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nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This book shows how Libby navigates the loss of her grandfather. Libby has to process her pain, but she’s helped by the fact that she has the Sight and can still talk to her grandpa after he dies. But her father, on the other hand, refuses to believe in the ability to see the dead. He grieves the loss of his father (and his wife and mother) and pulls away from Libby. The story really becomes more about Libby reaching out to her father and closing the gap between them. The story is sweet, and I loved the paranormal aspect (always a bonus with me).
My favorite element of the book is the unique voice. The Libby is a twelve-year-old girl in rural Florida (in the 60’s, I believe), and her speech and inner dialogue reflect that beautifully. I really enjoyed reading a book in this voice, but some people might be put off by the speech patterns since they’re different from the way most of us talk. For me, it was a definite bonus, though.
This was a super quick read, with many lines that I wanted to read again and again. Very sweet. I highly recommend it!
This book shows how Libby navigates the loss of her grandfather. Libby has to process her pain, but she’s helped by the fact that she has the Sight and can still talk to her grandpa after he dies. But her father, on the other hand, refuses to believe in the ability to see the dead. He grieves the loss of his father (and his wife and mother) and pulls away from Libby. The story really becomes more about Libby reaching out to her father and closing the gap between them. The story is sweet, and I loved the paranormal aspect (always a bonus with me).
My favorite element of the book is the unique voice. The Libby is a twelve-year-old girl in rural Florida (in the 60’s, I believe), and her speech and inner dialogue reflect that beautifully. I really enjoyed reading a book in this voice, but some people might be put off by the speech patterns since they’re different from the way most of us talk. For me, it was a definite bonus, though.
This was a super quick read, with many lines that I wanted to read again and again. Very sweet. I highly recommend it!
beastreader's review against another edition
3.0
I found this book to be a really good read. It is written well for the younger readers. Although, the subject matter that this book deals with is better read for the mature young audience or at least read as a family book. This way parents can help explain death. Personally, I don't really believe in an afterlife other than heaven. So, depending on your religion and beliefs, you will have to explain about the afterlife. Some do believe in "sight".
I liked Libby a lot. She was so open and willing to accept the gift of "sight". She didn't question the fact that she could see and communicate with her dead grandpa. They had good conversations. I felt like I really got to know Libby and her family. What I did like the most is that this book featured Libby as the one to help heal her father and so him it is ok to be sad but also to rejoice in his memories of his father. Never That Far is a charming, sweet read.
I liked Libby a lot. She was so open and willing to accept the gift of "sight". She didn't question the fact that she could see and communicate with her dead grandpa. They had good conversations. I felt like I really got to know Libby and her family. What I did like the most is that this book featured Libby as the one to help heal her father and so him it is ok to be sad but also to rejoice in his memories of his father. Never That Far is a charming, sweet read.
kaishatate's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lovegirl30's review against another edition
5.0
"What you doing, girl?" Daddy said when the burying was done.
This was such a powerful read for me. In this story, we follow little Libby who is a 12-year-old girl back in the year 1967 in rural Florida. He grandpa has just died and one day it seems that her deceased grandpa appears by her and tells her he has left a treasure for her at the lake they own. It is own their property and little Libby is determined that she needs to find it. It is at this moment that she discovers that she has the sight that others in her family have. The ability to be able to be visited by a deceased family member, however, she learns that her father can't.
Not only does he not have the sight he very admittedly denies that anyone in their family ever could. We quickly learn that this hurts Libby and if she or he is ever going to heal she needs to convince him that he can see the deceased family and find closure.
This is a sweet story about grief, love, and loss. A subject that is important for middle-grade literature because death affects all of us at some point in life. It is a hard read, one that left me crying at points, laughing at others, and incredibly touched. The author Carol Lynch William's created such a powerful story and did so with amazing grace.
"The dead ain't never that far...".
Disclaimer: I received an Arc of this from Shadow Mountian Publishing in exchange for an honest review and this post. All thoughts are my own.
This was such a powerful read for me. In this story, we follow little Libby who is a 12-year-old girl back in the year 1967 in rural Florida. He grandpa has just died and one day it seems that her deceased grandpa appears by her and tells her he has left a treasure for her at the lake they own. It is own their property and little Libby is determined that she needs to find it. It is at this moment that she discovers that she has the sight that others in her family have. The ability to be able to be visited by a deceased family member, however, she learns that her father can't.
Not only does he not have the sight he very admittedly denies that anyone in their family ever could. We quickly learn that this hurts Libby and if she or he is ever going to heal she needs to convince him that he can see the deceased family and find closure.
This is a sweet story about grief, love, and loss. A subject that is important for middle-grade literature because death affects all of us at some point in life. It is a hard read, one that left me crying at points, laughing at others, and incredibly touched. The author Carol Lynch William's created such a powerful story and did so with amazing grace.
"The dead ain't never that far...".
Disclaimer: I received an Arc of this from Shadow Mountian Publishing in exchange for an honest review and this post. All thoughts are my own.
alissabar's review against another edition
2.0
I so wanted to like this book! It was disappointing that it ended up just being ok for me. The dialogue was a little difficult for me to get used to at first. But the story itself I just didn't end up loving.
