**may be a spoiler**
This was a tough read on two levels. One, I struggle with reading a book written in letter form. The plot itself really didn't pick up until the last 100 or so pages, so I wouldn't call it a page turner; however, I was completely fascinated by the story and the family, more specifically. Secondly, I couldn't imagine this being a reality of mine. I don't know what kind of mother I would have been in this situation. By no means would I consider Eva or Franklin as emotionally stable even before having kids, but I was deeply saddened as I watched Eva continually be manipulated and even abused by her son and her husband just not getting it. I know this plot is loosely based off another school shooting, but Shriver went to the heart of the matter-a mother who thinks (and is partly) she could be to blame for her son's psychosis that ends up leaving him no other option than to kill 11 people (in an awful way may I add). Also what saddened me is how this kid played the system so well that not one other adult could really see this kid was troubled (and the sole teacher that recognizes his rage becomes one of his victims).
The account of the killings is gruesome to me. I sympathized with Eva in that she just didn't know what to do, but take the abuse and hope he turned out okay.