THE WAY WE BECOME

Following the trial of their rapist in The Way I Am Now (2023), Eden, Gennifer, and Amanda face the debilitating fear and anxiety that come in the wake of Kevin’s sentencing to a mere 180 days in prison. Their lives reflect the forces that shaped each of them. Amanda, a senior in high school whose father has sided with her brother, Kevin, grapples with her mental health and wonders whether taking her own life is safer than waiting for him to be released. College student Eden found the love of her life in Josh, but she’s unable to take the next step and move in with him, wondering if her fear and anxiety will always haunt them. And Gen, Kevin’s ex-girlfriend, has dropped out of college and is unable to feel safe except when she’s with her rescue dog. The three young women, who present white, share the narration. Smith describes their complex triggers, reactions, and coping mechanisms in ways that feel brutally realistic. The story offers a deep dive into the intricacies of survival, along with an examination of the injustice that often follows when the rapist is a member of the community and victims are pitted against perpetrators and public opinion.