
Sonya Hartnett's "Surrender" is a profound and dark psychological novel narrated by Gabriel, a twenty-year-old on his deathbed. He looks back at a childhood marred by neglect, physical abuse, and a terrible secret: he accidentally caused the death of his disabled older brother, Vernon, when he was seven. His only companion was Finnigan, a wild boy who acted as Gabriel's alter-ego, carrying out his suppressed anger and desires for revenge. The story delves into the escalating danger of Finnigan's actions, culminating in a series of arson attacks, and Gabriel's ultimate, tragic decision to stop him. This book is suitable for mature young adult readers, exploring themes of guilt, identity, family dysfunction, and the internal struggle between good and evil.
As he is dying, a 20-year-old man known as Gabriel recounts his troubled childhood and his strange relationship with a dangerous counterpart named Finnigan