Book Review – Sweet Girl by Travis Mulhauser…

A fiercely compelling debut about a sixteen-year old girl whose search for her missing mother leads to a life-or-death struggle
Percy is sixteen and used to her mama disappointing her. But this time her mama’s been gone for nine days and she’s been seen up at Shelton Potter’s farmhouse. Which can only mean she’s strung out on meth again, and who knows when she’ll be back.
A blizzard rolls in and Percy jumps in her pickup and sets off for the farmhouse. She finds Shelton and a woman passed out on the floor, sleeping off the latest binge. But no sign of her mama.
Percy heads upstairs and finds a neglected baby girl, in urgent need of care and attention. Percy knows she has no choice. She has to take the baby and get her to a hospital as soon as she can.
But the blizzard shows no sign of stopping and soon her pickup is snowed in. Now she’s on foot and before long two-bit criminal Shelton wakes up and heads out with four of his associates, on the hunt for whoever has taken the baby . . .
Taut, darkly humorous and told in Percy’s unflinching voice, Sweetgirl is a moving exploration of courage and sacrifice that is horrifying, tender, and hopeful.
I have been given an ARC by Netflix in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This book started out being slightly difficult to read. Percy is looking for her mother and instead ends up finding a very neglected baby. She makes the decision to take the baby and get her the medical help that she desperately needs.
I’m not sure why the book is described as darkly humorous. I don’t find any of it funny. There are some very sad parts.
The book is a portrayal of what drugs can do to a life. It also demonstrates the power of human determination when fighting to protect a child.
I found it quite difficult to read in places, but I’m so glad that I stuck with it.
A four out of five star read.
I am eternally grateful to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, 4th Estate for my copy.