Reviewed by R. Yelk, November 2020
Up until recently, Dr. Julia Cates was one of the preeminent child psychiatrists in the country, but a scandal shattered her confidence, ruined her career, and made her a media target. When she gets a desperate call from her sister, Ellie, a police chief in their small western Washington hometown, she jumps at the chance to escape. In Rain Valley, nothing much ever happens – until a mysterious girl emerges from the deep woods and walks into town. She is a victim unlike any Julia has ever seen, a child locked in a world of fear and isolation. For Julia, who has come to doubt her own ability, nothing is more important than saving this girl. Then, a shocking revelation forces Julia to risk everything to discover the truth. The ordeal that follows will test the limits of Julia’s faith, forgiveness, and love, as she struggles to ascertain where the girl ultimately belongs. I would recommend this book to high school students who are interested in realistic fiction as well as some psychology. There is some romance and violence in the book that are geared towards a more mature audience.