The Window

Gr 10 Up—In many ways, Jess Cutter is the opposite of her identical twin sister Anna. Jess lacks Anna's social ease and effortless athleticism, preferring to keep to herself and focus on academics. Yet the sisters have always shared a deep mutual understanding in spite of their differences. Then Anna dies after falling from her bedroom window in the middle of the night, and Jess is certain there is more to the story than the police—and her parents—are willing to see. To uncover the truth, Jess begins investigating on her own,and quickly discovers that Anna was keeping secrets from her. The debut author creates a compelling and suspenseful narrative from the first page; the short chapters and fast pace will appeal to thriller fans. Brunskill adeptly depicts the messy process of grief, with a particularly sensitive portrayal of how Jess's relationship with her parents is altered. Unfortunately, these accomplishments are marred by several problematic elements. As Jess's independent investigation progresses, her behavior quickly crosses the line into unhealthy and obsessive. She never receives appropriate help or clear guidance from an adult to handle this situation, and her encounters with mental health professionals are characterized in a very negative way. There are also hints that Jess's parents and others don't believe her suspicions about Anna's death because her past struggles with mental illness have made her unstable.