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jansbookcorner's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed spending the summer of 1960 with the Tree Musketeers! All of their adventures and their friendship rang true. I liked the approach of the Epilogue too. Nice touch.
gkelch's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the setting of this book, the messaging around how those who are perceived as "other" are treated, and the spooky element of Broadhurst Mental Institution. It was slow to get into for me and I didn't feel much happened at all until the final third of the novel. I was really engaged for a few chapters at that point, but for me, it fell off again when the writing overstayed its welcome at the end of the book- the epilogue didn't feel earned. I was also distracted by the frequent misuse of differently spelled homophones and just plain incorrect vocabulary. It felt like it needed more editing.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
leach2225's review against another edition
5.0
A delightful coming of age novel about the adventures of 3 eleven year old girls during one summer in a small town of Summit Wisconsin . The girls just ended their school year and were told to go have an adventure to occupy their time, and what an adventure it turned out to be. Playing Amateur Detectives the girls get into trouble along with having some fun along the way. Slow in parts but it kept me wanting to get to the conclusion to learn the ending. I love coming of age novels and I loved this book. I will give this a 4+ rating. Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced read copy for an honest review
judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
EVERY NOW AND THEN is a bittersweet nostalgic coming-of-age tale full of humor and life’s lessons —assured to win your heart. As always, Lesley Kagen is an entertaining storyteller and does not miss a beat.
Summer in the 1960s is the best time for three eleven-year-old young girls who are best friends. Frances “Frankie” Maniachi, Vivian “Viv” Cleary, and Elizabeth “Biz Buchanan in the small town of Summit, Wisconsin.
These gals love horror movies, the drug store, dodging Aunt Jane, and mainly intrigued by the creepy mental hospital, Broadhurst. They are full of adventure and mischief and cannot wait to get inside the criminally insane institution. They like to observe the patients from a distance, and they want to get closer to learn more.
Biz, the narrator of this nostalgic tale, is raised by Aunt Jane May (nurse)— after her mother’s death shortly after she was born. Her father is the town physician, and she enjoys reading the medical records.
The girls have a killer tree house equipped with all the necessary items every girl wants and calling themselves the “Tree Musketeers.” The girls are funny, sassy, and smart. They love listening to gossip and spying on people in all the favorite spots. However, in some ways, they are naive and unaware of the dangers that surround them.
Keagan explores racism, the mentally ill, and homosexuality, among other events of the 60s. You will laugh out loud and want to protect these young, innocent girls from the darkness of the world. Mixed with memories, suspense, and tragedy, you may find yourself rewinding, recalling those summers long ago. I loved the Aunt Jane May and Uncle Walt and the Epilogue and wrap up.
I first read Lesley’s novels in 2014: [b:The Undertaking of Tess|22732434|The Undertaking of Tess|Lesley Kagen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405516740l/22732434._SX50_.jpg|42269220] (novella) and [b:The Resurrection of Tess Blessing|22845691|The Resurrection of Tess Blessing|Lesley Kagen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406812339l/22845691._SY75_.jpg|42405368], which landed on my Top books of 2014. I was excited when I saw this novel and was reminded of why I enjoy her books
I grew up in the 50’s/60s and these stories resonate and remind me of my youth. A good summer never exists without a little blackmail. If you love Authors Joshilyn Jackson, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Susan Rebecca White, Beth Hoffman, Diane Chamberlain, and William Kent Krueger, you will enjoy this one.
A perfect blending of good versus evil. >Insightful, captivating, full of suspense, wit, mystery, and —injustices of the world, grief, guilt, and wisdom.
A special thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy. I also purchased the audiobook and Hillary Huber delivered an entertaining performance.
#JDCMustReadBooks
Summer in the 1960s is the best time for three eleven-year-old young girls who are best friends. Frances “Frankie” Maniachi, Vivian “Viv” Cleary, and Elizabeth “Biz Buchanan in the small town of Summit, Wisconsin.
