Trial will touch readers of all ages. Those whose lives have been affected by abuse will likely find this story even more poignant.
Review
The Second Trial is a well written, emotionally charged story that brought me to tears on more than one occasion. Danny and his family are realistic and endearing characters who display both strengths and weaknesses. Even when Danny is being unkind to others it’s difficult to dislike him because one can’t help but be sympathetic to his plight. The author does a wonderful job of detailing the stressful situations that arise when a family falls apart, and the frustration and despair of Danny and his mother are palpable. While the story is not action packed, there is a sense of urgency throughout because one simple mistake could ruin everything for Danny and his family.
A very convincing portrayal of the results that abuse can have on a family, The Second Trial will touch readers of all ages. Those whose lives have been affected by abuse will likely find this story even more poignant.
Read
February 7, 2012Reviewed by Arwen Rudolph
Danny had no idea that his father was abusing his mother. Now his father is in jail, his parents are getting divorced, and Danny doesn’t think his life can get any worse. Then the police convince his mother to enter a victim protection program. Leaving behind friends, family and their former identities, Danny, his mother and his sister move to a new city to start over. As he recalls his own happy memories of his father, Danny questions whether he is really as dangerous as his mother and the police say. Danny begins to act out and distances himself from his mother and sister. Finally Danny faces his own trial when he is arrested for his involvement in the assault of a classmate. The crisis finally causes him to face the truth about his father and to let go of his former life.
Author Rosemarie Boll’s first novel describes, in often harrowing detail, the devastating effects that spousal abuse can have on a family. It does get slightly bogged down in the beginning — with the description of the father’s trial at times sounding more like a case study in a legal text rather than a novel — but the story quickly improves from there. Danny is a sympathetic character and his reactions to the drastic changes in his life are believable for a young teen. This is not a fast-paced plot and there is no dramatic final confrontation with the father, but a sense of suspense is sustained throughout as the reader waits to discover if Danny can make the right decision and accept his new life.
Canadian Children's Book News (Fall 2010, Vol. 33, No. 4)
Danny had no idea that his father was abusing his mother. Now his father is in jail, his parents are getting divorced, and Danny doesn’t think his life can get any worse. Then the police convince his mother to enter a victim protection program. Leaving behind friends, family and their former identities, Danny, his mother and his sister move to a new city to start over. As he recalls his own happy memories of his father, Danny questions whether he is really as dangerous as his mother and the police say. Danny begins to act out and distances himself from his mother and sister. Finally Danny faces his own trial when he is arrested for his involvement in the assault of a classmate. The crisis finally causes him to face the truth about his father and to let go of his former life.
Author Rosemarie Boll’s first novel describes, in often harrowing detail, the devastating effects that spousal abuse can have on a family. It does get slightly bogged down in the beginning — with the description of the father’s trial at times sounding more like a case study in a legal text rather than a novel — but the story quickly improves from there. Danny is a sympathetic character and his reactions to the drastic changes in his life are believable for a young teen. This is not a fast-paced plot and there is no dramatic final confrontation with the father, but a sense of suspense is sustained throughout as the reader waits to discover if Danny can make the right decision and accept his new life.
Canadian Children's Book News (Fall 2010, Vol. 33, No. 4)
November 14, 2010
Wow, what a powerful story. Although it's a YA novel, I really think it's a good book for all ages. Domestic violence is a huge issue in our society, and The Second Trial examines the aftermath from a child's perspective. It's not graphic or preachy, it simply points out what is, what could be, and how it needs to change. I've posted a full review here I'm too lazy to write it again. What? If you don't want to check it out, then I'll say, definitely read this book. If you haven't been a victim of violence or bullying directly, I'm willing to bet you know of someone who has. Understanding is key in stopping this cancer, books like this are a step in the right direction.
