When Frances Bird is asked to show the new girl, Alberta, around school it marks the end of her isolation. The two girls strike up a somewhat obsessive relationship; with each of them recognising in the other something that they, personally, are lacking.
As time goes on, Frances learns things about her new friend that start to paint a very different picture.
Narrated from Frances’s viewpoint, this novel really captures the awkwardness that can be felt by people who are seen as a little bit different from their peers – for whatever reason. We are never quite sure of exactly what is happening in certain situations as Frances herself is not the most reliable of narrators.
Without giving away any details, the end of the novel blew me away. You sensed something big was about to happen, but the extent of the betrayal only becomes clear as you finish the book. A quick read, but highly recommended.