Fifth Born
By Zelda Lockheart 

     This excellently-written debut novel immediately draws you in.

     Odessa's childhood was anything but happy. She suffered mightily at the hand of her father, who during one of his drunken rages almost rendered his daughter blind in one eye. Her mother, more content with having a man in her life than having happy, healthy, well-adjusted children, became adept at making excuses. Odessa desperately sought love and attention from her mother, but instead received orders, conflicting messages, and merciless taunting. Her father eventually took it upon himself to have his way with Odessa and her mother chose to ignore this horrendous act as well. Odessa's only solace was the memory of the love lavished on her by her grandmother during the family's summer visits.

     This novel is not for the faint of heart. The topics are difficult to talk about and even more difficult to understand, but this book should be read. Ms. Lockheart has a different perspective on the situation that causes the reader to keep turning the pages. One can only hope that this was purely fiction. Odessa has resolve, character and is occasionally reassured by her older sister and other members of her extended family who know what a child needs. The ending is spectacular and for that reason alone, one should endeavor to read Fifth Born. I would hope that this work would spur people to pursue with vigor the protection of innocence in children.