Review Detail

Pick the Lock is the first novel I have read by A.S. King, and I now understand the acclaim for her unique writing style. The best way I can describe this novel is "befuddling," but in the most captivating way. I could not put this book down.

Jane is a teenage girl homeschooled, along with her younger brother Henry, by their controlling father, Vernon. Their mother is a famous punk rock singer who goes on tour, but when she is home, she is confined to a system of pneumatic tubes within the house. This unusual setup immediately intrigued me, and I was curious to learn how it came to be.

Through the use of security footage (or, as Jane calls them, "home videos") and a punk rock opera that Jane is writing, we learn about the toxic relationship between her parents and how her mother, Mina, came to be put in these tubes. Jane slowly begins to understand how sheltered her life is, and she begins to see her father and aunt for the awful people they are. Jane's character undergoes major growth, and we see her stand up to her father and help her mother escape his control.

This book feels fresh and different from anything I've read before. I love how King included home movies and a punk rock opera in the storytelling. As we watch the home movies, we see how the abuse starts slowly and manipulatively, and how it progresses to physical abuse, which feels like an authentic portrayal of domestic violence. I found it hard to read about Jane's mother's psychological abuse, particularly how Vernon used her children to break her down. Despite some of the heavy themes in the book, there is also a beautiful story of forgiveness and a mother's unconditional love.

Pick the Lock is a thought-provoking and addictive YA novel that left a lasting impression on me.