Take It Back

 Blog Tour - December 14, 2020

Take it Back by Kia Abdullah. St. Martin's Press, 2020. 296 pages. ***

From the publisher:

"One victim.

Four accused.

Who is telling the truth?

Zara Kaleel, one of London's brightest legal minds, shattered the expectations 

placed on her by her family and forged a brilliant legal career. But her decisions 

came at a high cost, and now, battling her own demons, she has exchanged 

her high profile career for a job at a sexual assault center, helping victims who 

need her the most. Victims like Jodie Wolfe.

When Jodie, a sixteen-year-old girl with facial deformities, accuses four boys in 

her class of an unthinkable crime, the community is torn apart. After all, these four 

teenage defendants are from hard-working immigrant families and they all have

 proven alibis. Even Jodie's best friend doesn't believe her.

But Zara does—and she is determined to fight for Jodie—to find the truth in the 

face of public outcry. And as issues of sex, race and social justice collide, the most

 explosive criminal trial of the year builds to a shocking conclusion."

This story started strong - Zara has re-evaluated her life as a high-end lawyer to make a difference and here is her chance; Jodie needs someone on her side and to believe her. The problem is that Jodie keeps changing details of her assault  and the events leading up to it, is Jodie embarrassed or lying about what happened the night of the party? About mid-way through the book, the story seemed to falter, Zara's problematic relationship with her family overshadows Jodie's issues. Jodie's disfigurement is cause for her to be victimized by bullies at school and Zara is shamed by the men in her family for not following cultural norms  and for her independent ways. The author's voice was not as strong as Jodie as it was as Zara. The character development of the boys and their families versus the accusations of the horrific assault will resonate with crime  victims as readers. It is difficult for me to identify or to understand the main characters, no one seems likable and all have self - destructive behaviors. No spoiler, however, I wish the ending was the beginning of the book and the starting point rather than the end.

 I received a copy to review.

KIA ABDULLAH is an author and travel writer. She has contributed to  

The Guardian, BBC, Channel 4 News, and The New York Times. Kia currently

 travels the world as one half of the travel blog Atlas & Boots, which receives

 over 200,000 views per month.

 

Follow me on Instagram: flamazing_books 

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