Careless by Kirsty Capes

Rating:

4 Stars

Themes:

Contemporary, Psychological Fiction, Care System, Coming of Age, Thought Provoking, Arranged Marriages, Pregnancy, Racial Issues

Thoughts:

Gritty, heartbreaking and real. My heart broke for Bess who despite all her bravado is still a vulnerable young girl. With a foster mother who threatens with socials services and doesn't try to hide her preferences for the bio child and memorial of her own bio mother trying to drown her as a child, Bess is vulnerability and in desperate need of affection. So naturally she doesn't see the problem with a boy 4 years older than her (at only 15) wanting to hang out and be intimate. However, when she ends up pregnant as a result, she's left with no adults to turn to for support. And when her foster parents finally find out, they attach her with ultimatums that only reaffirm the preference for the biochild and leave Bess feeling isolated again.

Although a side character, Esh is also an important person with a striking story. She deals with racism and prejudice almost daily with such a maturity (despite only being 15 and being more than entitled to react to the comments we're explicitly told about). She also has to contend with a potential arranged marriage that she does not want but feels pressured into due to her culture and everything her parents do for her. Hopefully, with Esh's outcome this book highlights the options out there and gives hope to others in similarly situations.

Overall, this was a well written book with (mostly) loveable characters that tackles some important issues.

Favourite Quote:

"And I think, she tried her best, I really believe that, but there's sometimes wrong with being in care, the care system, and it's to do with making us into a transaction. (...) It's not right, how we're treated like a job. There's too much emotional labour involved."

Comments

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