The Liar's Daughter by Megan Cooley Peterson
Published by Holiday House on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 082344418X
Pages: 284
Goodreads

In this debut realistic fiction novel for grades 9-12, Peterson presents a before and after drama of seventeen year old Piper, who was kidnapped at a young age from her mother, brainwashed and raised in an abusive, neglectful religious cult.  The story is told in the first person voice of Piper whose worldview exists only of the teachings of the “father” and “mother”.  The novel’s layout is in before and after chapters, but they don’t follow a designated pattern.  At times, the changes or setting transitions come too abruptly between them and the setting is slightly muddled or lacking clear identifiers for the reader in the “after” chapters when they are voiced in Piper’s confessional or disassociated state.  That will be forgiven as Piper’s biological mother goes from prisoner guard status to an actual potential relationship in Piper’s eyes with time, medication and therapy.  The book cover art will draw in some readers.   In an author’s note, Peterson shares about her own experiences when she was a teenager in a type of religious cult which will appeal to those interested in the such groups and lends credibility to this fiction story.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library