The content of this book is controversial and triggering for many. The book does contain graphic descriptions of sexual scenes between a young teen and an adult male.
That being said, the story was beautifully written and wove together an initially innocuous relationship between two broken, socially and emotionally stunted people that slowly pushed the boundaries of socially acceptable friendship and morphed into a forbidden and uncomfortable love affair between an adult and child. The relationship portrayed in this story illustrates a gray area of a topic that is typically strictly black and white. At times I found myself both disgusted and sympathetic with Kellen. I think the greatest question in this book is whether the damage caused by inappropriate love and affection is worse than the damage of a life without love, affection, or care for a young person.
I don’t argue that the relationship in this book is fraught with grooming, resulting in an unsettling sexual relationship with a child that constitutes abuse. I do believe though that the living conditions of the child prior to and during the relationship blur the lines more than we’re used to.