The Cresswell Plot

2016 • 272 pages

The woods were insane in the dark, terrifying and magical at the same time. But best of all were the stars, which trumpeted their light into the misty dark. Castella Cresswell and her five siblings???Hannan, Casper, Mortimer, Delvive, and Jerusalem??? know what it's like to be different. For years, their world has been confined to their ramshackle family home deep in the woods of upstate New York. They abide by the strict rule of God, whose messages come directly from their father. Slowly, Castley and her siblings start to test the boundaries of the laws that bind them. But, at school, they're still the freaks they've always been to the outside world. Marked by their plain clothing. Unexplained bruising. Utter isolation from their classmates. That is, until Castley is forced to partner with the totally irritating, totally normal George Gray, who offers her a glimpse of a life filled with freedom and choice. Castley's world rapidly expands beyond the woods she knows so well and the beliefs she once thought were the only truths. There is a future waiting for her if she can escape her father's grasp, but Castley refuses to leave her siblings behind. Just as she begins to form a plan, her father makes a chilling announcement: the Cresswells will soon return to their home in heaven. With time running out on all of their lives, Castley must expose the depth of her father's lies. The forest has buried the truth in darkness for far too long. Castley might be their last hope for salvation.

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Sionna

I received this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This is an AMAZING book.

I'm not sure what I was expecting but, definitely not this. This is a book about abuse, brainwashing, fear, and not knowing what reality is/what the truth is.

All Castley wants is to be normal and fit in. After finally going to school she realizes how messed up her family is. No one dresses like them; no one thinks the same as her family; and being promised to her brother is weird & illegal.

I found it interesting how Castley's mind worked and enjoyed reading her working out her thoughts and identity. It came to the point that things I thought were truth, because of Castley, I began to question... who is the bad guy? Is the father really to blame? Maybe one of the siblings or the mother?

No real romance here, a few kisses and trying to understand what liking people is but, nothing much.
There are 6 siblings so, sometimes I mixed up their names but, they were all so different that it became easy. Castley definitely had some growth and even a few of the siblings changed too but we aren't invested in all of them.

I did have a few issues though. I couldn't believe that no one helped the kids! Wouldn't someone tell the police the kids are starving? or how about the truancy?
Some things aren't fully explained, like the first Caspar but, it is enough.
I wished there was more of an ending to the book. I don't want to get into it. YES, the book does have a complete and satisfying ending. I just wanted to know how we got to the ending point more. Just more explanation. :)

Really enjoyed the book!