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noella_t's review against another edition
3.0
I selected this book to read because the picture on the front reminded me of childhood evenings. To be honest, I didn’t even read the synopsis on the dust jacket flap.
The story starts out interesting enough, two children at Wal-Mart with their father’s girlfriend - the father long gone, the mother dead. The girlfriend dies at the checkout and now the kids are left on their own. Fearful that they will be sent to different foster homes, even though the oldest is only 15 with a learner’s permit, they take off in the girlfriend’s car to look for their dad.
After about three-four chapters I was close to giving up on this book. After all there are thousands of books out there waiting to be read, why waste time on one I’m not in love with. But I’m tenacious and by the time I got that far, I’d already read the front cover that said the book was by Billie Letts, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, so I thought I’d give it a chance.
About half-way through, I thought of putting it down again - the children's experiences were just a little out there and it was getting depressing. Then their “guardian angel” showed up.
Maybe someone else would enjoy this book more than I did. I found the girl’s attitude a little much and then the ending explanation just not quite enough.
The story starts out interesting enough, two children at Wal-Mart with their father’s girlfriend - the father long gone, the mother dead. The girlfriend dies at the checkout and now the kids are left on their own. Fearful that they will be sent to different foster homes, even though the oldest is only 15 with a learner’s permit, they take off in the girlfriend’s car to look for their dad.
After about three-four chapters I was close to giving up on this book. After all there are thousands of books out there waiting to be read, why waste time on one I’m not in love with. But I’m tenacious and by the time I got that far, I’d already read the front cover that said the book was by Billie Letts, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, so I thought I’d give it a chance.
About half-way through, I thought of putting it down again - the children's experiences were just a little out there and it was getting depressing. Then their “guardian angel” showed up.
Maybe someone else would enjoy this book more than I did. I found the girl’s attitude a little much and then the ending explanation just not quite enough.
hale7's review against another edition
1.0
I was attracted to this book by the image on the cover, frankly. I love coming-of-age novels and spunky teenage characters. Unfortunately, this book opened on a note of fatphobia and only went downhill from there. Characters were both intentionally and unintentionally unlikable, the narrator was unreliable without interest, and there’s nothing on the book jacket to warn readers who could become very triggered about child sex trafficking, -abuse, and grooming that occurs.
The ending is hasty, too good to be true, and has the poor pacing of the rest of the novel.
The ending is hasty, too good to be true, and has the poor pacing of the rest of the novel.
sharonsueg's review against another edition
3.0
A few passages during their time in Las Vegas are sexually explicit, sad, and may not appeal to some readers. Overall the book like Letts' others is very good.
mountainreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
susanp's review against another edition
1.0
One-dimensional characters, implausible plot. Letts is a best-selling author, but I found the "heroine" of this book to be unlikable.
banrions's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. It is about two kids, a fifteen year old girl names Lutie (a name that I'm not gonna lie, annoyed me a bit) and her eleven year old brother Fate (it was supposed to be Fale, the mother's maiden name, but the nurse accidentally put a t on the birth certificate). When you first meet the kids they are living with a 300lbs woman named Floy in North Dakota. Their mother died when Lutie was 6 and Fate, 3 and their father ran off and left them with his current girlfriend (Floy). Foly has a heart attack in the Walmart checking line and rather than get sent into foster care, the kids decide to take her car and go to Vegas to find their father. I don't want to give too much away, but they have a lot of problems, homelessness, creepy old men, etc. etc.
At first, I liked Lutie. She seemed brave, ready to take charge, determined and strong. But after a while I began to dislike her. I mean you find a laptop, go pawn it, get 200$ and rather than saving it, or finding food for your little brother, you go out and get a tattoo (of kissing lips on your neck, really fucking tacky) pierce your ears again, get a manicure, and highlights in your hair??? I wanted to pound her then. It goes on from there, and you find her actions becoming more and more selfish. She does have a lot of horrible shit happen to her, but in a way I was like seriously!! How could you NOT think that was going to happen??? However, when the conclusion of the book came about, and you find out this secret she has been keeping, I grew to understand her more, and she does in fact evolve into a better person.
