Cindy M. (cindymcc) reviewed on 10/28/2009 + 44 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Recently both my book clubs read Pulitzer-prize-winning fiction, generally given for fiction depicting American life. One member asked "where's the joy?" Both of those selections reminded me of a quote - either Emerson or Thoreau - about the "mass of men leading lives of quiet desperation."

In contrast, this book, set in 1959, eloquently depicts life as seen through the eyes of a 10-year-old child. With the death of her father in a car accident, the remarriage of her mother to a drunker lout, the hospitalization of her mother, and the murder of two children, you would think the story would be another grim tale guaranteed to depress the reader. Instead, the story abounds with colorful characters and a sense of hope. The children find joy in their neighbors, in summer celebrations, and each other. It's not a perfect novel, but it's a book that leaves the reader with the sense that life is indeed good and to be enjoyed. I'd recommend this book.

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