Reviews

My Abandonment by Peter Rock

jess_mango's review

3.0

3.5 out of 5 stars.

I enjoyed the first part of this novel much more than the final chapters. It was going to be a solid 4 star rating until I hit the last 2 chapters.

egzotermine's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

angelamichelle's review

4.0

Kind of a cross between Emma Donoghue's Room and the movie Hanna.

haleyscomet13's review

DNF

quigonchuy's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

This is the book they based the film "Leave No Trace" on. It's told from the point of view of the 13 year old girl, which is an interesting choice because it obscures some of what is actually going on because she's too young to understand the totality of some of the events happening around her. She lives with her father in Forest Park in Portland Oregon and has done so for 3 years. I enjoyed it. The movie changes some things, as usual, but mostly keeps the vibe of the book. 

debs4jc's review

4.0

This book is enthralling in the way that you can't look away when you witness a horrible accident. From the beginning you wonder just what is going on, as you follow the exploits of Caroline, a 13 year old girl who lives with "Father" in Forest Park, a huge nature preserve in Oregon. They live "off the grid"--they have a hidden camp and spend their days making sure very few people notice them. So while Caroline excels in wilderness survival skills her knowledge of certain things is limited to what she has learned from her encyclopedias and her lack of human relationships beyond her bond with her Father made me ache for her. One day a runner accidentally discovers their camp and Caroline and her Father are taken in by the authorities. What happens next is a story full of ups and downs where the reader is rooting for Caroline to survive and find a place where she can be herself yet feel at home with other people.
This book sparked quite a lively debate at our discussion group as the readers had strong emotional reactions to the events of Caroline's life. It's also intriguing that this novel was inspired by a true story of an actual father/daughter pair that were discovered living in Forest Park. They disappeared after shortly after they were resettled, leaving behind a real life mystery. The ending of this book also leaves some unanswered questions, which also makes it a great book for discussion since the readers can all share their opinions on what they think "really" happened. Peter Rock definitely has a wonderful imagination and I'd recommend this to anyone looking for something just a little different and thought provoking.

kaiad's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I really enjoyed the child narration and the complexity it brings to the characters’ situation but it also felt uneven at times and the ending left me absolutely stumped. What happens in the snow (IYKYK) baffled me and I’m still confused as to what happened. The fate of the main character felt unrealistic and rushed, and maybe that was the point, but having an unreliable narrator didn’t work as well for the end as the beginning for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, and Kidnapping

abbeyrode's review

4.0

Very unique story! It was a quick and easy read. Some of the thoughts were choppy and confusing but overall very enjoyable.

ris_stitches's review

5.0

Wow. Thank you Erica for the suggestion. Amazing writing. I listened on cd, I actually might pick up the book because I think some books are truly better read, and I think this is one of them.

jgibowski's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5