We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire is a Young Adult novel set after a sexual assault trial and it's an unforgettable read. The main character, Em, is a fierce protector of her older sister after she is raped at a college party. Em is destroyed when her sister's rapist does not get sentenced to any jail time. This book is a tough, but necessary read about how people are affected after sexual assault. It's about learning how to move forward when everything feels wrong.
The novel follows Em's story but it also tells the story of a historical figure, Marguerite de Bressieux, who took it upon herself to stand up for victims. Em writes in verse from Marguerite's point of view and the prose is so powerful. Joy McCullough asks the reader to question who gets to tell the stories of women and victims throughout history. Why are women written out of history?
An absolute must read!
The novel follows Em's story but it also tells the story of a historical figure, Marguerite de Bressieux, who took it upon herself to stand up for victims. Em writes in verse from Marguerite's point of view and the prose is so powerful. Joy McCullough asks the reader to question who gets to tell the stories of women and victims throughout history. Why are women written out of history?
An absolute must read!