Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls by Mary Downing Hahn
I finished this a few days ago, and have been formulating a 'review' in my head since then.
This book is insanely intense and very close to home.
Mary Downing Hahn was born and raised in Maryland, within two hours of where I was.
Every place she talks about in the book is something I recognize. That in of itself is kindaaaaa freaky if you ask me.
Darrell actually asked me to read this for him to get feedback for his summer reading program.
When I saw him last, I was only a portion of the way through, but we already had tons to discuss.
This book is based on a series of true events that Downing Hahn experienced and then added some fiction into.
I started reading at night and got freaked out by the first chapter, I thought it was going to be a horror/ghost novel, but it's not. As I kept reading I noticed the Maryland references, mainly Ocean City. I actually flipped the book upside down and shook it. Like that would explain why OC was in the book I was reading. :)
Short synopsis:
July 1956, two girls were killed in a park in broad daylight while walking to school on their last day for the year. Nora, the main character and one of three narrators deals with the deaths, (the two girls were good friends with her best friend) her wavering faith, and coming of age as a good girl.
The second narrator is Buddy, who is accused of killing the girls, his chapters are not as prevalent and are angst filled. The last narrator is the actual killer. And he's creepy as hell. I did not enjoy reading his chapters. I think I would've preferred to not know his opinion, but it does add a lot to the story, it fills in a lot of gaps. That being said, it is not a clean ending by any means.
This would have been an easy read had I not been so busy with school and being sick. Although it would've been quicker and easier, it would not have been any less intense.
This is one that gave me chills more than a few times.
I want everyone in Maryland to read this, mainly because it is so rare for us Marylanders to read a book that takes place in our own state.
Darrell and I did some research on the actual murders, and even found a few articles from the Baltimore Sun.
In her author's note Downing Hahn explains her connection to the murders, but reading the actual articles, was bone chilling.
What she wrote in the book, actually happened.
I keep thinking of more I want to say.....
This book uses these deaths to deal with very real religious issues, thing's that I think kids are still going through today. I think that there are a great number of girls especially that will read this in the next ten or so years and figure out that it's okay to question, to wonder, and to stray, because ultimately, it's your life, not your parents, and you must deal with your own feelings and beliefs.
Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Mary Downing Hahn - author website, that is very outdated
Read on.
Jessica.
