Jane is a victim of human trafficking. Held captive at a remote farm for seven years she dreams of escaping but knows that doing so will put her sister's life at risk.
Will Dean has written a disturbing tale in The Last Thing To Burn. We see the power and control one human can have over another but alongside this there is a glimmer of hope as we learn of the strength a person has to survive.
This intense and horrific story shows how “Jane” is stripped of her identity. As punishment for anything her captor decides is wrong she has to sacrifice one of her few possessions, items which will be burnt in front of her. This degradation, along with the constant blackmail that her sister could be deported, constantly chip away at her identity. In the end “Jane” simply becomes a possession herself.
When Jane becomes pregnant her will to survive is renewed. The tenacity and protectiveness of a mother are clearly shown through the fact that Jane is willing to do anything to shield her child. It is easy for us to assume we'd do things differently but author Will Dean has shown a person who has been ground down, beaten in to submission and controlled emotionally every single day for seven years. After this length of time the human spirit would be crushed and existence the only option left.
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