These gals love horror movies, the drug store, dodging Aunt Jane, and mainly intrigued by the creepy mental hospital, Broadhurst. They are full of adventure and mischief and cannot wait to get inside the criminally insane institution. They like to observe the patients from a distance, and they want to get closer to learn more.
Biz, the narrator of this nostalgic tale, is raised by Aunt Jane May (nurse)— after her mother’s death shortly after she was born. Her father is the town physician, and she enjoys reading the medical records.
The girls have a killer tree house equipped with all the necessary items every girl wants and calling themselves the “Tree Musketeers.” The girls are funny, sassy, and smart. They love listening to gossip and spying on people in all the favorite spots. However, in some ways, they are naive and unaware of the dangers that surround them.
Keagan explores racism, the mentally ill, and homosexuality, among other events of the 60s. You will laugh out loud and want to protect these young, innocent girls from the darkness of the world. Mixed with memories, suspense, and tragedy, you may find yourself rewinding, recalling those summers long ago. I loved the Aunt Jane May and Uncle Walt and the Epilogue and wrap up.
I first read Lesley’s novels in 2014: [b:The Undertaking of Tess|22732434|The Undertaking of Tess|Lesley Kagen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405516740l/22732434._SX50_.jpg|42269220] (novella) and [b:The Resurrection of Tess Blessing|22845691|The Resurrection of Tess Blessing|Lesley Kagen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406812339l/22845691._SY75_.jpg|42405368], which landed on my Top books of 2014. I was excited when I saw this novel and was reminded of why I enjoy her books
I grew up in the 50’s/60s and these stories resonate and remind me of my youth. A good summer never exists without a little blackmail. If you love Authors Joshilyn Jackson, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Susan Rebecca White, Beth Hoffman, Diane Chamberlain, and William Kent Krueger, you will enjoy this one.
A perfect blending of good versus evil. >Insightful, captivating, full of suspense, wit, mystery, and —injustices of the world, grief, guilt, and wisdom.
A special thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy. I also purchased the audiobook and Hillary Huber delivered an entertaining performance.
#JDCMustReadBooks
susanp's review against another edition
3.0
Whistling in the Dark by this author was so good, but this book was rambling and slow.
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
Every Now and Then by Lesley Kagen
While the synopsis of this story likens it to Where the Crawdads Sing and This Tender Land, I think a much more apt comparison would be to the book, Ordinary Grace. Both take place in the early 60s and we have kids doing what they always do during a very hot summer. In Every Now and Then, three eleven year old best friends are starting their summer with their to-do list of accomplishments that they plan to check off before the summer ends. We are seeing the events of this summer through the eyes of Biz, who doesn't always understand what is going on but can often intuit that what is said is not what is meant.
Biz's dad is the town doctor and her mom's sister has helped raise Biz since her mom died shortly after childbirth. The three girls usually hang out at Biz's home, in their red tree house, where they sleep every night of the summer. The girls call themselves the Tree Musketeers and despite the eagle eye of Aunt Jane May, the girls manage to (usually) harmlessly tread almost everywhere that Biz's aunt tells them not to go. The girls have things to do, places to go, and they can't let anyone stop them from their self appointed missions.
Viv's family runs the local funeral parlor and beauty shop...the white beauty shop, the black side of town has their own beauty shop. Frankie, has a black mother and white absentee father, but the townsfolk think she is a relative of the Italian family that has taken her in and hires her mother as their housekeeper. The family, Frankie, and her mom would be run out of town if some of the white folks knew that a black girl was living on the white side of town. Luckily Frankie can barely pass as a dark skinned Italian although some residents are suspicious of her heritage. Despite the prejudices of some townsfolk, Frankie, Viv, and Biz spend a lot of time in the black part of town, visiting Frankie's mom and uncle and their other friends.
