Paradox Lost by Marianne Sinclair

Anabel, the heroine of this novel, is at the precarious age when most of us shed our childhood illusions about life and people. Yet, when Anabel, is thrust by chance into a world of corruption, her innocence thwarts the men and women who exploit her. Although they succeed in using and hurting her, they fail in their primary aim: to make her as corrupt as they are themselves. There is nothing sentimental about Anabel's innocence, as she is totally unaware of possessing this quality. When Anabel leaves their world, she is exactly the same as when she entered it. The theme of this novel, then, is that only remembered experience counts. For those who do not understand the consequences of their actions, there are no consequences.