November 26, 2010
The author's background in practicing family law resonates well in the court proceedings scenes. The conflicting emotions of all the characters during the trial come across very strongly. Boll manages to share the mother, Catherine's feelings so that the reader can understand the adult perspective as well as her son Danny's emotions about the abuse in their family. I didn't know the name of Canada's Federal Government program - the Confidential Services for Victims of Abuse before reading this book. Watching too many American movies and tv shows I assumed it was covered under something like the American 'Witness Protection Program'. Good read, definitely recommended. For all ages.
January 24, 2011
Although this book's subject matter is generally something I shy away from, I found it a very well-told story that didn't just use domestic violence as a tool for shock and awe, nor to "raise awareness" by telling the most depressing story imaginable. Instead, Rosemarie tells the trials as they are and as they come, with more of a focus on the "second" part -- what comes after. It's this aspect that gives this book great strength and makes it stand out as a beacon of hope for people in such situations, giving a believable tale about how to move past horrific life experiences that seem insurmountable.
June 27, 2011
A fast read. I kept wondering when and if the father would show up again in the story. I kept wondering if Danny would contact his father.
March 3, 2012
Check out my review on my blog!
http://readers-not-writers.blogspot.com/
http://readers-not-writers.blogspot.com/
December 22, 2017
This is a very thought provoking novel. It accurately depicts the Canadian judicial process for Family Law. However, I want to make a quick point. Danny's story is just that - a story. Although my own father is very similar to Danny's my perspective and the perspective of my brother on our parent's separation was very different to Danny's. We were relieved when our parents got a divorce. Granted, we were more aware of our father's behaviour than it seems that Danny was. That being said, our father was not as physically violent as Danny's - at least not to my knowledge. It wouldn't surprise me to find out otherwise. The point is that this is a very sensitive topic - everyone has a different experience. Danny's perspective on the matter should not be used as a blanket story for children who grew up in similar homes.
June 9, 2025
The first part of the book kept me engaged and feeling all different emotions. Sadness and heartbreak for Catherine for what she had to endure. Frustration with how the justice system operates in the story and heartbreak for Danny and Julia had to witness and go through due to their fathers actions. However as the story progresses I found the book to kind of drag out a bit and found myself losing more and more interest with the novel. That is why I ended up giving this book a three star rating because I found the beginning of the novel held my interest however the further the story went on I began to lose interest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2018
Everything about Danny's life has changed, and he has an incredibly difficult time dealing with it. At the beginning of the book I found him as a very unlikable character, but he had improved to be someone I could sympathize with by the end.
The style seems like it jumps around a bit, but overall it was a good book that is worth reading.
The style seems like it jumps around a bit, but overall it was a good book that is worth reading.
March 1, 2022
beginning was really good, enjoyed D’s character development, ending wasn’t my favorite
January 27, 2017
Danny is the oldest kid in his family and he finds out that his dad has been super abusive to his mom. He has to make a lot of changes in his life even his name ,and he has a hard time with this cause at the same time he still wants to be close with his dad
I thought the book was good it has a few relatable moments. I thought was interesting because they have to through this big process to get Dannys mom and his family safe from his dad.
First of all, the author Rosemarie Boll did a really good job at character choice. Danny took the situation way harder than his sister Jen did. He still wanted to be close with but the child care people wouldn't let him. Danny acted like any other teenager would in this situation he isolated himself and do things that he shouldn't. Jen, the younger sister she just stayed with her mom most of the time and just wanted to support her. She was a very caring sister she would try and help Danny and talk to him but he would push he away. Their mom Catherine after she told the police about what was happening she became an alcoholic and would spend a lot of time in her room. There was a time where the kids woke up and went looking for their mom and they found her passed out in bed, that was the first time that their saw their mom like that. It was the day after they went to court about the father being abusive.
Lastly the author did a really good job at making the story sound true. People in real life can go through this problem with their dad being abusive to their mom or even them. The author did a good job on showing how Danny dealt with the change he had to go through like moving and changing his name. The book had good descriptions of how they felt and what the characters did when going through the changes.
