Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Creativia Publishing House
Pub. Date: April 2, 2018
Picture a story that cuts between two teenage girls living in very different places and times, without explaining their relationship to the reader. This is just the puzzle that the author, James J. Cudney, goes for and solves. One heroine lives in the Deep South, in a shoddy town in Mississippi. She grows up with an abusive mother, that I promise you will hate. The other girl lives in hip NYC, the Big Apple. She grows up with a loving mother who you will like and admire. She is a wonderful mom even though she struggles with single mom issues such as financial strain, social isolation, exhaustion, and guilt. You will wonder why this lovely mom keeps secrets from her daughter. Both girls go off to college in Pennsylvania where their young adult lives begin. However, first, the author teases us with a few pages of the mystery that the reader is about to be swept up in.
The story goes back and forth in time. We meet the sweet and completely naïve Southern girl in 1984. How she remains such a nice person while living with daily abuse is another mystery for this reviewer. As a retired social worker, I wish her personality traits could be bottled to be shared with real life abuse survivors. You will fall in love with her. Then we meet the feisty and rebellious Northern girl in the year 2004. The city teen does not realize how good her life is because her constant focus is on wondering who her father is. Her mom refuses to say a word. Choosing to write this tale from past and present in alternating chapters keeps with the plot’s main mystery: just what is the connection between the young women?
Cudney does a great job of nailing female teenage angst, especially since one of the girls is struggling with her sexual identity. I am thinking of one particular scene where this girl decides to lose her virginity to help her decide whether she is gay or straight. The author has a nice little twist here, which I never saw coming. I will not spoil your pleasure by discussing the other shockers. But, I will share that I did guess the link regarding one of the mothers, although it took me awhile. Here is my own teaser: there might be more than one father figure in this book, but whom? I hope I am leaving you purposely confused.
For me as a woman, this book was particularly interesting because of the insight it gave into the young female psyche who want nothing more than to experience a mutual adoring relationship with their dads.
Not many male writers can achieve success in writing in a teen female voice. I enjoy that the city girl does not try to be a “good girl” (though deep down I feel that she really is). Although the characters can feel a bit too one-sided, being all good or all bad, this is a fine family saga page-turner. I didn’t get that feeling of “not another YA book posing as an adult work of fiction.” Expect your emotions to be all over the place. You will read enough abusive horrors, in more ways than one. Be prepared to cry. There are also enough moments of love to put a smile on your face, and enough suspense to keep you turning pages. When all is said and done, the novel has a real Agatha Christie feel to it. I recommend “Father Figure” to all who enjoy contemporary fiction filled with twists.
The author has given a copy of his book to me for an honest review. I have been in friendly contact with him through our book blogs and Goodreads, but in no way does this influence my review.
“Father Figure” is on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BW77CWQ?tag=creati0a5-20
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