Helpful Score: 16
Ellie wants to be a good girl- for God, for Daddy, and most especially for Mama, because Mama's "moods" terrify her. Told from the 11 year olds perceptions, I was astounded at how Pupek simply uses what Ellie sees and feels to let us, the readers, infer the situations, the horrors, and unimaginable secrets Ellie has to face, often alone, in this wonderful, sometimes painful, story.
This is a story of betrayal. This is a story of how families and individuals pretend life is grand to the outside world, wearing their fake smiles, while in reality life is crumbling. This is the story of the kindness of strangers. But mostly, this is a story about coping. And that's the hardest story of all. Brilliant.
Many times reviewers will comment "this writer's style is reminiscent of...," but I'm not going to do this with Pupek, and although I do see influences, her style is her very own.
This is a story of betrayal. This is a story of how families and individuals pretend life is grand to the outside world, wearing their fake smiles, while in reality life is crumbling. This is the story of the kindness of strangers. But mostly, this is a story about coping. And that's the hardest story of all. Brilliant.
Many times reviewers will comment "this writer's style is reminiscent of...," but I'm not going to do this with Pupek, and although I do see influences, her style is her very own.
Helpful Score: 13
there is one word to describe this book AWESOME i was sucked in on the first sentence. The things Ellie went thru at the time you read it - you feel like you are right there with her - this i would give a 10 star rating ! its a keeper :)
I read this book in 2 evenings :) its one that you will not be able to put down !
I read this book in 2 evenings :) its one that you will not be able to put down !
Helpful Score: 9
This is a very well-written book, I almost stopped reading it because it was so sad, but then started reading it and read it all in one morning (minus the 50 pages I started earlier the night before) I think it need to be read in one setting because if you think too much on it it is very depressing. Although it is fiction if you have ever been involved in social services, know of a family that suffers from adultery and/or mental illness or know a child that was forced to grow up too fast this book is disturbing. If you have never been touched by that then you are blessed, but be aware what is written about as fiction exists daily in lives around us. Beware if you think too much on this it can have a powerful effect. It is a quick read, but not what I would consider a light read.
Helpful Score: 7
This is the story of Ellie, a young 11 year old girl struggling to deal with her father's desertion and her mother's insanity. She's one of the most engaging characters I've read in a long time - so real and believable. There are many heartbreaking episodes in the book, and the author writes them with such feeling that you can't help but be completely drawn in.
I loved this book so much - and it was oddly just a whim that made me pick it up off the library's new book shelf! Thank goodness I did :) I give this one all five stars :)
I loved this book so much - and it was oddly just a whim that made me pick it up off the library's new book shelf! Thank goodness I did :) I give this one all five stars :)
Helpful Score: 4
Tomato Girl deals with difficult subject matter - mental illness, abuse, racial issues and criminal activity - but Pupek weaves a beautifully written story. The characters are so real you quickly become absorbed with their world and their story.
Written from the point of view of 11 year old Ellie Sanders, you instantly fall in love with the heart-wrenching tale of this poor little girl. You feel her pain, as well as her hopes and dreams.
Ellie Sanders tells her story through the innocence and hope of a young girl on the brink of puberty, growing up in the rural south of the early 1960's. Each character is introduced through her young and unprejudiced eyes. Pupek reveals each character through the unflinching powers of observation of a young girl, who sees but does not always fully understand the significance of her observations, you feel her growing unease; her sense that events set in place by the adults in her life has the potential to unravel her fragile world. On a psychological level the book examines the dynamics of mental illness on family, the unquestioning love of a child for a parent; a child's ability to adapt to the environment in which they were raised and to interpret it as "normal", and how often it is us "the adults" that fail the child.
This is one of those books that breaks your heart, but you can't quit reading.
Written from the point of view of 11 year old Ellie Sanders, you instantly fall in love with the heart-wrenching tale of this poor little girl. You feel her pain, as well as her hopes and dreams.
Ellie Sanders tells her story through the innocence and hope of a young girl on the brink of puberty, growing up in the rural south of the early 1960's. Each character is introduced through her young and unprejudiced eyes. Pupek reveals each character through the unflinching powers of observation of a young girl, who sees but does not always fully understand the significance of her observations, you feel her growing unease; her sense that events set in place by the adults in her life has the potential to unravel her fragile world. On a psychological level the book examines the dynamics of mental illness on family, the unquestioning love of a child for a parent; a child's ability to adapt to the environment in which they were raised and to interpret it as "normal", and how often it is us "the adults" that fail the child.
This is one of those books that breaks your heart, but you can't quit reading.
Helpful Score: 3
Stunning. Ms. Pupek's debut novel is one of the most beautiful books I have ever "read". I listened to this on audio CD and was riveted. Julia Gibson's reading is perfect. Ellie Sanders's story is heart wrenchingly sad. I was driving home, and as I neared the end of the last CD, I had to pull over. I ached for Ellie, her poor, sad mother, and even Tess. I was sorry to come to the end of Ellie's story and can't wait for Ms. Pupek's next book. This book will stay with me for a long, long time. Ms. Pupek is a wonderful writer.
Helpful Score: 1
Ok, the description of this book said "If you liked THE GLASS CASTLE you will love this book. WHOA wait one minute. I loved the glass castle!!! And as disfunctional as it was, TOMATO GIRL is just plain BIZZARE!!! Yet i couldnt put the darn thing down!!! This is a very easy read and I finished it in know time. Let me put it this way, I sometimes trade books with my grandmother, there is no way in HELL i would let her read this book.
Helpful Score: 1
What a book! It deals with very difficult subject matter (mental illness, adultry, etc.) and is not for everyone. The young girl, Ellie, is forced to deal with so much at such a young age.
She just wants to be loved and wants to go back to happier times. Her mother is struggling with mental illness, her father can't cope any longer. I wasn't sure when I started to read this if I could finish but I am glad I finished. But no happy endings here.
She just wants to be loved and wants to go back to happier times. Her mother is struggling with mental illness, her father can't cope any longer. I wasn't sure when I started to read this if I could finish but I am glad I finished. But no happy endings here.
I was very interested in the idea of this book and found the characters interesting to begin with. The author writes in a way that keeps you reading and wanting to know what will happen next. But overall I was very unhappy with this book, I know not all books are feel good, happy ending books, but this book was downright depressing. Any books that makes you feel plain awful at the end is not something I want to read. Some of the characters changed so much throughout the course of the book it was hard to believe they were the same people, just a bit unbelievable and far fetched for me.
It is 1969 and Ellie Sanders has way more than her share of grief. Her father who she adores is distant and preoccupied with the young girl who delivers tomatoes to the hardware store where he works. Ellie is an only child and her mother has some very serious psychiatric problems, in addition to being pregnant. Author Jayne Pupek smartly weaves together the story of this family with all of their problems, slowly ratcheting up the tension page by page until the reader reaches the point where putting this book down becomes impossible. The story is told entirely from the lens of 11 year old Ellie. This is a relatively short book, coming in just under 300 pages but is one of those stories that will stick to you long after the last page has been turned. I really did not want this book to end, which to me is a testament to how well Pupek tells her story.
Well written book about a very disturbing subject. Deals with mental issues, bullying and racial issues.
Over the years, I have sought books published by Algonuqin since I believed they set a high standard for fiction. This novel was a disappointment. The situation was increasingly difficult to believe, and the characters were very plastic. I finished it because I thought that surely the Algonquin editor would make it all come together in some remarkable conclusion, which never happened.