I loved the little brother. Fate is a smart, optimistic, goofy kid. He is the little brother I wish I had. When Lutie was being mean to him, I just wanted to give the kid a hug.
This is a well written book, it holds your attention, the characters are well written and believable and its a good story about finding your place in the world and how families can sorta come together.
At first, I liked Lutie. She seemed brave, ready to take charge, determined and strong. But after a while I began to dislike her. I mean you find a laptop, go pawn it, get 200$ and rather than saving it, or finding food for your little brother, you go out and get a tattoo (of kissing lips on your neck, really fucking tacky) pierce your ears again, get a manicure, and highlights in your hair??? I wanted to pound her then. It goes on from there, and you find her actions becoming more and more selfish. She does have a lot of horrible shit happen to her, but in a way I was like seriously!! How could you NOT think that was going to happen??? However, when the conclusion of the book came about, and you find out this secret she has been keeping, I grew to understand her more, and she does in fact evolve into a better person.
I loved the little brother. Fate is a smart, optimistic, goofy kid. He is the little brother I wish I had. When Lutie was being mean to him, I just wanted to give the kid a hug.
This is a well written book, it holds your attention, the characters are well written and believable and its a good story about finding your place in the world and how families can sorta come together.
karenleagermain's review against another edition
1.0
I have read all of Billie Letts' novels and was excited to find a copy of her latest, "Made In The U.S.A." on sales at Barnes and Noble. If it hadn't been such a quick read, I probably would not have bothered. The story follows eleven year old Fate and his fifteen year old sister, Lutie, as they try to make a life for themselves and escape fostercare in the aftermath of their parent's death.
The story has way too many twists and turns. The plot moves forward and an unrealistic, too quick pace. The part of the story that takes place in Vegas, reads like an after school special. The kids seem to have either terrible things happen to them or great strokes of luck, that just come across as silly. Many of the plot points wrap up in such an easy way that it just doesn't ring true. The story feels trite and dishonest. However, I kept reading it, because much of the first half was salacious and kind of entertaining. I also love anything that has to do with a circus!
The story has way too many twists and turns. The plot moves forward and an unrealistic, too quick pace. The part of the story that takes place in Vegas, reads like an after school special. The kids seem to have either terrible things happen to them or great strokes of luck, that just come across as silly. Many of the plot points wrap up in such an easy way that it just doesn't ring true. The story feels trite and dishonest. However, I kept reading it, because much of the first half was salacious and kind of entertaining. I also love anything that has to do with a circus!
girlnxtdoor's review against another edition
4.0
It was a rough read only because of the truth in the writing. In the end I couldn't put it down. A very good storyline even through the rough patches. I'm not a fan of the scary sides of childhood but still a good book.
jenleah's review against another edition
3.0
This book's subject matter was far more heavy and dark than I expected. It was hard to read about the troubles encountered by Lutie and Fate, two kids who run away to Las Vegas with hopes of finding their father. I almost quit reading because it was so sad and disturbing, but am glad that I kept reading and found out what happened to them.
glitterbomb47's review against another edition
3.0
Two kids are left alone in South Dakota when their caretaker dies by the checkout line at Wal-Mart. No one brings white trash alive like Billie Letts! The kids decide to head to Las Vegas in pursuit of their deadbeat dad. This book offers a grim look at the fate of children left alone or abandoned in urban areas.
The first half of the book, set primarily in Las Vegas, is gritty and depressing. The second half, which finds the main characters in Oklahoma, is a Hallmark made-for-tv movie.
Letts has the odd habit of presenting a scene by just giving a long list of everything the character sees. It's very strange. At one point in the book, during a very climactic scene, she interrupts the action to include that the character's keys got buried under ... a list of everything in her purse. Not conducive to the flow or the interest level of the scene.
The first half of the book, set primarily in Las Vegas, is gritty and depressing. The second half, which finds the main characters in Oklahoma, is a Hallmark made-for-tv movie.
Letts has the odd habit of presenting a scene by just giving a long list of everything the character sees. It's very strange. At one point in the book, during a very climactic scene, she interrupts the action to include that the character's keys got buried under ... a list of everything in her purse. Not conducive to the flow or the interest level of the scene.