She served six years for the crash that killed her love. Now she wants her daughter back.
Who drives the story
A young mother just paroled for the crash that killed her boyfriend, desperate to meet the daughter she bore in prison. She spends the book being refused, and slowly refuses to leave.
Scotty's lifelong best friend, a former NFL player turned bar owner and surrogate uncle to Diem. He's supposed to hate Kenna—and instead becomes her defender and love interest.
Scotty's mother and Diem's guardian, who deflects her granddaughter's questions about her mother. Her reading of Kenna's diary turns her from gatekeeper to advocate.
Scotty's father, the household's hardest line against Kenna. His rage boils over into a punch at Ledger before the family finally reconciles.
Kenna and Scotty's five-year-old daughter, raised by her grandparents, who asks for her mother and gets flowers delivered instead—until the last dinner.
Also in the story
Kenna's young neighbor with Down syndrome, whose father is also incarcerated. She gives Kenna the first friendship in town that asks for nothing.
How they are connected
Scotty's lifelong best friend, a former NFL player turned bar owner and surrogate uncle to Diem.
He's supposed to hate Kenna—and instead becomes her defender and love interest.
Scotty's mother and Diem's guardian, who deflects her granddaughter's questions about her mother.
Her reading of Kenna's diary turns her from gatekeeper to advocate.
Scotty's father, the household's hardest line against Kenna.
His rage boils over into a punch at Ledger before the family finally reconciles.
Kenna and Scotty's five-year-old daughter, raised by her grandparents, who asks for her mother and gets flowers delivered instead—until the last dinner.
Kenna's young neighbor with Down syndrome, whose father is also incarcerated.
Go deeper
Guilt vs. punishment · Who gets to be a mother · Truth as the only bridge · Second chances without absolution
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
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