Such a Pretty Girl

In the magnetic latest from Greenwood (Keeping Lucy), a former child actor faces her childhood traumas after a photo of her is found in the collection of an alleged pedophile. Ryan Flannigan is preparing to celebrate her daughter Sasha’s 18th birthday in Vermont when her childhood friend Gilly texts her about a New York Times article. Ryan learns that a photo of her at 11, by artist and family friend Henri Dubois, was found among the possessions of Zev Brenner, who has been accused of underage sex trafficking. The discovery leads Ryan to reflect on her estranged mother, Fiona, who gave Brenner the photo and who was widely seen as a “stage mother” during precocious Ryan’s film career. When Fiona asks Ryan to protect her from media scrutiny by putting her up in Vermont, Ryan is conflicted, knowing that Fiona’s neglect exposed Ryan to the risk of sexual abuse. She also wonders if Fiona was involved with Brenner’s alleged crimes. In Ryan’s introspective narration, she explores her mother’s betrayal and quest for self-gratification, and her determination to offer her own daughter a different kind of life. This knotty story leaves readers reflecting on the limits of family obligations. Agent: David Forrer, InkWell Management. (Nov.)