This book was beautiful, but immensely difficult. It reminded me a lot of Hannah Kent’s Burial Rites, in that you know how it’s going to end, but it’s still heartbreaking as you work your way towards the inevitable. That it was relatively slow-moving made that even harder, because you can see what’s happening as it develops.

I learned a lot about modern New Zealand history through this book, and used it as a launch pad to do a bit of additional research. If nothing else, it highlights the danger of moral panic and prejudice, particularly in regards to age, immigration and ethnicity.

I was totally captivated by this book and while it hurt to get through, I’m so glad I read it.