Sisters by Daisy Johnson

I’ve worked with at-risk and troubled children and families my whole life. I’ve seen a lot and have become somewhat hardened to the unfairness of modern life and the choices families make. For that reason, I’ve tried to avoid fictional accounts of feral children in distress. But when I was offered the opportunity to read an Advance Copy of “Sisters” by 2018 Booker nominated Daisy Johnson (“Everything Under”), I was unable to resist.

I was all ready for creepy. I was working on all sorts of permutations of maximum horror. “Sisters” does not disappoint. And it’s not just the sisters: Talk about creepy: Settle House.

But my greatest pleasure in reading “Sisters” was Daisy Johnson. I love her style — staccato, propulsive, unexpected prose and dialogue. I was truly not able to let “Sisters” go. There is a layer of depth to “Sisters” that references class, trauma, sexual assault, neglect, depression and abuse in subtle, compelling ways. Daisy Johnson crawls into your brain and doesn’t easily let go.

Thanks to Riverhead and NetGalley for the eARC.