👶👶👶👶: Valentine, by Elizabeth Wetmore

Wow, this novel... it hit me right in the gut. It is shocking to me when racist attitudes are so pervasive that it alters lives in irrevocable ways. Such is the situation in the formidable novel by Elizabeth Wetmore. 

Set in the mid-70's in a sleepy town in Texas, Valentine takes readers on a journey through the devastating effects of violence against immigrants and their families. Sadly, very few in this town feel anything but hatred toward those they consider outsiders, despite the horrors that may befall them.

Gloria Ramírez is barely 14 when she endures a situation that leaves her barely alive. When her path crosses with Mary Rose Whitehead, the two will never be the same again. 

Ms. Wetmore does an amazing job of allowing the reader to feel the desolation of both the small town and each individual's situation. The characters she introduces are compelling and left me with a sense of familiarity with them and their stories. 

You should be aware that this novel has several triggers including violence, rape, and racism.

Read 12/18/20