Broken Girls: A journalist uncovers the dark secrets of an abandoned boarding school
Broken Girls by Simone St. James is a thrilling mystery that intertwines haunting past and present discoveries. Set in Vermont, Journalist Fiona Sheridan uncovers a chilling connection to her sister’s death. Readers will be captivated by the gothic atmosphere and compelling characters. The main portion of the story alternates back and forth between 1950 and 2014, following different girls/women in and around Barrens, Vermont, and more importantly Idlewild Hall.
The main character of the book “Broken Girls” is a journalist, Fiona, whose life has been altered by the death of her older sister twenty years prior. Her sister’s boyfriend is in prison for the murder, but little inconsistencies have always nagged at the back of Fiona’s mind, and she’s been unable to move on. When she finds out that a developer has purchased the old abandoned girls’ boarding school where her sister’s body was found, her connection to the place leads her to want to cover the story.
Simone St. James is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Sun Down Motel, The Broken Girls, Lost Among the Living, and The Haunting of Maddy Clare. She wrote her first ghost story, about a haunted library, when she was in high school, and spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time.
“Books were her salvation. As a child, she’d had a shelf of childhood favorites that she loved enough to read over and over again. But after, during the hospital stay and the long voyage and the cold days in Idlewild’s dreary hallways, books became more than mere stories. They were her lifeline, the pages as essential to her as breathing.”
― Simone St. James, The Broken Girls
Broken Girls Summary of Key Lessons and Review
“Broken Girls” by Simone St. James is a suspenseful novel that intertwines the lives of women across different time periods, exploring themes of trauma, resilience, and the quest for truth.
Here are 10 key lessons from the book:
1. The Enduring Impact of Trauma: The book illustrates how trauma can have long-lasting effects on individuals, influencing their actions and relationships long after the traumatic events have occurred.
2. Strength in Vulnerability: Characters in the novel demonstrate that showing vulnerability and seeking help can be powerful steps toward healing and finding strength.
3. The Importance of Friendship: Strong, supportive friendships are crucial for emotional resilience. The bonds between characters help them navigate their challenges and uncover truths.
4. The Quest for Justice: The pursuit of justice for wronged individuals is a central theme. It underscores the importance of not giving up, even when the odds are against you.
5. Historical Secrets and Their Revelations: The book highlights how uncovering historical secrets can provide closure and understanding, helping to heal present-day wounds.
6. The Power of Persistence: Persistence in seeking the truth and solving mysteries is vital. The characters’ determination to uncover the past drives the narrative and brings resolution.
7. Overcoming Adversity: Characters show that it is possible to overcome significant adversity through determination, courage, and support from others.
8. The Influence of the Past on the Present: The novel demonstrates how past events and decisions shape the present, affecting characters’ lives in profound ways.
9. Empathy and Understanding: Developing empathy and understanding for others’ experiences and struggles is crucial. It can lead to deeper connections and support.
10. Healing Through Confrontation: Confronting painful memories and facing fears head-on are essential steps toward healing. Avoidance only prolongs suffering and prevents closure.
These lessons from “Broken Girls” emphasize the importance of resilience, persistence, and the supportive power of relationships in overcoming trauma and seeking justice.
Final Thoughts: Broken Girls by Simone St. James
“The Broken Girls” is an intelligent, unique, skillfully crafted page-turner that will have you on the edge of your seat from the very first page and will ultimately leave you chilled, surprised, satisfied, and thoroughly entertained. The book has a gothic atmosphere that transports you in time and place into the storyline. It is the perfect blend of mystery and thriller with extra special paranormal goodness sprinkled the whole way through! This book is incredible and will keep you up nights after…read it!
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