If you like books about a sad story about a teenagers life then you will like The Second Trail.
Danny is the oldest kid in his family and he finds out that his dad has been super abusive to his mom. He has to make a lot of changes in his life even his name ,and he has a hard time with this cause at the same time he still wants to be loyal with his dad
I thought the book was good it has a few relatable moments. I thought was interesting because they have to through this big process to get Dannys mom and his family safe from his dad.
First of all, the author Rosemarie Boll did a really good job at character choice. Danny took the situation way harder than his sister Jen did. He still wanted to be close with but the child care people wouldn't let him. Danny acted like any other teenager would in this situation he isolated himself and do things that he shouldn't. Jen, the younger sister she just stayed with her mom most of the time and just wanted to support her. She was a very caring sister she would try and help Danny and talk to him but he would push he away. Their mom Catherine after she told the police about what was happening she became an alcoholic and would spend a lot of time in her room. There was a time where the kids woke up and went looking for their mom and they found her passed out in bed, that was the first time that their saw their mom like that. It was the day after they went to court about the father being abusive.
Lastly the author did a really good job at making the story sound true. People in real life can go through this problem with their dad being abusive to their mom or even them. The author did a good job on showing how Danny dealt with the change he had to go through like moving and changing his name. The book had good descriptions of how they felt and what the characters did when going through the changes.
If you like books about a sad story about a teenager going through struggles in life then you will like The Second Trial.
March 3, 2011
I don't think I could ever read The Second Trial for its enjoyment factor...no, it deals with subject matter that is too serious for that. Once finishing this novel, you'll have a better understanding of how domestic abuse affects not just victims, but so many other family members and friends as well. It's not talked about so often in YA, so I appreciated Rosemarie Boll's debut novel all the more.
For Danny McMillan, it was the beginning of the end of his parent's marriage when he dialed 9-1-1 after finding his mother seriously hurt at the bottom of the stairs... and what would come to proceed would change his life forever. During the trial, Danny learns that his father is not the man he thought he always was and that he's been abusing his mother for years. So when his father receives a very light sentence, Danny, his younger sister, and his mother enter into a witness protection program complete with new identities and a new home... fearing for their lives. But Danny's not sure of anything anymore... least of all what the future has in store for him.
There were moments when I literally wanted to throw this book at a wall. My outrage matched Danny's mother's horror at learning that her soon to be ex-husband would be getting off light for what he had done. It was seriously upsetting to learn that after years of abuse- after his mother finally got the courage to speak up- that the Canadian legal justice system could fail them when they needed it to help them the most. I completely sympathized with Danny's mother and couldn't imagine the pain and anguish she must have felt when she heard the final verdict. She's a resilient and strong women though, so while many others would have simply given up, she doesn't give up hope for the future and focuses on her main priorities... protecting herself and her children.
Danny was a whole other matter though. Only thirteen years old, he's not quite old enough yet to recognize the seriousness of the situation or the years of abuse his mother has been hiding for quite some time. He doesn't fully believe that his father could be so dangerous and is angry at the way his life has changed so much in so little time. He begins to lash out at others, especially his mother, and acts like life sucks so he should just stop trying anymore. It was frustrating because it does seem natural that he would begin to act out, but I was also really disappointed with many of the choices he made in this novel.
The Second Trial is a novel about speaking up for yourself and finding the hidden courage you never thought you had. Life's not always easy and the bad guys do get away more often than they should... but this doesn't mean you just give up. It's a novel that touches on serious subjects but at the end of the day, it still remains to be a hopeful one.
*The Second Trial is nominated for the 2011 White Pine Award.*
For Danny McMillan, it was the beginning of the end of his parent's marriage when he dialed 9-1-1 after finding his mother seriously hurt at the bottom of the stairs... and what would come to proceed would change his life forever. During the trial, Danny learns that his father is not the man he thought he always was and that he's been abusing his mother for years. So when his father receives a very light sentence, Danny, his younger sister, and his mother enter into a witness protection program complete with new identities and a new home... fearing for their lives. But Danny's not sure of anything anymore... least of all what the future has in store for him.
