They Call Her Dirty Sally by Amy Matayo

 

For years, the town of Silver Bell, Arkansas has quietly mourned the hospital fire that claimed the lives of nine of its residents—the town doctor, a young expectant mother, and seven infants. So, when journalist Finn Hardwick is assigned the story as part of a national thirtieth anniversary memorial service, he arrives at the town ready to interview its residents, thinking they’ll be ready to share and eager to make headlines.

He isn’t prepared for the resistance. Or for what appears to be a collective unwillingness to answer his questions.

Faced with one roadblock after another, Finn enlists the help of Billi Ellis, the young motel receptionist that everyone in the town seems to like. Maybe she can get them to open up to him. Maybe she can help him make sense of everything he keeps uncovering. Especially the unexpected tie this tragedy appears to have to his own life.

A tie that leads him directly to the old woman who seems to hold the key to everything. The woman everyone avoids…the woman they call “dirty”…the woman who hasn’t spoken a word to anyone since the day the hospital burned.

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I rarely read blurbs, and that is especially true for authors that I am familiar with and whose books I know I love.  I knew from the title that this book might be a bit different but this author has a history of surprising me with stories in the best ways so of course I was in. 

My heart.  What I wasn't prepared for was the depth of thought and emotion that came with reading this book.  The overwhelming heartbreak and sadness and honestly, the embarrassment on behalf of humankind that would allow these kinds of things to happen.   

My head.  Full of all kinds of thoughts.  Looking back, looking forward, looking at the present.  What am I guilty of?  How can I do better?  Any of us that have an influence on children in any capacity need to be teaching by words and actions, love and kindness.  Compassion and a desire to help those who look like they might need it.  We need more Paul's in the world.  Thank goodness Sally had a Paul.  Paul took a stand.  He did everything in his power to help, to make Sally's world better.  I want to be Paul.

Two of my favorite things happened in this book.  Thinking and feeling.  That's how I know a book is a good one.  This story is going to stay with me for a long, long time.

Content:  alcoholism, child neglect, bullying, intimate relations behind closed doors with no details but you know they happen.  Mild swearing.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.