Monday, October 14, 2013

Cartwheel by Jennifer duBois

Cartwheel by Jennifer duBois

Lily Hayes decides to do her study abroad semester somewhere different – Buenos Aires, Argentina.  She is in love with the place, the people, and the language.  She does all she can to blend in.  Yet Lily is not one to blend.  She stands out – her personality, her build, her wardrobe – yet she doesn’t see it that way.  She thinks she’s fitting in fine.  But her awkwardness is something her family has come to terms with and understands without realizing they know this about their daughter.  All of these facets of Lily’s personality take center stage when she stands accused of brutally murdering her roommate, another study abroad student.  Just because you aren’t likeable does that mean you’re a killer?  When there are multiple stories, which one is believed?  Why do the personalities of the victim and accused even matter in a murder trial?    

This novel will be especially intriguing for those who followed the Amanda Knox trial.  The author pulled the circumstances from life (the trial of an American study abroad student accused of killing her roommate) but the similarities end there.  In the afterward the author puts it very simply.  Amanda Knox was rumored to have done a cartwheel in the interrogation room, which was later proven to be a falsehood.  This is the story of a girl accused of murdering her roommate who DID do a cartwheel in the interrogation room.  You can start drawing your own conclusions from there.