There were moments when I literally wanted to throw this book at a wall. My outrage matched Danny's mother's horror at learning that her soon to be ex-husband would be getting off light for what he had done. It was seriously upsetting to learn that after years of abuse- after his mother finally got the courage to speak up- that the Canadian legal justice system could fail them when they needed it to help them the most. I completely sympathized with Danny's mother and couldn't imagine the pain and anguish she must have felt when she heard the final verdict. She's a resilient and strong women though, so while many others would have simply given up, she doesn't give up hope for the future and focuses on her main priorities... protecting herself and her children.
Danny was a whole other matter though. Only thirteen years old, he's not quite old enough yet to recognize the seriousness of the situation or the years of abuse his mother has been hiding for quite some time. He doesn't fully believe that his father could be so dangerous and is angry at the way his life has changed so much in so little time. He begins to lash out at others, especially his mother, and acts like life sucks so he should just stop trying anymore. It was frustrating because it does seem natural that he would begin to act out, but I was also really disappointed with many of the choices he made in this novel.
The Second Trial is a novel about speaking up for yourself and finding the hidden courage you never thought you had. Life's not always easy and the bad guys do get away more often than they should... but this doesn't mean you just give up. It's a novel that touches on serious subjects but at the end of the day, it still remains to be a hopeful one.
*The Second Trial is nominated for the 2011 White Pine Award.*
July 26, 2010
Full review on my blog, holes In my brain.
My Thoughts
There was quite a bit going on with the novel, there were the two trials, family tension, and Danny’s internal and external conflicts, but I thought most of this worked well together.
The pacing and the plot was a bit off for my tastes, I thought the “first trial” (the father’s conviction) was both a bit preachy and a bit slow. It took forever to get to the predictable verdict, and the jargon used could be odd at times. I think it was designed to act as a “set up” to the second trial, but it didn’t work as well as planned. It did sound very realistic and official though (from what I know from watching too much TV). One comparison would be it is very John Grisham-y.
I thought that the characterization of Danny and his family was very well done, his love for his father despite his shortcomings felt realistic, along with his resentment for his mother relocating them. It was very like a 13 year old boy to rebel like he did, especially for reasons he doesn’t fully understand yet. The sibling relationship was okay for me, but it was understandable because Danny was his father’s favourite, and his sister was just “there”, something that’s foreign to him.
The overall plot was solid, I thought the ‘witness protection’ thing, the family income troubles, and the other personal issues Danny had were well represented and portrayed. It was a very unique storyline that I was happy to read about.
Boll expertly unravels the horrors that a single abusive family member can cause have on a family; the fear and the hope molds into one as a courageous mother fights for her life and the lives of her children. I think that The Second Trial deals with tough, and extremely important issues with a sturdy hand, not afraid to shy away from difficult truths.
Rating in HP Terms: Acceptable
7.5/10- because I thought that although the plot being pretty strong, characterization got on my nerves along with the narration. There were some parts that I was really annoyed with, along with some really realistic parts. Overall, I enjoyed this type of novel which was reminiscent of a few John Grisham novels. I found Danny to be an okay character, I wanted a bit more from him though.
Would recommend to people who would like to read about a boy main character, legal-stuff (like Grisham for YA), social issues, and family and personal relations.
My Thoughts
There was quite a bit going on with the novel, there were the two trials, family tension, and Danny’s internal and external conflicts, but I thought most of this worked well together.
The pacing and the plot was a bit off for my tastes, I thought the “first trial” (the father’s conviction) was both a bit preachy and a bit slow. It took forever to get to the predictable verdict, and the jargon used could be odd at times. I think it was designed to act as a “set up” to the second trial, but it didn’t work as well as planned. It did sound very realistic and official though (from what I know from watching too much TV). One comparison would be it is very John Grisham-y.