Another favorite place for the trio to go, during the summer, is the Broadhurst Mental Institution, where the girls have made friends with the more gentle patients, those who are allowed to spend some time in the yard. Each girl has their favorite person but they care about all of the patients they meet. It's there that they discover something is afoot, that something bad might happen, but Biz, our narrator, doesn't really know what to do about what she knows.
All three girls are smart, precocious, and excel at different things in life. Adults and the things that they say and do perplex the girls but by the end of the summer, they will have a better understanding of many things that confused them when the summer started. This will be a year of mental and emotional growth, of better understanding of the harsh realities of life. But these girls are not going to let the prejudices of the town stop them from the friendships they cherish or stop them from trying to help those who often receive the least attention.
Publication date: October 6, 2020
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
While the synopsis of this story likens it to Where the Crawdads Sing and This Tender Land, I think a much more apt comparison would be to the book, Ordinary Grace. Both take place in the early 60s and we have kids doing what they always do during a very hot summer. In Every Now and Then, three eleven year old best friends are starting their summer with their to-do list of accomplishments that they plan to check off before the summer ends. We are seeing the events of this summer through the eyes of Biz, who doesn't always understand what is going on but can often intuit that what is said is not what is meant.
Biz's dad is the town doctor and her mom's sister has helped raise Biz since her mom died shortly after childbirth. The three girls usually hang out at Biz's home, in their red tree house, where they sleep every night of the summer. The girls call themselves the Tree Musketeers and despite the eagle eye of Aunt Jane May, the girls manage to (usually) harmlessly tread almost everywhere that Biz's aunt tells them not to go. The girls have things to do, places to go, and they can't let anyone stop them from their self appointed missions.
Viv's family runs the local funeral parlor and beauty shop...the white beauty shop, the black side of town has their own beauty shop. Frankie, has a black mother and white absentee father, but the townsfolk think she is a relative of the Italian family that has taken her in and hires her mother as their housekeeper. The family, Frankie, and her mom would be run out of town if some of the white folks knew that a black girl was living on the white side of town. Luckily Frankie can barely pass as a dark skinned Italian although some residents are suspicious of her heritage. Despite the prejudices of some townsfolk, Frankie, Viv, and Biz spend a lot of time in the black part of town, visiting Frankie's mom and uncle and their other friends.
Another favorite place for the trio to go, during the summer, is the Broadhurst Mental Institution, where the girls have made friends with the more gentle patients, those who are allowed to spend some time in the yard. Each girl has their favorite person but they care about all of the patients they meet. It's there that they discover something is afoot, that something bad might happen, but Biz, our narrator, doesn't really know what to do about what she knows.
All three girls are smart, precocious, and excel at different things in life. Adults and the things that they say and do perplex the girls but by the end of the summer, they will have a better understanding of many things that confused them when the summer started. This will be a year of mental and emotional growth, of better understanding of the harsh realities of life. But these girls are not going to let the prejudices of the town stop them from the friendships they cherish or stop them from trying to help those who often receive the least attention.
Publication date: October 6, 2020
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
cloudedsulphur's review against another edition
5.0
The setting of this story is superb, from the description of the land around Biz and her friends, to taking place in the 60’s, to the mindset of Biz, Frankie, and Viv as kids, and later, as adults. It’s easy to become rooted in the story as it takes place.
This is not a quick read in my opinion. A lot of it is Biz talking about their summer before the escape of the patients. That part comes fairly late in the book, but everything leading up to it is important. If you want a book that starts out with a bang, this may not be the book for you. If you want a book that weaves a fascinating story and leaves you wondering how everything ties together until the end, then consider this one.
I’d definitely be interested in reading more by this author.
This is not a quick read in my opinion. A lot of it is Biz talking about their summer before the escape of the patients. That part comes fairly late in the book, but everything leading up to it is important. If you want a book that starts out with a bang, this may not be the book for you. If you want a book that weaves a fascinating story and leaves you wondering how everything ties together until the end, then consider this one.
