20 books in 2015- #2 Reconstructing Amelia

I finished Reconstructing Amelia in less than 48 hours.  I actually got up at 7am on a Saturday because I couldn’t wait to pick up where I left off.  I guess that either makes me a nerd or it makes this a really good book.  It’s a fairly easy read and I always love a good mystery.  It's a story about a mother and daughter that only have each other.  They are close and love one another dearly, but they are both hiding things from one another.

Kate is a single mother that is also a dedicated lawyer.  She works hard to provide the best for her daughter, Amelia, but this does sacrifice her time at home with her.  Amelia is smart, pretty, and kind.  She is involved in several school activities, volunteers consistently, and is proving to be a gifted writer.  Overall, she is a good kid.  Which is why Kate is taken aback when Amelia’s school calls her at work and requests that she come and pick Amelia up.  The administrator says that Amelia has been suspended for cheating.  

Kate leaves work and heads for the school, not knowing that what she will find there will be something more  heartbreaking than cheating.  Upon her arrival at Amelia’s school, she discovers that her daughter has jumped off of the roof, killing herself.  

Of course, this leaves Kate in shock and disbelief.  Amelia was happy.  Why would she do such a thing?  A few days after Amelia’s death Kate’s cell phone receives a text from a blocked number that says “Amelia didn’t jump.”

WHAT?!

Kate starts to go through Amelia’s texts, social media accounts, and emails and works to put the puzzle that was Amelia back together.   Slowly she begins to uncover secrets that will lead to the true cause of Amelia's death while Kate must face some of her own secrets too. 

The subject matter is sad and, being a mother, I couldn't help put myself in the story and think "What if this was Shadow?"  I wanted so badly to learn the truth about Amelia's death just like Kate did.  I couldn't sleep not knowing!  

After I finished this book I was sure of two things: 1.) I am so glad I went to high school before Twitter, Facebook, and iPhones.  Not because I had anything to keep secret from my parents, but because they are avenues that teenagers abuse these days to degrade and humiliate their peers. Something that comes up often in the book  2.)  I am so grateful for my Christian upbringing.  I’m NOT saying bad things like this won’t happen to Christians.   But I do think surrounding yourself with family and friends that value building you up  can help anyone overcome demons that try to steal your joy.