Check It Out: ‘Perris, California’ by Rachel Stark – The Denver North Star
By Wendy Thomas Angie wakes in the night to desperate knocking at her bedroom window. After rousing her husband, Buck, Angie discovers their son He... The novel "Perris, California" by Colorado author Rachel Stark is the heart of the novel about the life of Tessa, who is married to Henry and expecting their third child with whom she feels smothered by. The novel follows a pivotal moment when Tessa's stepfather and stepbrothers are removed from their home by Buck, who warns them they are no longer welcome in town and what will happen to them if they stay. Despite the violence and tragedy, the novel offers a compassionate and resilient survivor, highlighting themes such as addiction, mental health, and physical and sexual abuse. Despite these themes, the book is available at a Denver Public Library branch near you.
Yayınlanan : 11 ay önce ile Wendy Thomas içinde
Angie wakes in the night to desperate knocking at her bedroom window. After rousing her husband, Buck, Angie discovers their son Henry’s girlfriend, Tessa, bloodied and terrified. As Angie gently cares for Tessa, Buck takes his sons to retrieve Tessa’s belongings from the house she lives in with her stepfather and stepbrother. It’s no secret where Tessa’s bruises come from, and Buck makes sure the two men know they are no longer welcome in town and what will happen to them if they stay. This is a pivotal moment in Tessa’s life and the heart of the novel “Perris, California” by Colorado author Rachel Stark.
Fast forward 10 years, and Tessa is married to Henry and expecting their third child. They live in a trailer on Angie’s property, and as much as Tessa feels enveloped in the gentle fold of their family she also feels smothered by Angie. Henry is a kind and supportive husband, but he has to work hard to make ends meet and tries to stay out of the fray as much as possible.
Then, a chance encounter in the local drugstore drags Tessa back to the past. After her mother abandoned her as a child, Tessa lived with her stepfather and stepbrother and survived as best she could. She was often left without food and had to wear her stepbrother’s hand-me-downs. She slept in the barn most nights to avoid her stepfather and his nightly visits to her room.
Her life changed, though, when she met Mel, a new girl in school who didn’t fit in, didn’t want to fit in and didn’t let anyone shame her for who she was. Their friendship evolved into love, the first real love Tessa had ever felt. It ended too soon, though, when Mel’s mother caught them together and sent Mel away. Now, with her first love back in her life, Tessa feels happier than she has in a long time. She can’t resist pulling Mel into her circle, but Angie and Henry begin to suspect something is amiss, forcing Tessa to make a choice.
Gritty, yet beautifully written, this literary novel takes on such tough topics as addiction, mental health, and physical and sexual abuse with grace and dignity, portraying Tessa as a compassionate and resilient survivor. Despite the violence and tragedy, there is also a lot of love and hope in this novel. Check it out at a Denver Public Library branch near you.
Looking for more great reads this summer? Try Denver Public Library’s Personalized Reading List service at denverlibrary.org/reads.
Wendy Thomas is a librarian at the Smiley Branch Library. When not reading or recommending books, you can find her hiking with her dogs.