I thought that the characterization of Danny and his family was very well done, his love for his father despite his shortcomings felt realistic, along with his resentment for his mother relocating them. It was very like a 13 year old boy to rebel like he did, especially for reasons he doesn’t fully understand yet. The sibling relationship was okay for me, but it was understandable because Danny was his father’s favourite, and his sister was just “there”, something that’s foreign to him.
The overall plot was solid, I thought the ‘witness protection’ thing, the family income troubles, and the other personal issues Danny had were well represented and portrayed. It was a very unique storyline that I was happy to read about.
Boll expertly unravels the horrors that a single abusive family member can cause have on a family; the fear and the hope molds into one as a courageous mother fights for her life and the lives of her children. I think that The Second Trial deals with tough, and extremely important issues with a sturdy hand, not afraid to shy away from difficult truths.
Rating in HP Terms: Acceptable
7.5/10- because I thought that although the plot being pretty strong, characterization got on my nerves along with the narration. There were some parts that I was really annoyed with, along with some really realistic parts. Overall, I enjoyed this type of novel which was reminiscent of a few John Grisham novels. I found Danny to be an okay character, I wanted a bit more from him though.
Would recommend to people who would like to read about a boy main character, legal-stuff (like Grisham for YA), social issues, and family and personal relations.
November 6, 2012
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Danny McMillan loves his dad, so coming to terms with the fact that the man is on trial for physically and emotionally abusing Danny's mom is taking its toll. Danny's mom thinks it is important for Danny to attend the sentencing hearing in hopes that he can come to terms with the reality of this horrible situation.
As Danny sits in court and listens to details of his life he never knew existed, anger and fear begin to build. Although he loves his mother, he still can't believe that the father who spent time with him and taught him everything he knows is capable of the abuse being described in the courtroom. When the final sentence calls for his father to be held just a short time in prison instead of the seven years requested by the prosecuting attorney, Danny sees it as a second chance for his family. That means there is hope that his father can return home, his mother can forgive and forget, and they can pick up with life as it was before all this drama.
The hopes that Danny have are destroyed soon after the trial, when several strangers begin meeting with his mother. He quickly learns that these people believe the only way his mother will be safe from his abusive father is for them to leave everything and everyone behind to start a new life. He has never heard of the NIVA (New Identities for Victims of Abuse), but it now takes over his life.
He and his mother and younger sister will be given new names and identities, and they will be forced to relocate and begin a new life. The whole idea fills Danny with rage. How can they say his father will never change? Now, it will be up to Danny to find a way to reunite the family or come to terms with his new reality.
THE SECOND TRIAL is the story of a family torn apart by one abusive individual. Author Rosemarie Boll deftly describes the years of abuse Danny's mother suffered in silence. Her prose begins to explain the mystery of why abused women continue to live in physical and emotional turmoil instead of packing up and leaving it behind. Boll uses her own professional knowledge of similar circumstances to illustrate the fear, the anger, and the eventual acceptance of how life is changed for families like Danny's. Readers should appreciate the honest, straight-forward approach in which this novel is presented.
Danny McMillan loves his dad, so coming to terms with the fact that the man is on trial for physically and emotionally abusing Danny's mom is taking its toll. Danny's mom thinks it is important for Danny to attend the sentencing hearing in hopes that he can come to terms with the reality of this horrible situation.
As Danny sits in court and listens to details of his life he never knew existed, anger and fear begin to build. Although he loves his mother, he still can't believe that the father who spent time with him and taught him everything he knows is capable of the abuse being described in the courtroom. When the final sentence calls for his father to be held just a short time in prison instead of the seven years requested by the prosecuting attorney, Danny sees it as a second chance for his family. That means there is hope that his father can return home, his mother can forgive and forget, and they can pick up with life as it was before all this drama.
