What I found lacking in this book was Eva and Franklin's role as parents. Kevin was obviously different, an unengaging, not responsive, emotionally distrubed child yet neither parent seemed to feel therapy was an option or should be something they should check into? I think Kevin was born bad and therapy would be useless but it still, especially today, been a logical step for a parent to take with a child who is not quite right and it is not as if money was an issue for this family. But Eva's biggest failure is in being Celia's parent. She knew Kevin was guilty of harming her in such a terrible fashion yet what does she do to protect Celia in the future? She stays and puts her child in further danger. For that crime, and it is a crime, she should bear the guilt.