That means everything you ever did, you almost didn’t do. My Name is Venus Black by Heather LloydWhen I saw this book I was immediately drawn to its cover. The art was whimsical in the way I like, and I am also drawn in by stars and things like that. When I picked this book, though, I was not aware of how many interesting themes it would cover and how excited I would be to share it with my students. The novel introduces the title character, Venus Black, on the night she was arrested for killing her stepfather. The details are not immediately shared, so I’ll be vague here, but there was some valid reasoning for her actions. Her mother, Inez, does not handle the situation well, and in her grief allows her mentally challenged son, Leo, to go stay at a friend’s house for a few nights until she can get things sorted out. One thing leads to another, Leo is kidnapped, Venus is put in jail for five years, and the trajectory of the plot begins. Told in alternating viewpoints, the novel allows for the reader to see the unique perspective of all of the characters, including Tony and Tessa, two people who end up in Leo’s life unexpectedly. The cast is also populated with a young girl, Piper, who Venus befriends after her release. Seeing all of these various peoples’ stories allowed the author to teach themes of love, betrayal, trust, honesty, hope, forgiveness, and many more than I can list. I found the story to be heartwarming and enjoyable and highly recommend you head to Amazon and buy My Name is Venus Black today! *I received a free ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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