The Life She Was Given did not turn out like I expected at all. I thought it would be the story of a girl adjusting to living in the outside world after having been a captive all her life along with some information about early circuses. It was nothing like that.
Lilly's parents have kept her in the attic all her life ashamed of how she looks. Determined not to let that bother her Lilly lives the best life she can in the tiny room using her imagination to make the long hours pass until one day mother tells her to get dressed and come with her. Freedom at last but it is nothing like Lilly expects instead of being accepted by her family for who she is Lilly is sold to the circus to be an act in the freak side show. Terrified, uncertain of what to do, and fearing people around her will hurt her Lilly continues to fight back all her life.
Julia has never had a good relationship with her parents and as soon as she turned eighteen she was gone. Stuck in an abusive relationship with a job that does not pay nearly enough Julia is shocked when she learns she has inherited her parent's estate. Unable to do anything but go home Julia starts digging into the secrets of the manor each discovery becomes more horrifying then the last.
I am not a huge fan of stories that switch between points of view and time periods. I feel it throws my reading pace off too much. I did prefer Lilly's story to Julia's story. At parts it seemed like Julia's story was repeating the same events while Lilly's showed some growth and development. I am horribly at figuring out mysteries I always have been but I figured out this one so I am guessing most people will figure out the mystery easily. This was not a lighthearted read either, it goes into a lot issues such as abuse, animal cruelty, and slavery to name a few.
