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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.
chris10b's review against another edition
4.0
This was a quick, fairly easy read. Although there were some instances that were a bit unbelievable, I really enjoyed the story and the main characters.
erwink54's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
vpowellak's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the young hero in this story but the ploy ambled a little bit, making me impatient for the resolution. Overall, good read though.
catherineamerica's review against another edition
4.0
3.5. Good story but kind of getting tired of the “seeing Black struggles through the eyes of a white girl/woman” trope.
d52s's review against another edition
4.0
Reminded me of a combination of three books I've previously enjoyed - The Help, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Rush Road Home. A very engaging story of a young runaway and the people she meets along the way.
serennacai's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'Whistling Past the Graveyard' by Susan Crandall tells of a young girl's journey to reunite with her mom. I like the feel and the book tells a pretty good story.
Young Starla lives in Mississippi, which is a different place in 1963. She lives with her dad and her strict gramdmother. She dreams of the day she and her dad can reunite with her mother in Nashville. When she gets in trouble around the Fourth of July, she becomes afraid and runs away to find her mother. Along the way, she makes an unlikely friend in a black woman named Eula. Eula has a young white baby boy with her and quite a story to tell. The story unwinds in a segregated South where the two become more like family.
I loved the writing style and how Starla and Eula keep helping each other out. The book felt a little like an updated Huckleberry Finn to me in the nature of some of the adventure and the relationship. I mean that as praise, and I really enjoyed reading this one.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Gallery Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Young Starla lives in Mississippi, which is a different place in 1963. She lives with her dad and her strict gramdmother. She dreams of the day she and her dad can reunite with her mother in Nashville. When she gets in trouble around the Fourth of July, she becomes afraid and runs away to find her mother. Along the way, she makes an unlikely friend in a black woman named Eula. Eula has a young white baby boy with her and quite a story to tell. The story unwinds in a segregated South where the two become more like family.
I loved the writing style and how Starla and Eula keep helping each other out. The book felt a little like an updated Huckleberry Finn to me in the nature of some of the adventure and the relationship. I mean that as praise, and I really enjoyed reading this one.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Gallery Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.