The Girl from Charnelle by K. L. Cook grabbed my attention from beginning to end. The novel begins in the Panhandle town of Charnelle, Texas, 1958. We read the story from Laura Tate’s perspective.

Laura was only 14 when her mother left the family and Laura was thrust into the role of “woman of the house,” cooking, keeping house and caring for her three brothers while her father struggled with the reality of being a single parent.

A couple of years later, at a 1960 New Year’s Eve community party, John Letiz, a married man twice Laura’s age, makes a pass at her. She’s flattered, but shocked. For one thing, John Letiz is a friend and work colleague of her father’s. For another, Laura babysits for the Letizes’ two little boys. But John is an attractive man and, it seems, persistent.

Laura and John embark on an affair. John warns her that no one, absolutely no one, should know. It’s dangerous. He could go to jail. Although she’s thrilled when he picks her up at their out-of-the way meeting place, she finds it demeaning when she has to crouch down on the floor of the front seat so they are not seen together. Charnelle is a small town. People know one another and they talk. The two meet on a scheduled basis and Laura feels their love becoming more intense. She dreams of having John all to herself, of not having to hide their love. She becomes weary of sneaking around. Her girlfriends talk about their dates and she yearns to tell them about John. In the meantime, she accepts baby-sitting jobs with the Letizes and plays her various roles simultaneously as daughter, sister, baby sitter, student, and lover.

But as we know, these encounters do not end well.

The Girl from Charnelle is an amazing read with realistic thoughts, actions and encounters. Later, I was surprised to learn that the author, K. L. Cook, is a man. His insight to a young girl’s thoughts and emotions is impressive. This novel kept me alternately filled with dread and spellbound, page after page. I highly recommend this book not only for adults, but to teens who might benefit from understanding the reality and far-reaching consequences of illicit affairs.