"Sometimes it takes a stranger to show you what should be obvious, how far you've drifted from who you want to be, from what's right for you, your true place."
-Suzanne, from the novel
Suzanne Blakemore is conflicted about her identity and purpose in life. While driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway she spots a young girl, seemingly lost and weak from hunger and dehydration. Suzanne immediately feels drawn to the girl and eventually brings her into the Blakemore home. Husband Whit goes along but the two teenagers are not so welcoming, particularly 15-year-old Brynn.
The girl turns out to be a very under-developed 16-year-old named Iris who admits she is an orphan. She has lived all her life in a cabin in the woods with no modern conveniences so you can imagine she has some serious problems adjusting to the Blakemore's upper middle class world. And of course, the family home is thrown into some turmoil as Suzanne tries to "fix her" while Whit wants to search for any of her relatives.
Early on there is the mystery of "who is Ash?" a name mentioned frequently by Iris. This reader guessed it was her brother but had no idea why he did not appear. Also the reader is kept guessing as to the existence of Iris's father who she believes is dead.
I thought the book was well-written and the story was intriguing. True Places gets a rating of 4 from me.
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