I’d definitely be interested in reading more by this author.
jaded618's review against another edition
3.0
I am very torn on this book, I enjoyed the overall general story, but I felt like there was a lot put in that just didn't need to be there. It felt cluttered, if that makes sense.
This book follows three 11 year old best friends, Frankie, Viv, and Biz. Biz being the narrator of their summer adventure in 1960. The girls are scary movie fans and talk about things that scare them alot, which is one of the reasons they made themselves a summer to-do list of things they wanted to do. As well as to make sure they each did things they wanted to do. One of the big things on that list was to sneak into The Broadhurst mental hospital that Biz's dad was a doctor at. They heard of the room in the basement called the Chamber of Horrors. Their summer revolves around this institution and the things happening there that change everyone's lives that summer.
Introducing us to the characters was quick and there were so many other characters talked about early on that I even had trouble following at times. The book talked about alot of sensitive issues, including sexual orientation, race, and the way people who were different were treated. I feel like the messages given were very important.
I'm giving this book a solid 3 Stars, wishing the beginning led into more meat of the story early on instead of me reading and wondering when things were going to get moving.
Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book follows three 11 year old best friends, Frankie, Viv, and Biz. Biz being the narrator of their summer adventure in 1960. The girls are scary movie fans and talk about things that scare them alot, which is one of the reasons they made themselves a summer to-do list of things they wanted to do. As well as to make sure they each did things they wanted to do. One of the big things on that list was to sneak into The Broadhurst mental hospital that Biz's dad was a doctor at. They heard of the room in the basement called the Chamber of Horrors. Their summer revolves around this institution and the things happening there that change everyone's lives that summer.
Introducing us to the characters was quick and there were so many other characters talked about early on that I even had trouble following at times. The book talked about alot of sensitive issues, including sexual orientation, race, and the way people who were different were treated. I feel like the messages given were very important.
I'm giving this book a solid 3 Stars, wishing the beginning led into more meat of the story early on instead of me reading and wondering when things were going to get moving.
Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
Every Now and Then by Lesley Kagen is a suspenseful, coming of age mystery which takes place in 1960.
As school lets out for the summer in Summit, WI, three eleven year old friends are looking forward to the adventures awaiting them. Calling themselves the Tree Musketeers, Elizabeth "Biz" Buchanan, Vivian "Viv" Cleary and Frances "Frankie" Maniachi use Biz's tree house to plan their escapades. Biz's Aunt Jane May keeps a close watch on the girls, but they have plenty of free time to sneak out to the Broadhurst Mental Institution and watch their patients. Influenced by horror films, they are fascinated by the knowledge criminally insane patients are housed at the facility. Using their friendships with Jimbo, Albie and Delores, the girls get to know some of the residents at Broadhurst. But their summer fun takes an ominous turn when three patients escape on the fourth of July.
Biz's mom passed away soon her birth and she is not close to her father who is the town doctor. Aunt Jane May guides her and her friends with a firm hand. Biz is observant and smart and she and her friends are refreshingly innocent. However, they put a little too much credence in town gossip. After a child killer becomes a patient at Broadhurst, the facility captures their imagination and interest.
Not all of their summer is spent observing the goings on at Broadhurst. Much to Biz and Frankie's dismay, Viv is becoming boy crazy and talks them into watching romantic movies as well as horror films. The girls also try to stay out of the way of the town bully Elvin Merchant. They defy Aunt Jane May's order to stay away from Mud Town. This area is on the "other side of the tracks" and is home to the town's people of color including Jimbo, Albie and Delores. The girls love chatting with their friends and watching the patrons dance.
Every Now and Then is a captivating mystery with a marvelous air of nostalgia. The characters are vibrantly developed and diverse. The storyline is engaging and well-plotted. The small town setting is the perfect backdrop for the girls' adventures and goings on at Broadhurst. With the tension slowly building, Lesley Kagen brings this intriguing mystery to a twist-filled conclusion. I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this wonderful novel to fans of the genre.
