The Sharp Edge of Silence

A teenage sexual assault survivor seeks justice in this heart-stopping volume by Rosenblum (The Stepping Off Place), which explores the pervasiveness of—and the structures that uphold—toxic masculinity. Gifted artist Quinn Walsh was a freshman at the prestigious boarding school Lycroft Phelps Academy when varsity crew athlete Colin Pearce assaulted her and faced no repercussions. Now a sophomore, Q, who has PTSD, has one goal in mind: make Colin pay. Q’s piercing first-person narration alternates with strait-laced Charlotte Foresley, a dancer who struggles with internalized misogyny and who is the girlfriend of Colin’s popular best friend; and insecure scholarship student Max Hannigan-Loeffler, who faces a moral dilemma when he’s recruited to Colin’s alpha male crew team. As the trio’s paths converge, dark secrets from Lycroft Phelps’s past come to light, and Q must decide if she’s willing to risk expulsion—or worse—to see justice served. A captivating start gives way to a rushed denouement, leading to more questions than answers. Nevertheless, Rosenblum’s immersive and poetic prose tackles difficult themes with precision and care, delivering a profound account of overcoming trauma in a system designed to protect abusers. Major characters cue as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Alexandra Levick, Writers House. (Apr.)