My review
rating: 4 of 5 starsI was surprised by how much I liked this book. I am still thinking about it. The cover made it look like it was going to be fluffy, but it was poignant and well-written.
I tend to like books about smart, under-appreciated poor kids from dysfunctional families (Matilda, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, anyone?). It's a coming of age book, set in the 80's, and I related to the main character. For me, it was a realistic portrait of adolescence. I loved her religious phase and her holier-than-thou attitude toward the people around her who make bad choices, the tense mother-daughter relationship, the mom who is problematic but loving, her stunning but less-than-bright best friend, her unrequited crush, her frenemies, and how she manages to separate herself from the mess around her, yet comes to terms with.
The school dynamic and the religious pulse in her community were true-to-life. I liked that the story is set in Kansas, which on map looks like "The Center of Everything" rather than the middle of nowhere.
I recognized the cover from a review I read years ago in O magazine (which usually has good recommendations) and am really happy that I noticed it on the honor-back shelf at my local library.
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1 comment:
Isn't it interesting how a review from years ago somehow stuck with you, having you pick up the book now? Nice review, enjoyed browsing here!
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