Books like Between sisters by Nina Vida

Lela is eight when her older sister, Jolene, brings her home from school in a flashy car owned by a boyfriend named Glenn. What starts as a teenage display of defiance quickly turns into a tense journey through desolate highways, with Lela unsure why the family keeps secrets from their mother. Jolene is determined to shield Lela from the dangers of their sexually abusive father, but the plan is uncovered. In a tragic turn, the father kills the mother, shattering the family’s fragile world. With her childhood innocence lost, Lela is taken in by an adoptive family and begins to bury the memories of her former life. Even in a courtroom, Lela’s commitment to stand against abuse remains strong. She vows to return for those she loves and faces the difficult path of healing and justice. The story portrays the complexity of sibling bonds, the scars of abuse, and the possibility of renewal through love and support.

First publish date: December 1995