The First Day of Spring, by Nancy Tucker, is a realistic fiction, thriller, and crime novel that takes place somewhere in the United Kingdom. The author Nancy Tucker is a trainee Clinical Psychologist, which really does contribute so  much to the writing of this book. The story is told in two perspectives, that of young Chrissie, and that of Julia, who is the same person, only about 15 years later. Readers can learn a lot about the effects that an abusive childhood can have on someone throughout their lives, not only on their actions but also on the way they think. 

The story follows some major events, experiences and their catalysts in the life of Chrissie. The book starts with a bold hook: “I killed a little boy today.” The rest of the first page, which goes into more detail about this line, really sets the tone for the rest of the story: Dark, sad, and extremely unsettling. The small town murder commited by Chrissie has mothers terrified for their children, the children of these mothers staying indoors to avoid being the next name in the headline, and police questioning just about anyone, including the children. But when Chrissie surrounds herself with these same people and they just can’t seem to put the pieces together, she feels very powerful, like a monster that everyone is so afraid of. Even with her best friend, Linda, Chrissie is always doing the most in order to assert dominance. 

Chrissie grew up in a home where no one loved her or cared for her: Food was scarce, wetting the bed was a habit, and breaking the rules was the only way for her to survive. Many years later, after being released from a Secure Children’s Home, Chrissie is living under the name Julia, and has a daughter of her own. Molly means the world to Julia, so when mysterious calls start coming in and the past seems to chase Julia faster than she can outrun it, she spirals. She fears the one thing she loves most is at risk of being taken away from her forever: Her daughter. 

The First Day of Spring is a heart wrenching story of a girl who made truly horrible mistakes and is spending her life trying to rid herself of the guilt and sorrow her childhood inflicted upon her. Additionally, the story shows that forgiveness and friendship are extremely important, and love truly can overcome any and all obstacles.

Overall, the story is amazingly disturbing. It’s a weird topic because any opinions one might have about Chrissie’s story have their pros and their cons. If you aren’t afraid of the topics of murder, death, and rough, abusive childhoods, then this book is an amazing read for you. The way that Tucker writes about Chrissie/Julia makes the character feel almost real, and the ending is worth any bit of discomfort you may feel when reading it. All in all, the book develops beautifully and is a great read. 

Check out first day of spring from NBPL!