50 Words for Rain is a compelling read, and an honest attempt at using beautifully constructed language to portray a horrendous story of the complete soul-destruction of an innocent child-then-adult. Many reviews praise its surprise ending; I found it sickening because in the world of abused children the perpetrator often does retain the power to destroy their victim who sometimes does continue the hateful family cycle. This bleak book involves the reader entirely from first to last page but it's only fair to warn potential readers of its omnipresent pessimistic power.