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karen_pug's review against another edition
5.0
Fell in love with these characters, such a beautiful story.
peaknit's review against another edition
5.0
I truly enjoyed listening to this book, the narrator was a perfect match. I nearly fried several times and laughed out loud countless more.
kristinkslp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
klsbenzel's review
challenging
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
suvata's review against another edition
5.0
Whistling Past The Graveyard is a tender coming-of-age story about a Starla, a nine-year-old girl, who runs away from her strict grandmother’s Mississippi home in 1963, befriends a lonely woman suffering loss and abuse, and embarks on a life-changing road trip. Starla’s destination is Nashville, where her mother went to become a famous singer, abandoning Starla when she was three. Walking a lonely country road, Starla accepts a ride from Eula, a black woman traveling alone with a white baby — a road trip that will change her life forever.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
3.5***
Starla is a nine-year-old spitfire. Her Momma, left to become a famous singer when Starla was just three years old and her Daddy works on an oil rig out in the Gulf of Mexico, so Starla lives with her strict grandmother, Mamie. After being put on restriction yet again, Starla decides she’s going to go to Nashville and find her Momma. Then her Daddy can come live with them there and they’ll be a family. On the outskirts of town, she accepts a ride from Eula, a black woman driving a dilapidated pick-up truck. But Eula also has a white baby in the truck, and things get complicated quickly.
Set in 1963 Mississippi, this coming-of-age novel also treats some serious subjects – domestic abuse, alcohol abuse, racism, and child abuse. Starla is a compelling narrator, even if her understanding of issues isn’t always complete. There were several times when I was truly frightened for her, given her penchant for leaping into the fray without thinking of consequences. But this same tendency also endeared her to me; she was so brave and righteous about “what’s fair.” She was also incredibly resourceful, and fairly quick with a story (though most of the adults saw through these prevarications rather quickly).
It was a very fast read, and I was interested from beginning to end.
Starla is a nine-year-old spitfire. Her Momma, left to become a famous singer when Starla was just three years old and her Daddy works on an oil rig out in the Gulf of Mexico, so Starla lives with her strict grandmother, Mamie. After being put on restriction yet again, Starla decides she’s going to go to Nashville and find her Momma. Then her Daddy can come live with them there and they’ll be a family. On the outskirts of town, she accepts a ride from Eula, a black woman driving a dilapidated pick-up truck. But Eula also has a white baby in the truck, and things get complicated quickly.
Set in 1963 Mississippi, this coming-of-age novel also treats some serious subjects – domestic abuse, alcohol abuse, racism, and child abuse. Starla is a compelling narrator, even if her understanding of issues isn’t always complete. There were several times when I was truly frightened for her, given her penchant for leaping into the fray without thinking of consequences. But this same tendency also endeared her to me; she was so brave and righteous about “what’s fair.” She was also incredibly resourceful, and fairly quick with a story (though most of the adults saw through these prevarications rather quickly).
It was a very fast read, and I was interested from beginning to end.
tracyfeye's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
alidottie's review against another edition
4.0
4 and a half stars
Loved this book! It is along the lines of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. The narrator is a 9 yr old girl and really this reads like an excellent Juvenile Fiction, except for one bad guy who uses a slang swear about three times.
It is set in 1963 Mississippi, so you can guess this is the height of the Civil Rights movement. This book views that from a little different angle.
I'll be happily reviewing it Monday for my assisted living group.
Loved this book! It is along the lines of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. The narrator is a 9 yr old girl and really this reads like an excellent Juvenile Fiction, except for one bad guy who uses a slang swear about three times.
It is set in 1963 Mississippi, so you can guess this is the height of the Civil Rights movement. This book views that from a little different angle.
I'll be happily reviewing it Monday for my assisted living group.