When I started reading the novel, the title seemed strange to me. What do armadillos have to do with a dysfunctional family and a clearly abused little girl? Gradually, as I followed Aggie's story - her escape, the cunning she has to employ to escape constant violence, the disregard for the welfare of a 15-year-old girl that all adults seem to display - I came to understand the reason for the title, which not coincidentally matches the constant appearance of these critters in the novel and the pity shown to them by the one person who, in her own way, takes Aggie to heart.
A raw, hard, beautiful novel; a denunciation of abuse and hypocrisy; a perfect description of how these behaviors steal people's lives, especially women, but also men, whether they manage to get out of it - as Abbie is supposed to do - or get caught up in it, like Jojo.

Thank you Legend Press for my copy.

This is more a coming of age story.

Aggie has been abused for a long time and at the age of 15 she escapes.
It’s likened to the life of an Armadillo. I got to wondering why that title was chosen, now I know.

It’s basically about Aggie surviving now that she’s on her own.
She learns to become more resistant and not so trustworthy.
Especially when she gets to know someone else, then she’s lead to a squat.

It’s a good story.

I felt really sorry for Aggie. What a terrible start to her life.

I’m still convinced it never really got any better for her, just different.

There is nothing wrong with the way this book was written, and the story itself sounds as if it ought to be gripping - if more than a little unsettling. Nonetheless, and I can't explain why, I just couldn't get into it. I tried, twice. Perhaps it is the subject matter, or something about the narrative voice. But in the end, I had to give up. I suspect the fault lies more with me than the book, and for that reason will not be posting this review on amazon or goodreads.

Aggie and her sister JoJo live on a farm in Texas with their father and brother, both of whom are physically and sexually abusive. JoJo tries to protect her younger sister as much as she can, but she isn’t always successful. At fifteen, Aggie has never known anything different in her life, but she still dreams of escape. One day, she walks out the front door as usual – but for once, she just keeps walking.

With no experience in the outside world, and no preparation for her journey, Aggie ends up walking the highway, hitchhiking with anyone who will pick her up. She seems to have no fear, extorting money from the men who pick her up by threatening them that she will say they kidnapped her. Aggie meets many people as damaged as she is, and forges connections from their shared history of abuse. Eventually, she ends up becoming a part of a new dysfunctional family – a group of squatters who each have their own dark problems.

As she settles in with her new group of friends, Aggie finds herself embroiled in a crisis involving drugs and stolen money. Living with her group of misfit friends in a derelict house, Aggie sees no alternative but to help them. This is a gritty coming of age story, shadowed by the difficult subject matter of systemic abuse and highlighting the fact that most victims have nowhere to turn for help. Aggie’s journey is one of self-discovery, as she searches for a better life – but instead of finding it, she just experiences different forms of abuse.

Aggie is a strong character, and her unique opinions and distinct speech patterns make her seem very human – but she never seemed able to empathize with others. After her traumatic experiences with her friends, Aggie eventually realizes that she must return home to confront her past. However, instead of facing her fears, she learns new shocking secrets about her family. Some scenes are too convenient and obvious, but the overall plot has a good flow and quickly moves forward. Aggie is a difficult character, but she grows into a strong woman throughout her tough experiences. I wasn’t always able to suspend disbelief during Aggie’s unusual journey, but it was interesting to be along for the ride.

I received this book from Legends Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.