The hopes that Danny have are destroyed soon after the trial, when several strangers begin meeting with his mother. He quickly learns that these people believe the only way his mother will be safe from his abusive father is for them to leave everything and everyone behind to start a new life. He has never heard of the NIVA (New Identities for Victims of Abuse), but it now takes over his life.
He and his mother and younger sister will be given new names and identities, and they will be forced to relocate and begin a new life. The whole idea fills Danny with rage. How can they say his father will never change? Now, it will be up to Danny to find a way to reunite the family or come to terms with his new reality.
THE SECOND TRIAL is the story of a family torn apart by one abusive individual. Author Rosemarie Boll deftly describes the years of abuse Danny's mother suffered in silence. Her prose begins to explain the mystery of why abused women continue to live in physical and emotional turmoil instead of packing up and leaving it behind. Boll uses her own professional knowledge of similar circumstances to illustrate the fear, the anger, and the eventual acceptance of how life is changed for families like Danny's. Readers should appreciate the honest, straight-forward approach in which this novel is presented.
Read
September 14, 2010In The Second Trial, readers are exposed to the painful reality of a fictional family that has found protection through an underground network dedicated to helping mothers and children escape abusers.
In this young adult novel, thirteen-year-old Danny McMillan finds himself in a situation he never imagined - in a courtroom with his parents on opposite sides. Danny watches as his mother fights to have his father kept in jail to keep the family safe. But when the limits of the justice system allow his father to be released, social services and the police convince Danny's mother to join a victim protection program.
Written by Rosemarie Boll, an Edmonton based family lawyer of tenty-five years who has direct experience with domestic abuse cases, The Second Trial is about the struggle of a young man to accept his new identity as well as a family that has been torn apart by domestic abuse. Danny must leave behind his life in Edmonton - his home, his school and everything he knows, to go into hiding with his mother and younger sister.
Moving to Winnipeg, Danny begins a new life with a new name, David Mayer. As he struggles to accept what has happened to him and his family, he is torn between loving his mother and blaming her for the past. What's even more difficult is Danny's struggle to believe that the father he looked up to is an abusive man. In rebellion, Danny turns to the school's gang of bullies. It will take time and the new bond he forms with a girl at this school for him to accept his new life as David Mayer.
The Second Trial brings to light the real-life underground network of people across Canada who help families begin a new life away from an abuser, and the mix of sorrow, struggle, and freedom that goes along with it.
In this young adult novel, thirteen-year-old Danny McMillan finds himself in a situation he never imagined - in a courtroom with his parents on opposite sides. Danny watches as his mother fights to have his father kept in jail to keep the family safe. But when the limits of the justice system allow his father to be released, social services and the police convince Danny's mother to join a victim protection program.
Written by Rosemarie Boll, an Edmonton based family lawyer of tenty-five years who has direct experience with domestic abuse cases, The Second Trial is about the struggle of a young man to accept his new identity as well as a family that has been torn apart by domestic abuse. Danny must leave behind his life in Edmonton - his home, his school and everything he knows, to go into hiding with his mother and younger sister.
Moving to Winnipeg, Danny begins a new life with a new name, David Mayer. As he struggles to accept what has happened to him and his family, he is torn between loving his mother and blaming her for the past. What's even more difficult is Danny's struggle to believe that the father he looked up to is an abusive man. In rebellion, Danny turns to the school's gang of bullies. It will take time and the new bond he forms with a girl at this school for him to accept his new life as David Mayer.
The Second Trial brings to light the real-life underground network of people across Canada who help families begin a new life away from an abuser, and the mix of sorrow, struggle, and freedom that goes along with it.
May 19, 2020
The Second Trial is about a boy named Danny McMillan whose life is changed when it is revealed to him that his father has been abusing his mother. Now that Danny's father is in prison, their families life is now shattered and cannot be easily fixed. Danny has to testify against his father and what he knows happen but he struggles with divided loyalties-to his mother and one to his father. Danny wants to forgive his father with the hope that he is changed and will no longer hurt his mother.
