Elizabeth Harding

I wish I could give this 2 1/12 stars. It does deserve more than 1, because this author is a good writer and it was a page turner. Three seems too much, because a lot of leftists propaganda. She said a lot of things that don’t add up. Among some of them are how the proud boys would walk around and put up racist material all over town where people waved confederate flags. I asked people who live in Morgantown, WV where the book was set and they’ve never seen it. She also said that they would put up racists stuff (I can’t say exactly what she put up, because my review got flagged for hate speech) over West Virginia University as well after a far right speaker came. Two reasons I have trouble believing this. Even in the deepest red areas, universities wouldn’t allow it. In addition to, a liberal news organization would have gladly picked it up. She also said how her town would regularly smell like pollution in the air and how it affected her daughter’s lungs. I looked for stories about smells online with news stories and forums and found nothing, except when wildfires came. Again, a left wing news organization would love to pick this up, especially to win the red state vs blue state argument. She also said that her daughter’s school told her “women aren’t supposed to work. “ I don’t have evidence that this isn’t true, but I simply just don’t believe it. Even in the deepest red areas, you could get in big trouble for talking like that. Her situation about being unable to get an abortion in WV was believable. Their laws are a bit too strict I will give her. However, in regards to it all she has a huge victim mentality. For instance, she didn’t go to the nearest Planned Parenthood in Pittsburgh, PA because she was worried about protesters. The government didn’t give enough childcare so she couldn’t go. It was everyone’s fault, but her’s. She also blamed the government for not doing enough when she was in financial trouble. Never mind the fact that her husband didn’t work regularly and was bad with money. she had an ectopic pregnancy and she said if she were in a red state, then she would be unable to have an abortion. Propaganda, because even in the strictest red states, you don’t have the baby if it harms your health. I am an independent voter who is pretty middle of the road about abortion. I do believe some red states, like WV, are too strict and a lot of blue states aren’t strict enough. That’s neither here or there. She mentioned increased risk of poverty, mental health problems, health problems for women who are forced to keep their babies. Maybe that’s true, but dont conveniently leave out adoption as an option. I get that it’s not that simple for everyone at all, but nevertheless. Christa, you are a great writer and a great storyteller. Stick to that! If people want left wing propaganda, they can turn on plenty of news channels. However, I know you are an indoctrinating propagandist and you probably can’t help it. How do I know? Because your daughter in kindergarten “was in a ball on the floor, crying” when Trump won. A kindergartener in a normal setting wouldn’t know or care about elections. They are too busy being kids in kindergarten. That would have never have happened without some huge influence. To clear up any possible misunderstandings, I have no problem with stating left wing beliefs or telling your story regardless if it makes the right look bad. I don’t care about that. However, don’t make things up unless you are writing a fiction book on purpose.