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missprint_'s review
5.0
The night Savannah brains her stepfather Jack with the frying pan is the night she decides to leave home for good. It doesn't matter that she has no money and her eight-year-old brother Henry to take care of. It doesn't even matter that her stepfather will probably follow them. Savannah can stand a few obstacles as well as she can a slap or two. What she can't stand is the idea of becoming like her mother Alice.
Alice used to be someone Savannah admired, someone she could look up to. But that was another life when Alice was still looking for her own future and finding nothing she expected.
Savannah's life wasn't always about listening before entering a room and not making eye contact or talking back. Her childhood homes could fill a road atlas. Savannah and Alice traveled all across the country before the fateful day their car broke down and the party stopped for good.
Savannah and Henry are journeying to a house they've never seen. Eighteen years ago certain events conspired to drive Alice to leave that same house for good; events that would eventually determine the course of both Alice and Savannah's lives in Stealing Henry (2005) by Carolyn MacCullough.
Stealing Henry draws readers in right from the beginning with a shocking opening line and a truly evocative cover (designed by Rodrigo Corral--the mastermind behind the US covers for the Uglies series). Nothing about Savannah's life is easy and it's simple to assume reading about her won't be either. But the opposite is true. MacCullough's lyrical prose pulls readers in, quickly making Savannah and her unreal life completely believable.
Even passing scenes of the local emergency room, Alice's current place of employ, are skillfully written with a high degree of authenticity. Everything about this story is evocative and compelling.
I read Stealing Henry shortly after the van incident and a generally not peaceful time in my own life. Reading about Savannah and her own journey was somehow entirely appropriate for that situation and often comforting. Much like MacCullough's later novels, this story is always optimistic. Even at her lowest, Savannah remains hopeful; the writing itself becoming both peaceful and reassuring.
Possible Pairings: How to (un)Cage a Girl by Francesca Lia Block, The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley, The Bride's Farewell by Meg Rosoff, Little Voice by Sara Bareilles (music album)
Alice used to be someone Savannah admired, someone she could look up to. But that was another life when Alice was still looking for her own future and finding nothing she expected.
Savannah's life wasn't always about listening before entering a room and not making eye contact or talking back. Her childhood homes could fill a road atlas. Savannah and Alice traveled all across the country before the fateful day their car broke down and the party stopped for good.
Savannah and Henry are journeying to a house they've never seen. Eighteen years ago certain events conspired to drive Alice to leave that same house for good; events that would eventually determine the course of both Alice and Savannah's lives in Stealing Henry (2005) by Carolyn MacCullough.
Stealing Henry draws readers in right from the beginning with a shocking opening line and a truly evocative cover (designed by Rodrigo Corral--the mastermind behind the US covers for the Uglies series). Nothing about Savannah's life is easy and it's simple to assume reading about her won't be either. But the opposite is true. MacCullough's lyrical prose pulls readers in, quickly making Savannah and her unreal life completely believable.
Even passing scenes of the local emergency room, Alice's current place of employ, are skillfully written with a high degree of authenticity. Everything about this story is evocative and compelling.
I read Stealing Henry shortly after the van incident and a generally not peaceful time in my own life. Reading about Savannah and her own journey was somehow entirely appropriate for that situation and often comforting. Much like MacCullough's later novels, this story is always optimistic. Even at her lowest, Savannah remains hopeful; the writing itself becoming both peaceful and reassuring.
Possible Pairings: How to (un)Cage a Girl by Francesca Lia Block, The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley, The Bride's Farewell by Meg Rosoff, Little Voice by Sara Bareilles (music album)
leesuh's review
5.0
I loved Stealing Henry. I’ll admit I wasn’t completely pulled in by the synopsis on the jacket. The story sort of seemed like a snoozefest and the book is rather short (just 200 pages), so I figured it would flop--and though the cover is pretty, I was absolutely judging it. Honestly, they tell you not to judge a book by its cover for a reason. Shout out to Rodrigo Corral, by the way. Woop woop!
The book description absolutely does not live up to the book itself. The book is short and fast paced but still wonderfully thorough. Savannah’s story is chock full of hard decisions, fear, hope, and the prospect of the future. Savannah is her brother’s hero though it was never stated plainly.
Savannah was a strong character, but she was also very vulnerable. I loved that Carolyn MacCullough didn’t shadow the vulnerability of Savannah’s character but also didn’t make it loud and obnoxious. We glimpsed her insecurities in the way she had trouble sleeping or habitually looked over her shoulder, surveying her surroundings. It was all very subtle and easy to pick up on without any effort. Oh, and Henry… Henry is a soft-spoken 8-year-old who will absolutely break your heart with the want to give him the world.
In addition to Savannah and Henry’s story, their mom, Alice’s, story from her teenage years is explained occasionally throughout the book. The glimpses into the past give us just enough information to understand why Alice is the way she is and what caused her to make the choices she has. Honestly I would have loved to hear more about Alice’s story. I feel like there were several things that needed to be fleshed out more. Perhaps I just liked the characters on that side of things, who knows? I really wish we could have gotten to know Noah more, because from the little bits we saw of him I started to love his character.
All in all I’m completely in love with Stealing Henry. Everything in this novel is so subtle. I found myself feeling embarrassingly emotional without really knowing why. I feel like the story and MacCullough’s writing were amazing at making me feel. This story will make your heart squeeze, and throb, and occasionally break… and it’s worth every minute.
P.S. Do you think the library will mind if they don’t see this book again? No reason. I was just… wondering, you know? *shifty eyes*
The book description absolutely does not live up to the book itself. The book is short and fast paced but still wonderfully thorough. Savannah’s story is chock full of hard decisions, fear, hope, and the prospect of the future. Savannah is her brother’s hero though it was never stated plainly.
Savannah was a strong character, but she was also very vulnerable. I loved that Carolyn MacCullough didn’t shadow the vulnerability of Savannah’s character but also didn’t make it loud and obnoxious. We glimpsed her insecurities in the way she had trouble sleeping or habitually looked over her shoulder, surveying her surroundings. It was all very subtle and easy to pick up on without any effort. Oh, and Henry… Henry is a soft-spoken 8-year-old who will absolutely break your heart with the want to give him the world.
In addition to Savannah and Henry’s story, their mom, Alice’s, story from her teenage years is explained occasionally throughout the book. The glimpses into the past give us just enough information to understand why Alice is the way she is and what caused her to make the choices she has. Honestly I would have loved to hear more about Alice’s story. I feel like there were several things that needed to be fleshed out more. Perhaps I just liked the characters on that side of things, who knows? I really wish we could have gotten to know Noah more, because from the little bits we saw of him I started to love his character.
All in all I’m completely in love with Stealing Henry. Everything in this novel is so subtle. I found myself feeling embarrassingly emotional without really knowing why. I feel like the story and MacCullough’s writing were amazing at making me feel. This story will make your heart squeeze, and throb, and occasionally break… and it’s worth every minute.
P.S. Do you think the library will mind if they don’t see this book again? No reason. I was just… wondering, you know? *shifty eyes*
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