Have you ever experienced a tragedy and you’re not sure how you can forgive the person who caused it? Tragedy affects every family. Some families much worse than others. In every tribulation, there is a hope of penitence (forgiveness). In Kristin Koval’s novel Penitence, she explores the idea of love and forgiveness in more ways than one.
About The Book:
Penitence is a drama about a family that experiences the feeling of death in more ways than one. 13-year-old Nora is arrested for killing her 14-year-old brother. Their family is shattered, and it feels like they have lost two children at once. The story unfolds in two timelines. One explores the mother’s past. The other reveals the current times of the daughter. Koval digs deep into the thoughts and feelings of all that are involved. How does one defend their daughter in a courtroom? She was the one caught holding the gun in their own house.
My Thoughts On The Book:
I loved the premise of this book. It made me wonder how a family goes on after the death of a child. Then, it adds the story line of the death being caused by their own family member. The story captured my attention when it featured Nora in jail. I was also captivated during her time in a juvenile detention center. It tugged on the heart strings of this middle school teacher.
I enjoyed the courtroom drama and the police investigation as well. I especially loved that it took place in Colorado. I could picture the perfect small town. It is like so many around this beautiful state.
The backstory of Angie and her past was interesting and added to the story. Her mistakes, past loves, and family problems were a big part of the story. However, I felt that it was just too long and had too many details. I kept wanting to get back to Nora and the present. I was also a little disappointed by the ending. I kept hoping that there was an epilogue.
This book definitely shows one side of a political spectrum. You are either going to love that or hate it. It just depends on your views.
I gave this book 3.5 stars. I enjoyed reading it. However, it was a little depressing for me. It also has a little too much of the back story. That being said, there are a lot of other reviewers who loved this book. If you like a strong family drama, you might really enjoy the story.
Extras:
If you like books that take place in jail/prison, you might like:
- The Girl in Cell 49B by Dorian Box
- The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin
- The Green Mile by Stephen King
You can buy this book at: https://amzn.to/4gr4JVJ
*If you want to read more of my book reviews, you can find them at: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/
*If you missed my post about my Top Books of 2024, you can find it at: https://judiholst.com/top-20-books-that-i-loved-in-2024/
Thank you to NetGalley, Kristin Koval, and Celadon for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
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