Althea's Second Picture Book

There is no book titled "Althea's Second Picture Book" by Althea. The search results provide information about a novel titled "Althea and Oliver" by Cristina Moracho, which is a young adult novel dealing with themes of friendship, memory loss, and complex relationships.

Key Themes

1. Friendship: The novel explores the deep and complex friendship between Althea Carter and Oliver McKinley, who have been best friends since they were six years old.
2. Memory Loss: Oliver suffers from a condition where he falls asleep for extended periods, during which he loses memory of what happened. This condition significantly impacts his relationship with Althea.
3. Sexual Assault: A pivotal plot point involves Althea and Oliver having sex during one of Oliver's episodes, which he does not remember. This incident is described as a form of rape and has significant emotional repercussions for both characters.

Plot Summary

The story revolves around Althea and Oliver as they navigate their junior year of high school. Althea begins to develop romantic feelings for Oliver, while he is more focused on maintaining their friendship. However, when Oliver wakes up with no memory of the past three weeks, their relationship is severely tested. Althea makes a decision that shatters their bond, leading Oliver to leave for a clinical study in New York. Althea follows him, determined to make amends for her actions.

Critical Reception

Critics have noted the believability of the characters' growth and the choices they make, which drive the narrative forward. However, there has been some criticism regarding the handling of the rape scene and its aftermath. Some reviewers felt that the incident was not adequately addressed, particularly in terms of Oliver's processing and the lack of explicit conversation between the characters about the event.

In summary, "Althea and Oliver" by Cristina Moracho is a novel that explores themes of friendship, memory loss, and the complex emotional aftermath of a traumatic event. While it has received praise for its character development, it has also faced criticism for its handling of sensitive topics.