Book Review | The Lost Girl of Goose Creek
I can't praise it enough for how well the sensitive subjects are handled, especially where mental health is concerned.
The Lost Girl of Goose Creek by Claire Olivia Golden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is so beautifully written, the verse is easy to understand, and the emotional ride it took me on wasn't something I expected.
I related a lot to the feelings of isolation and being trapped while in an abusive situation, even though my experience was much different and not as dire as Henrietta's, the main character. While the descriptions of her imprisonment are poetic, they are still very hard to read if you have certain triggers. They don't leave anything to the imagination. The story would not have been the same without them though, and I feel it was important to show even the darkest, most horrible things people often leave off-page. So kudos to Claire for writing it so well.
Everything about this book is just perfect, except for one small thing I noticed that was incorrect. As someone with DID, the line where the doctor says (spoiler warning), "In children who experience trauma, the mind can splinter into several different personalities…That's not quite what happened to you because you were too old for that to happen when your trauma occurred…" isn't correct when it comes to information about DID. This can happen at any age and at any time after a trauma, even in adults. There is no cutoff age for when a mind can split and alters form.
That aside, I'm just blown away by the story. Writing it in verse was such a good decision. There is a lot of tragedy in it, and at times, it feels like that's all there is for Henrietta. It's why the little moments of reprieve hit you as powerfully as they do.
Everyone who can handle the subject matter should read this book. I can't praise it enough for how well the sensitive subjects are handled, especially where mental health is concerned. It's a big book, but it goes by quicker than you realize. Definitely one of my top picks.