Reviews

Tomorrow River by Lesley Kagen

menfort's review

3.0

I like stories that have spunky child narrators. This one has that and a twist at the end that I didn't see coming.

preslynn's review

3.0

I do hate to admit it, but three months later I picked up this book again when I couldn't find anything else to read and I actually quite liked it this time around. Reading this right after Whistling in the Dark and Good Graces (I wasn't too impressed with either) made me judge this one too harshly. I saw a few similarities and thought that we were looking at another 2/3 filler and carbon copies of the characters from those books. This time, after not having touched Kagen for a few months, I could give this one a fair chance.

Shenandoah is more realistic than Sally and Woody did not end up irritating me the way Troo did. The whole book does feel like it's taking place in 1958 rather than 1968 for the most part but I'm not terribly bothered by that. Once I did get past those first few chapters that made me throw in the towel last time, I actually really got into it. I probably won't be getting any more Kagen novel, but I did enjoy it enough to be able to say that I'm glad I read it.

gmclaughlin's review

3.0

This book is okay. It is told from the point of view of an 11 year old whose mother has disappeared. Her twin sister has quit talking. I don't feel like it captured southern life in a very realistic way. The characters are fairly well developed but I still feel like I was disconnected from them. She throws in hobos and the obvious racial problems from the late 1960's so in that respect the book is nothing exciting. The plot is strong and you want to keep reading to find out what happens. Also, I felt like the book could have ended about 20 pages before it did. If you want a good book to read on vacation that is not to heavy this is it. I wouldn't tell you not to read it. It just is not a book I want to run around telling everyone to read.

wildflower37's review

3.0

Great voice and character development. Found the plot interesting but not as compelling as I thought; perhaps my view was limited by the age of the narrator who sometimes seemed so wise and other times particularly obtuse in order to maintain suspense. I could see the a major plot point coming much ahead of her.Nevertheless, an unusual story well told.