Every Now and Then by Lesley Kagen is a suspenseful, coming of age mystery which takes place in 1960.
As school lets out for the summer in Summit, WI, three eleven year old friends are looking forward to the adventures awaiting them. Calling themselves the Tree Musketeers, Elizabeth "Biz" Buchanan, Vivian "Viv" Cleary and Frances "Frankie" Maniachi use Biz's tree house to plan their escapades. Biz's Aunt Jane May keeps a close watch on the girls, but they have plenty of free time to sneak out to the Broadhurst Mental Institution and watch their patients. Influenced by horror films, they are fascinated by the knowledge criminally insane patients are housed at the facility. Using their friendships with Jimbo, Albie and Delores, the girls get to know some of the residents at Broadhurst. But their summer fun takes an ominous turn when three patients escape on the fourth of July.
Biz's mom passed away soon her birth and she is not close to her father who is the town doctor. Aunt Jane May guides her and her friends with a firm hand. Biz is observant and smart and she and her friends are refreshingly innocent. However, they put a little too much credence in town gossip. After a child killer becomes a patient at Broadhurst, the facility captures their imagination and interest.
Not all of their summer is spent observing the goings on at Broadhurst. Much to Biz and Frankie's dismay, Viv is becoming boy crazy and talks them into watching romantic movies as well as horror films. The girls also try to stay out of the way of the town bully Elvin Merchant. They defy Aunt Jane May's order to stay away from Mud Town. This area is on the "other side of the tracks" and is home to the town's people of color including Jimbo, Albie and Delores. The girls love chatting with their friends and watching the patrons dance.
Every Now and Then is a captivating mystery with a marvelous air of nostalgia. The characters are vibrantly developed and diverse. The storyline is engaging and well-plotted. The small town setting is the perfect backdrop for the girls' adventures and goings on at Broadhurst. With the tension slowly building, Lesley Kagen brings this intriguing mystery to a twist-filled conclusion. I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this wonderful novel to fans of the genre.
kookie9200's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.
Biz, Frankie and Viv are 11 years old in the summer of 1960. They run wild over their small town. In the midst of a heat wave, 3 escape from the town's mental hospital, throwing the whole town into an uproar, and changing the girl's lives forever.
My thoughts: I wanted to like this novel, but it just fell flat for me. The action didn't really start until 75% in, and before that it was mostly the girls doing what they're told not to and calling one another names. There was no natural arc to the story. It never really built up steadily, but went from back story to action to nothing. While I appreciated the girl's friendship, and some of the racial tensions, I wasn't impressed by the story.
I realize the novel takes place in 1960, but I found the fact that the adults let the girls run around a mental hospital basically without censure to be highly unbelievable. Also, having lived in a small town myself, I know nothing like that is ever a secret, so everyone would have known. There were a lot of unbelievable things, but that was the most wild. And if you don't buy into that, the rest of the story just falls apart.
Biz, Frankie and Viv are 11 years old in the summer of 1960. They run wild over their small town. In the midst of a heat wave, 3 escape from the town's mental hospital, throwing the whole town into an uproar, and changing the girl's lives forever.
My thoughts: I wanted to like this novel, but it just fell flat for me. The action didn't really start until 75% in, and before that it was mostly the girls doing what they're told not to and calling one another names. There was no natural arc to the story. It never really built up steadily, but went from back story to action to nothing. While I appreciated the girl's friendship, and some of the racial tensions, I wasn't impressed by the story.
I realize the novel takes place in 1960, but I found the fact that the adults let the girls run around a mental hospital basically without censure to be highly unbelievable. Also, having lived in a small town myself, I know nothing like that is ever a secret, so everyone would have known. There were a lot of unbelievable things, but that was the most wild. And if you don't buy into that, the rest of the story just falls apart.