The eternal return of Clara Hart

Debut author Finch tackles sexual assault, toxic masculinity, and grief with precision and courage. James "Spence" Spencer lives in a small English town where he plays rugby with best friends Anthony Mansbridge and Gary "Worm" Worley. Anthony's constant harassment of women and immense wealth situate him as the respected leader of the group. At a party, Anthony sexually assaults artsy classmate Clara Hart, who flees into the night, drunk and on foot, and is hit by a car and killed. The next day, Spence wakes up to find it is the previous morning; he is stuck in a time loop. As Spence begins each morning desperate to control the events of the coming day and save Clara, he also grapples with its being the first anniversary of his mother's death. The book's structure is perfectly paced with superb attention to detail as each day unfolds differently. Reliving events also allows Spence to grow in his own awareness of the impact of Anthony's devastating behavior while giving space and value to Clara's and other young women's stories, showcasing Finch's strong character development. Some dark humor lightens the heavy mood, but the sexism and misogyny are revisited relentlessly, fully implicating this group of boys who have made countless decisions every day to disrespect the girls in their lives. The centering of a male narrator grappling with grief makes this story required reading, shining a light on patriarchal norms all young men deal with. Major characters read White. A devastating, essential journey. (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

There's a body at my feet again. The sky is pierced with stars and there's glass littering theground. Cold, damp air and leaves on the verge. Blood onthe road, grit in her skin. My breath scratches my throat. Myknuckles plug my mouth and I bite. What's wrong with this day? Death's strung through it likebarbed wire - the one from a year ago, and this one now. Fiveis too many times to watch the same girl die. There's a body at my feet and her eyes are closed, but notfor long. A few more hours to go before she wakes up and wedo this all over again. I'm sorry. I crouch. Smooth her hair. Lean in. Wake up, Clara. We're in this together, you and me. Excerpted from The Eternal Return of Clara Hart by Louise Finch All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.