The Fortress of Us by Diane Hester follows the lives of Kelsey, Molly, and Shannon. Kelsey is haunted by the memory of her mother’s death and has grown distant from her father, Ryan. Ryan and Kelsey move to a new home, hoping for a fresh start. Kelsey befriends Molly, who had seen her mother being murdered. Kelsey wants to protect Molly and secretly hides her during the move. Kelsey hides Molly in the tree house at the back of the new home, fearing Ryan will send Molly away. Meanwhile, Shannon is struggling with her own grief after losing her sister, Fiona, in a nightclub explosion. Severely injured, Shannon returns to Port Lincoln following rehabilitation. When Kelsey and Molly are caught trespassing on Shannon’s property, Ryan insists that Kelsey apologize, setting in motion a connection between their lives.

The Fortress of Us by Diane Hester was intriguing and complex. The pace was steady, allowing me to fully absorb each event. The characters were realistic, and Molly, who did not talk, adds mystery to the story. I had a hard time putting the book down and was turning the pages as fast as I could. I wanted to know what would happen to Kelsey and Molly when Molly was discovered. The plot was more about Kelsey and Molly, but Shannon had a great impact on their lives. The book was beautifully written and held my attention throughout. The ending was fitting after everything that had happened to the characters. I enjoyed reading this book.

In The Fortress of Us by Diane Hester, after her mother’s death, eight-year-old Kelsey withdraws even deeper into herself. In school, she is already labeled “special needs”. Ryan, Kelsey’s father, decides to move from their house in Adelaide, the scene of the recent tragedy, to a place in the country. There’s a treehouse, woods, nearby farms with horses - in short, everything a small girl needs for a happy childhood. But Kelsey has a secret - she has brought along her friend as a stowaway. Molly is even younger, neglected by her mother, and terrified of her mother’s violent boyfriend. Kelsey sets up a hiding place for her in the treehouse and struggles to care for her single-handedly. Their new neighbor, Shannon, is recovering from traumas of her own. This little group, tangled in misunderstandings, moves slowly toward healing. But a dangerous stalker has them in his sights. 

The Fortress of Us is a thriller with an unusual heroine. Diane Hester has built a compelling story around an unresolved incident from her own childhood, when she met and was unable to help an unhappy waif. She also draws on her own experience to ground the character of the neurodivergent heroine, subtly showing that what is classified and stigmatized as ADHD and dyslexia comes with gifts of empathy, love for animals, insight, and the ability to think and act outside the box. I found the exploration of the father-daughter bond, the love as well as the conflicts, deeply moving. The setting in the Australian seaside town of Port Lincoln adds special interest. Highly recommended.