The Burning Girl by Claire Messud

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Huck and Tom as 21st century girls. That seems to be how this novel starts, but it's not satire, and it morphs into a cloud of puberty, depression, memory, and the question of just how well we ever know anyone.

As I read this, I kept trying to remember if I ever felt this intensely about any of my friends when I was 12 to 15 years old, but while I had friends I enjoyed being with and respected for one reason or another, I don't think I ever did.

Messud has created two very interesting characters in this novel. One smart and curious, the other wounded and defiant.



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