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goodem9199's review
4.0
Wow...this was a whopper. I looked forward to picking it up again each time I had to put it down, as the writing was right up my alley. Some disturbing material, that, as a mother, made me cringe...especially because children are really going through these kinds of lives every day in the real world. I'm hoping Jayne is at work on her next novel, because her writing really sucks me in!
mschrock8's review
4.0
What a hard time for little Ellie. Makes me appreciate what I have in my loyal family.
Read this on Spring Break & left it behind at Bluegrass Christian Camp.
Read this on Spring Break & left it behind at Bluegrass Christian Camp.
tracyk22's review
4.0
I loved the writing in this novel. The voice was authentic and all the characters came to life for me, especially Ellie who I wanted to rescue and her mother who I wanted to bring to the doctor and get her some medication! And I just wanted to shake Rupert by the shoulders and ask him "What are you thinking?". I liked that the author tackled tough subjects that were not to be spoken of during the time setting of the novel, like mental illness (bi-polar), adultery, incest, racism. I applaud her for covering the subject of stillbirth in such a unique and horrifying way. I could relate on a deeply personal level with the mother. Having this happen to you even if you're mentally stable can make you crazy, so I could see how this event was the ultimate catalyst to her final downward spiral.
I liked the metaphors and innuendos used in the novel. Like, when Mr. Morgan didn't want to smoke in Ellie's house, he said, "A woman can always tell when something in her house is amiss." Love that!
Other favorites: "But the words nobody said were like oily fingers staining everything.
"If I could have one wish at that moment it would be to see Tess disappear like a snowflake touching warm ground."
"When you love somebody, the words you need come as sure and easy as rain."
I went back and forth between feeling sorry for Rupert and Tess and despising them. They were dealt some bad luck, but were they really handling it the best they could? I could see how Tess just wanted to get out of her house, but when she packed that dress for Ellie's mother... That was just plain evil!
My only criticisms are that I would have liked to have seen more of Clara. And after a while I began thinking how much more can this poor girl take, but I don't necessarily think that the events were over the top.
I look forward to reading more of Jayne Pupek's novels in the future!
I liked the metaphors and innuendos used in the novel. Like, when Mr. Morgan didn't want to smoke in Ellie's house, he said, "A woman can always tell when something in her house is amiss." Love that!
Other favorites: "But the words nobody said were like oily fingers staining everything.
"If I could have one wish at that moment it would be to see Tess disappear like a snowflake touching warm ground."
"When you love somebody, the words you need come as sure and easy as rain."
I went back and forth between feeling sorry for Rupert and Tess and despising them. They were dealt some bad luck, but were they really handling it the best they could? I could see how Tess just wanted to get out of her house, but when she packed that dress for Ellie's mother... That was just plain evil!
My only criticisms are that I would have liked to have seen more of Clara. And after a while I began thinking how much more can this poor girl take, but I don't necessarily think that the events were over the top.
I look forward to reading more of Jayne Pupek's novels in the future!
bakersmom's review
5.0
I've had this book for some time before I finally read it. Once I began to look inside Ellie's life I didn't want to stop. It's one of those books you find yourself thinking about even when you aren't reading it. This is a story that will stay with me for some time.
emilyisreading2024's review
5.0
I loved the beginning, grew a bit tired in the middle, and liked the ending. The narrator, Ellie, is a sweet girl and mature for her age.
ardaigle's review
4.0
A solidly written heartbreaking tale of a child who must deal with the consequences of her parents' actions and mental illness. I wanted to read this book very quickly only because it hurt my heart to see someone in such pain. It draws attention to the plight of those that can't speak up for themselves and are trapped in horrible situations, with seemingly no where to turn. The book does provide hope which is comforting but it makes you wonder if things would turn out so neatly in real life. The answer that I have come up with is probably not, and this leaves me feeling sad.
sjj169's review
4.0
I really cared about Ellie (the child in this book) She had so much to deal with and she still was a good kid. She handled mental illness, her dad cheating in the same house as her mom and death of a beloved pet with grace. Good southern book.
sonia_reppe's review
5.0
This book is beautifully written, even though a lot of ugly things happen. It was heart-wrenching. The main character, Ellie, was so sweet and strong, my heart broke for her. Told from her ten year-old point of view, the book convincingly shows how fiercely she loved her parents. I felt her panic and sorrow at the demise of her parent's relationship and the downward spiral of events. Not only was the prose good, the plot was gripping and I had to stay up late to finish the book. I felt like this book almost gave me a fever I was so wrapped in Ellie's nightmarish life. Her mom is severly crazy, yet Ellie tenderly cares for her and loves her. The scene when the dad leaves is so intense! I don't know how much this would affect readers who are children of divorce, it might be too depressing for them.
I love tomatos and I love books about girls, and I love this book.
I love tomatos and I love books about girls, and I love this book.
mick's review
5.0
This book was super dark and sad, but had a strong voice, was intriguing, and left me bummed that it was over.