This novel is a very heart felting, beautiful and well written novel. I like that each character is realistic, that although I was just reading their story and point of views I was able to feel their emotions and connect while reading. I also like that the plot of this story is very interesting, which was one reason why I picked it up and was intrigued. This book was well written and I connected with it in an emotional way. The way that the author described the abuse the mother was going through was excruciating you can feel the pain just by reading the words.
Although I really liked this novel my least favorite thing about it was that it didn't focus a lot on Danny's perspective about the situation. Sometimes it will focus on Danny and the emotions he were feeling but then it would shift to the perspective of a lawyer. Although it's my least favorite thing I expected it to be that way since the title of the novel is "The Second Trial". The social Justice issue that I connected this novel with is Domestic Violence because of the abuse that was happening to the mother in this novel.
This novel is a very heart felting, beautiful and well written novel. I like that each character is realistic, that although I was just reading their story and point of views I was able to feel their emotions and connect while reading. I also like that the plot of this story is very interesting, which was one reason why I picked it up and was intrigued. This book was well written and I connected with it in an emotional way. The way that the author described the abuse the mother was going through was excruciating you can feel the pain just by reading the words.
Although I really liked this novel my least favorite thing about it was that it didn't focus a lot on Danny's perspective about the situation. Sometimes it will focus on Danny and the emotions he were feeling but then it would shift to the perspective of a lawyer. Although it's my least favorite thing I expected it to be that way since the title of the novel is "The Second Trial". The social Justice issue that I connected this novel with is Domestic Violence because of the abuse that was happening to the mother in this novel.
November 26, 2015
The premise of the plot would appear to be interesting but this book fell short of what I had expected. The writing is sub-par and the dialogue at times appears either too formal or too forced to sound informal. The characters aren't very realistically written.
Changes happen so quickly in the story that you can't grasp exactly what happened to cause it. Danny keeps switching emotions in an instant from hating his mother to wanting to be nice to her. Danny continues to act in a selfish manner right up until the book is almost finished before he turns around and he's nice and everything in the world will be fine.
Changes happen so quickly in the story that you can't grasp exactly what happened to cause it. Danny keeps switching emotions in an instant from hating his mother to wanting to be nice to her. Danny continues to act in a selfish manner right up until the book is almost finished before he turns around and he's nice and everything in the world will be fine.
May 2, 2013
The book is about domestic abuse and the relocation (undisclosed to the father) of a family after a judge rules in the mother's favor. The second trial is a metaphor for the trial of life after relocation. I'm torn between liking this book and not liking it. I liked it for the intuitiveness of how Danny was feeling being separated from his father and starting a new life without his consent. I didn't like the dragging on of the story. It felt so drawn out, that I was beginning to lose patience and I found myself skimming through some of the paragraphs.
Read
September 22, 2010What do you do when your father becomes the enemy of your family? A thirteen year-old boy must leave his home, his school, and everything he knows when he goes into hiding with his mother and sister to escape an abusive father. Thirteen-year-old Danny never knew that his father was abusing his mother, until the day his father almost killed her. Now he finds himself
FIC Boll 334309 EVE
FIC Boll 334309 EVE
February 4, 2013
This books gets my vote for the Young Readers' Choice Award for 2013!! This was a gripping story about domestic abuse and the effect on the children in the family. The only time I could put this book down was when I was so angry at the main character that I had to put the book down!
January 11, 2017
I loved this book a 5 start rating. It was about an young boy who had a abusive father towards his mother and didnt realize. They went to court and he heard everything his father doing. HE moved and litterally had to restart his life.
Read
June 20, 2012The Second Trial was nominated for the 2013 Young Reader's Choice Award.
did-not-finish
December 21, 2010Going to try to read again; Reading for White Pine
Read
July 21, 2011Now available as an iBook
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews