SuitabookThe moment before
Suzy Vitello
- Reading
- Consider reading alongside the young person rather than presenting it as a light treatment of school life. Pause around the death, revelations and family conflict, allowing space for questions without demanding immediate conclusions.
- Themes
- Grief and changed identity: Brady’s sister dies, after which grief unsettles Brady’s family and causes Brady to question the value of what she previously cared about. The book?s stance on this remains unclear.
- Appearances and hidden difficulties: Sabine appears successful and popular, but later information reveals difficulties in her relationships and private life. The book?s stance on this remains unclear.
- Blame, responsibility and unexpected trust: Connor is blamed for Sabine’s death, yet becomes an ally to Brady and helps her reconsider her view of him. The plot questions an immediate judgement, but it does not establish a settled position on Connor’s responsibility or the reliability of Brady’s later interpretation.
- Worth knowing
- The death is described as horrific, and the story includes grief, family breakdown, betrayal, verbal abuse, pregnancy, drugging and kidnapping. These elements may warrant a check-in before or during reading.