First things first: Do not let the soft-touched, pink-tone picture of a young teen with painted toenails on the cover let you think that Meg Tilly’s Gemma is a novel you should pick up for your 12-year-old. Tilly’s latest book – yes, that Meg Tilly, of The Big Chill – is an intense psychological thriller narrated by a young girl who has been systematically raped and tortured by an insane, violent pedophile, and the loving foster mother who encourages her to help bring her abuser to justice. In An Evening with Meg Tilly at the Houston Public Library, the author, whose previous novel, Singing Songs, also dealt with child abuse, will discuss Gemma, originally published in 2006. The book is ultimately a tale of resilience in the face of extreme trauma, and therefore very worth talking about – among adults. 6 p.m. 500 McKinney. For information, call 832-393-1313 or visit www.houstonlibrary.org. Free.
Wed., Feb. 24, 6 p.m., 2010
This article appears in Feb 18-24, 2010.