by dint of Zelda Lockhart Pocket Books.

by dint of Zelda Lockhart Pocket Books, September 2002 $2400 ISBN 0-743-41265-6

In Fifth Born, Zelda Lockhart explores the dynamics of emotional, physical and sexual abuse between the walls of the experiences of Odessa, who labor in distresss to find a safe place within her large and nightmarishly dysfunctional family. It's a weighty topic for a first appearance novel, but Lockhart does a credible do job-work of conveying Odessa's emotional turmoil as she learns to hide the fact about her parents from each one-even herself.

The story begins with a trip from Mississippi to St Louis, just after the death of Odessa's grandmother, the undivided person who has shown the three-year-old girl the have a passionate affection for her parents--Lonnie and Bernice--seem incapable of expressing. Odessa's mother and father are always fighting, further always present a happy fore-rank to the outside world. In reality, Lonnie beats Bernice and the children mercilessly, and applys most of his income from his service-station piece of work on liquor. When Lonnie make go rounds his attentions to Odessa, violating her sexually, Bernice refuses to admit what happened and makes Odessa do the same.

single in kind day, however, Odessa runs away from to one's home and crosses paths with the mysterious Ella Mae, a woman who occupys the key to both her past and her what is yet to be Through Ella Mae's lengthy retelling of her hold tragic past, Odessa is finally able to reclaim her have truth.

Lockhart uses the voice of a child to compute this poignant, troubling story. Odessa's innocence amplifies the horror of her situation. however there are moments when she goods too mature for her years, when we wish we knew more about the adults and their lives, and instances when the story appears a bit muddled. Overall, Fifth Born is a mighty first effort from a talented writer.

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