Beneath the Lake, Colleen Thompson

The Story Sisters  by Alice Hoffman
This book starts off a bit strange, as it introduces the reader to three sisters, Elisabeth, Meg, and Claire, who create an alternate city and language. It seems as though it is going to revolve around this; however, it quickly changes. The mood throughout the book is dark and sad. There is much turmoil for the sisters as well as death.
This novel , while entertaining, was difficult for some readers to get past the beginning. As the novel continued on, it gathered speed and interest for those who persevered in reading.
Ultimately, the story revolves around the eldest daughter, Elisabeth or Elv, and her life--actually how her life begins to crumble after she is abducted by a pedophile, and after she escapes. No one but her sister Claire knows about the abduction. The time frame of the abduction is less than a day, but it was enough to scar Elv for her entire life.
Following the abduction Elv begins acting out, which ultimately leads to her being shipped off to a 'rehabilitation' school, where she meets the brother of a student, Lorie. Once she is released from the school, she ends up killing her sister Meg in a car accident. This pushes Elv even further, and she disappears where she is living a drug-induced life. Her mother Ann ends up dying from cancer.
There are many situations for both Elv and Claire as they lead separate lives that do not connect again until the end of the novel, which does end on a happier note 

Meeting Attendance
Karla
Lori
Bernadette
Melissa
​Anne