This book is so brutal, and yet there are beautiful moments. It's 1937, East Texas, in a town that's mostly divided between Black and White, and isn't entirely sure what to do with a Mexican. It's got toxic masculinity and racism (so much of both), and the New London school explosion, which is horrific. I'll be thinking about this one for a while, but I'm glad I spoiled the ending for myself, because I think I needed that time to mentally prepare. Which, granted, these characters did not have, but I am lucky enough to.