THREE MOTHERS by Hannah Beckermann

4* Wasn't expecting this. It's sad and it made me sad as well as angry at some of the adults in this book. 

This book hits hard, and it feels like the mother who's lost her daughter is being dumped on by karma/fate/the universe. You can't help feel for her, because on top of this loss, she was widowed really young, and her youngest is a brat. Kind of understable where the latter is concerned, because Clio has always felt like she's less than her big sister, Isla, who wasn't as squeaky clean as everyone thought. 

There's another mother you feel for, and again, I understood her, with what she came from and why she wanted better for her son. Unfortunately, out of wanting to protect him and give him the best chance at a better life, she nearly scuppered his chances through dishonesty. Thank goodness for an educator who actually really did care, despite appearing at first to be more concerned about the school's rep. 

Then there's the mother who had me feeling sorry for her and then had my mouth falling open in disbelief. Of course, I'm not in her shoes and I don't know what I'd have done in her situation, but to maintain a facade and live with so many lies...How could she live with herself without cracking, because it was coming at her from every which way, I don't know. 

The ending felt like justice was being served for the most. Some of it healed some of the characters and some of it felt like more needed to be done to/for the guilty. For the thwarted. Some felt like they'd not paid enough. It wasn't a perfect ending but it was ultimately a satisfying read.

ARC courtesy of Luke Union  Publishing and NetGalley for my reading pleasure.

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