Synopses & Reviews
Set against the backdrop of The Wizard of Oz, this tale is both a chilling story of abuse and a timeless romance. Sixteen-year-old good girl Dorothy just blew into the small town of Highland Park—where the social headquarters is Munchkinland (Dunkin’ Donuts.) There, she meets Joey—a bad boy who tells no one about the catastrophic domestic violence he witnesses at home. Can these two lovers survive peer pressure, Joey’s reputation, and his alcoholism? And then there’s his family secret which is about to be unleashed. Joey’s words are scattered on the page—reflecting his broken state. Dorothy is the voice of reason—until something so shattering happens that she, too, may lose her grip. Can their love endure, or will it melt away? Drawing from true events, this brutal love story will hit like a punch in the face and is sure to reach into the soul of every reader.
Review
“A fresh, emotionally complex bildungsroman of young American love that looks long and hard at violence, and at what can overcome it.” —Kirkus Reviews
Review
"[Selene Castrovilla] is a writer to watch." —Jacqueline Woodson, author, Brown Girl Dreaming
Review
“Raw, lyrical, and darkly humorous—and uncompromisingly honest—Selene Castrovilla’s work is poetry and prose combined to the utmost. This is a writer to watch out for.” —Daniel Ehrenhaft, author, The Last Dog on Earth
Review
“Melt is evocative, emotional, vivid, and powerful. Beautiful, painful, and ultimately healing, Melt is a gripping read that will make you feel and care about the characters.” —Cheryl Rainfield, author, Scars
Synopsis
A young teen comes of age in an abusive home
Miguel's dad is at it again--physically abusing his mom and sister and terrorizing Miguel for no good reason. But when Miguel's mom and sister, who have been whispering to one another for some time, decide to stand up to the abuse and decide to move to a women's shelter, Miguel's life begins to take turns he never expected. After the family moves out, it isn't long before Miguel's dad promises to change his ways before once again becoming abusive; leaving Miguel to summon the courage to stand up to the man he thought he loved. This emotional and stirring novel is told from the point of view of a young man who is torn between the love he feels for his abusive father and the responsibility to protect his family.
About the Author
Selene Castrovilla is a mother and a cat lover. She is the author of By the Sword, The Girl Next Door, Revolutionary Friends, Saved by the Music, and Upon Secrecy. She lives in Island Park, New York.