2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge: #34 A book that's published in 2018
2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge: #34 A book that's published in 2018
rhodesee's review against another edition
3.0
Never that Far is a lovely book about a young girl, Libby, dealing with her grandfather's death. It did take me a few chapters to get into, mainly because of the manner in which the characters speak. Once I got into it though, I was hooked until the end.
absentminded_reader's review against another edition
5.0
Just finished Never That Far, and what a wonderful book it was. I would classify it as a fantasy middle grade novel, but that might give you the wrong idea. There are ghosts, but no hauntings. The story is magical, but not filled with magic. This may seem like a contradiction, but if you look beyond the constraints of genre, you’ll discover a story about the importance of family, redemption, and guiding love from beyond the grave.
Twelve-year-old Libby has the Sight, but never knew about her gift until see saw her recently departed Grampa. This brings her comfort when her heart is near breaking. The same cannot be said of her father. He has turned a blind eye to his sight all his life and all of Libby’s, too. Instead of comfort, he sees only despair. To save him, Grampa sends Libby on a quest. It takes her over water, requires the aid of atheists, jeopardizes her life, and puts her at odds with her father before she can find her Grampa’s treasure.
Carol writes with such a strong voice. I loved every page of this book and read it in one sitting. I am more than awed at her ability to capture emotions so keenly. Her characters felt real to me. Libby was strong and independent, yet still vulnerable. Carol was able to write her this way without any internal inconsistencies or cheats. She’s had years of experience honing her craft and studying people.
For example, her Baptist minister was spot on. Though annoying to Libby, the minister was a woman both anxious to heal people that she considered of her flock while also desperately wanting a place in that family. The more we encountered her, the more I loved her. All the side characters were written with such care and depth. Libby was never upstaged, however. Her drive and desire to solve her Grampa’s mystery pulled her forward through the story regardless of who got in her way. It was a very enjoyable read. Beautifully written. Paced perfectly. Highly recommended.
Twelve-year-old Libby has the Sight, but never knew about her gift until see saw her recently departed Grampa. This brings her comfort when her heart is near breaking. The same cannot be said of her father. He has turned a blind eye to his sight all his life and all of Libby’s, too. Instead of comfort, he sees only despair. To save him, Grampa sends Libby on a quest. It takes her over water, requires the aid of atheists, jeopardizes her life, and puts her at odds with her father before she can find her Grampa’s treasure.
Carol writes with such a strong voice. I loved every page of this book and read it in one sitting. I am more than awed at her ability to capture emotions so keenly. Her characters felt real to me. Libby was strong and independent, yet still vulnerable. Carol was able to write her this way without any internal inconsistencies or cheats. She’s had years of experience honing her craft and studying people.
For example, her Baptist minister was spot on. Though annoying to Libby, the minister was a woman both anxious to heal people that she considered of her flock while also desperately wanting a place in that family. The more we encountered her, the more I loved her. All the side characters were written with such care and depth. Libby was never upstaged, however. Her drive and desire to solve her Grampa’s mystery pulled her forward through the story regardless of who got in her way. It was a very enjoyable read. Beautifully written. Paced perfectly. Highly recommended.
thebookgirl's review
5.0
"What you doing, girl?" Daddy said when the burying was done.
This was such a powerful read for me. In this story, we follow little Libby who is a 12-year-old girl back in the year 1967 in rural Florida. He grandpa has just died and one day it seems that her deceased grandpa appears by her and tells her he has left a treasure for her at the lake they own. It is own their property and little Libby is determined that she needs to find it. It is at this moment that she discovers that she has the sight that others in her family have. The ability to be able to be visited by a deceased family member, however, she learns that her father can't.
Not only does he not have the sight he very admittedly denies that anyone in their family ever could. We quickly learn that this hurts Libby and if she or he is ever going to heal she needs to convince him that he can see the deceased family and find closure.
This is a sweet story about grief, love, and loss. A subject that is important for middle-grade literature because death affects all of us at some point in life. It is a hard read, one that left me crying at points, laughing at others, and incredibly touched. The author Carol Lynch William's created such a powerful story and did so with amazing grace.
"The dead ain't never that far...".
Disclaimer: I received an Arc of this from Shadow Mountian Publishing in exchange for an honest review and this post. All thoughts are my own.
This was such a powerful read for me. In this story, we follow little Libby who is a 12-year-old girl back in the year 1967 in rural Florida. He grandpa has just died and one day it seems that her deceased grandpa appears by her and tells her he has left a treasure for her at the lake they own. It is own their property and little Libby is determined that she needs to find it. It is at this moment that she discovers that she has the sight that others in her family have. The ability to be able to be visited by a deceased family member, however, she learns that her father can't.
Not only does he not have the sight he very admittedly denies that anyone in their family ever could. We quickly learn that this hurts Libby and if she or he is ever going to heal she needs to convince him that he can see the deceased family and find closure.
This is a sweet story about grief, love, and loss. A subject that is important for middle-grade literature because death affects all of us at some point in life. It is a hard read, one that left me crying at points, laughing at others, and incredibly touched. The author Carol Lynch William's created such a powerful story and did so with amazing grace.
"The dead ain't never that far...".
Disclaimer: I received an Arc of this from Shadow Mountian Publishing in exchange for an honest review and this post. All thoughts are my own.
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