I thought this was an unusual title for a novel, but once I read it, it makes perfect sense. Chaltas effectively carries the wood and furniture concept throughout the novel.
This novel is written in verse form like Ellen Hopkins' novels and focuses on a similar topic: child abuse.
The deal is that Anke the youngest of three siblings is the only one who is not abused. Their father abuses her older sister Yaicha and brother Darren but does nothing physically to her. He does tell Anke that she should not play volleyball because competition is not good for girls. I guess that is how he tries to control her. Anke does not tell us what happens behind her sister and brother's bedroom doors with their father at night, but she does tell us about the bruises she sees the next day and we can only guess what he does.
Anke's mother is like Dave Pelzer's father who sees what is going on but does nothing to stop the abuse. As a parent, I could not let my children suffer like this. I would leave as soon as possible.
If you are a fan of Hopkins or Pelzer, this novel could become one of your favorites too.
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