Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
I enjoyed so many things about this book. The author did a great job with details of the city, the orphanage, and of people that I felt like I was really there. The point of view was also very interesting. I will be adding this book to our school library.
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I read this blurb (not this one), and expected something entirely else. More horror in the orphanage, so ok, it was not a walk on roses, but I thought it would be worse. Now there were even good times.
Frankie and Toni is left at an orphanage by their father. He has a new wife (asshat!), and no place in his home for them. They grow up there and he visits twice a month, until he does not. His new wife was a piece of work.
Frankie is the sensible one that tries to be good.
Toni is the one that likes to flirt with the boys, even though they are not allowed too.
The nuns are strict, WWII starts. Family drama.
And then there was the ghost, ok so this was really weird. At first I was more interested in Frankie's story, but then there ghost took more and more space and I liked her more. A young woman hanging around, wondering why, whispering to orphans and slowly we learn her story. And it is a sad one.
So yes, I did feel that the story would have worked great without the ghost. And I also feel like the story would have worked great with just the ghost, as it is now we have both, and sure that works too.
Narration
I liked her ghost voice for Pearl, it fitted great.
The ghost part had this other feel to them and that did work great for the story. It felt more ghostly.
Frankie and Toni is left at an orphanage by their father. He has a new wife (asshat!), and no place in his home for them. They grow up there and he visits twice a month, until he does not. His new wife was a piece of work.
Frankie is the sensible one that tries to be good.
Toni is the one that likes to flirt with the boys, even though they are not allowed too.
The nuns are strict, WWII starts. Family drama.
And then there was the ghost, ok so this was really weird. At first I was more interested in Frankie's story, but then there ghost took more and more space and I liked her more. A young woman hanging around, wondering why, whispering to orphans and slowly we learn her story. And it is a sad one.
So yes, I did feel that the story would have worked great without the ghost. And I also feel like the story would have worked great with just the ghost, as it is now we have both, and sure that works too.
Narration
I liked her ghost voice for Pearl, it fitted great.
The ghost part had this other feel to them and that did work great for the story. It felt more ghostly.
Wow. This doesn’t beat BONE GAP (my favorite book of 2015!!) for me but I loved the writing in this one and the balance of paranormal with historical fiction.
I think this would be a good fit for those who enjoyed ORPHAN TRAIN by Christine Baker Kline but want a younger read (OT is adult). I relished in learning about orphanages in the 1930’s and 1940’s Midwest, something I had no idea about.
Bravo Laura Ruby bravo.
I think this would be a good fit for those who enjoyed ORPHAN TRAIN by Christine Baker Kline but want a younger read (OT is adult). I relished in learning about orphanages in the 1930’s and 1940’s Midwest, something I had no idea about.
Bravo Laura Ruby bravo.
I've never wanted to read a book with a book club so badly as this one.
I loved Bone Gap in high school and was glad to see that Ruby had written other titles when I was stocking up before this COVID19 shelter-in-place order. Always a sucker for long, mysterious titles, this one called to me.
I think I would have enjoyed this more had I known from the beginning that it was based somewhat on Ruby's mother-in-law's life. The book makes more sense when framed as a reprocessing of childhood trauma, observed through the veil of memory. I certainly added a star to this review after recalling the novel in light of the Author's Note.
Fans of magical realism, gothic tones, and a lyrical writing style are most likely to enjoy this coming-of-age novel. Be warned that it's a slow burn story, deviating from the typical YA pace.
I loved Bone Gap in high school and was glad to see that Ruby had written other titles when I was stocking up before this COVID19 shelter-in-place order. Always a sucker for long, mysterious titles, this one called to me.
I think I would have enjoyed this more had I known from the beginning that it was based somewhat on Ruby's mother-in-law's life. The book makes more sense when framed as a reprocessing of childhood trauma, observed through the veil of memory. I certainly added a star to this review after recalling the novel in light of the Author's Note.
Fans of magical realism, gothic tones, and a lyrical writing style are most likely to enjoy this coming-of-age novel. Be warned that it's a slow burn story, deviating from the typical YA pace.
2 stars – just ok. If this had been one story instead of two, then at best it was still a 3 for me. Mildy interesting but the author killed it with so much over-exhausted history forced into a tired storyline. There were many chapters I was just numb waiting for something provoking to happen.
Cool book cover, cool title but just an ok novel.
Cool book cover, cool title but just an ok novel.
The thread got a little confusing at times but over all a good book.