Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

Necessary Lies is a powerful historical fiction novel that mainly takes place in the 1960s. It deals with a variety of issues and tackles the horror of eugenics that took place in United States.

It it told in alternating points of view. It is raw, real and eye opening. Ivy is a young teenage girl, who lives and works on a tobacco farm and Jane is a newly married, fresh out of college young woman who has just become a social worker.

Jane wants to make a difference and is fighting for what is right and Ivy is one of her clients. Jane becomes emotionally involved with Ivy and her family and this results in a variety of issues for her, in her marriage and work environment.

Ivy's family is poor and plagued by secrets and as the secrets surface to life, problems arise making a difficult life unbearably hard. Jane is forced to make a choice that goes against what she believes and she will do what's necessary to make things "right".

Expect an emotionally charged read,  full of wonderfully created complex characters. This is a book will haunt you. One you will share and recommend to others.

Grade: A++