The cursed friend

Summary/Review: "Monza, Italy, 1936. Thirteen-year-old Francesca lies on the banks of the Lambro River under the weight of a dead man who was trying to rape her, when he suddenly died. Her friend, Maddalena, crawls out of the water and helps her get out from under the dead body, which they then hide in some bushes. Their friendship began a year earlier, and is one marked by rebellion and the search for freedom beyond the rigid social hierarchy of the town. Maddalena, who comes from humble beginnings, is called "La malnacida" or "Born Evil" because of her supposed dark powers. Soon, the two are inseparable. Maddalena teaches Francesca to defy animals, to overcome her fear of blood, and to recognize her body as something alive and present. Their bond will overcome the town gossip, which blames Maddalena for several deaths. It will be tested by war and fascism, and the two friends will have to decide whether to join together against social oppression or let the course of history separate them forever. Set against the backdrop of the Abyssinian War, The Cursed Friend is a timeless tale of female friendship, navigating loss and adolescence, and finding the courage to speak out against the silence of a harsh, uncompromising world."--