THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

Lulu and Merry Zachariah, ages ten and five, fall victim to Celeste’s and Joey’s dysfunctional marriage and the resulting violent behavior their father inflicts upon their mother.

The family lives in Brooklyn, NY.  Lulu manages the household for her very beautiful but irresponsible mother.  Lulu also takes charge of Merry, as

Celeste, busy with fashion magazines and gossip spares little time for motherhood.  Lulu realizes her parent’s relationship is not quite right and dreams of living with a different family.

On one particular occasion, Celeste tires of her husband’s accusations and throws Joey out of the house; she warns the children against allowing him in.  Sometime later, Joey returns looking for Celeste and sweet talks his daughter into letting him in.

The girls reveal their stories in the aftermath of the violence.

 

Well written, well plotted, well-defined characters.