Title:
TELL ON YOU
Author: Freda Hansburg
Publisher: Micro Publishing Media
Pages: 248
Genre: Thriller
Tell on You is a psychological suspense novel that best fits within the Gone
Girl-inspired niche genre of “grip lit.” Jeremy
Barrett’s obsessive love equals that of Jay Gatsby for Daisy Buchanan, as life
imitates art in his private school English class. But his angst-driven
infatuation brings dire consequences as he is drawn into the machinations of
his disturbed 16-year-old student Nikki Jordan, whose bad intentions rival
those of her teacher. A fast-paced,
drama-filled tale, Tell on You reminds readers about the wildness and trauma of
adolescence—and the self-defeating behaviors to which adults resort in times of
stress. From gaslighting to vicious bullying, poisonous family privilege to the
loss of a parent—Freda Hansburg draws on her experience as a clinical
psychologist to explore the depths of each dark situation in Tell
on You.
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“OWW!!” EIGHT-YEAR
OLD Brandon Jordan screeched as his sister Nikki twisted his arm in an Indian
burn. “Nikki, stop!”
His cries
brought Mom crashing into Nikki’s room.
“Nikki, I won’t have you bullying your brother again. Let him go this instant.”
“But I
caught him in here messing with my stuff!” Nikki gave Brandon’s
arm a final wrench before releasing him.
Pouting, he scurried from her room.
“I don’t
care what he did. I told you, keep your
hands to yourself.” Her mother turned
away, judgment delivered.
Probably in a hurry to get back to
her vodka and reality TV. “At least when
Dad was here, somebody stuck up for me,” Nikki called after her.
Mom’s angry face reappeared. “Stuck up
for you?” A bitter laugh. “Stuck it to
you, and all of us, is more like it.”
“Wasn’t me he left,” Nikki said.
“Really? When’s the last time he even phoned
you?” Her mother walked off with that
parting shot.
“Like you’d know, bitch.” Nikki said it under her breath, but not under
enough.
“Who do you think you’re talking
to?” Mom stormed back into the room, got
right up in Nikki’s face, breath boozy.
“You’re grounded for the next three days, kiddo. Give me your car keys, right now.”
“Maa!” Nikki protested. “How will I get to school?”
Her mother held out her hand for
the keys. “Get up an hour early and I’ll
drop you on the way to work.”
“No way!” Nikki fished the keys from her bag and
dropped them into her mother’s open palm.
“Then walk.” Her mom headed out of the room, turning back
for one last jab. “Or call your father.”
This time Nikki closed the bedroom
door before cursing her out. Walking to
school sucked, and tomorrow’s weather forecast called for cold. Call
your father. Very funny. Dad lived in Austin
now. But it gave her an idea.
Nikki picked up her phone to make
the call, rehearsing the pitch in her mind.
I’m so lonely, Mr. B. I’m taking care of my brother again because
my mom went out. And she forgot we were
supposed to take my car in for a new battery.
And I was wishing…I know I shouldn’t ask you…but if you met me and gave
me a ride to school tomorrow, I’d get to see you. You wouldn’t have to take me right to school,
just drop me nearby.
She’d sell it to him.
And after that, she’d see about getting even with her mother and
brother. Maybe steal Brandon’s
Game Boy batteries and hide them. And
see how much
distilled white vinegar she could add to Mom’s vodka bottle
before the bitch actually
noticed. Nobody, but nobody, got to score the winning
point against Nikki Jordan.
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