The Last Confession of Autumn Casterly (YA chiller)

     "I wrote The Last Confession of Autumn Casterly from a place of frustration, sadness, and anger. While Autumn Casterly's story is fictional, her circumstances are all too real. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network's website, one in six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime; however, out of 1,000 rapes, 995 rapists will walk free and never serve a day in jail. We have a serious problem in this country, and it's not okay."

     It would have been easy for Meredith Tate to channel these strong emotions into a work so heavy handed, so didactic that it would scare off her target demographic. She most definitely did not. Her characters are relatable, their relationships believable. The plot is engaging and suspenseful. It's like being on a mile high roller coaster climbing toward the top and the plunge.

     At the center of the plot is the problematic relationship between two incompatible sisters. Sophomore Ivy is the rule following good girl of the family. She and her friends play board games for fun. She's never been kissed, never tasted beer. Senior Autumn is a consummate party girl who pushes boundaries and pills at peer social gatherings. She's the one the administrators think of immediately when shenanigans happen at her school. Needless to say Autumn does not seek Ivy out...

     ...until things go horribly wrong. She's brutally beaten and tied up in a shed. Critically injured, she is able to somehow leave her body for periods of time and follow Ivy, trying to convey her plight before it's too late...

     ...because her captors are beginning to wonder if keeping her alive is too risky. 

     In Tate's dedication she writes: 

"And especially 

To all the survivors who are 

shut down 

gaslighted 

silenced

slut-shamed 

blamed

and called liars".

She wants us all to believe and support survivors and fight for a world in which girls and women aren't considered prey with a year round hunting season. 

On a purrrsonal note, as we head towards the dark months of winter it's a fitting time to contemplate ways we can contribute to creating this brighter, better world. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who believe and support survivors, especially in communities where they're in the minority. 

Jules Hathaway 

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