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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
Really atmospheric and well done. Sometimes slow but worth the wait. Satisfying read.
There’s always something to love about a novel narrated by a ghost. Who else can take us so easily through the walls and doorways separating characters, not to mention into their minds and hearts? Like her Printz Award-winning novel Bone Gap, Laura Ruby’s latest book is set in our world, but with the magic touches that make the experience of reading her work anything but ordinary. The setting is World War II era Chicago, and Frankie and Toni have been deposited in an orphanage by a father who cares more for the wishes of his new wife than the happiness of his daughters. The tale of the narrator, the boy she loved, and the racism they faced in their early 20th century society is woven together with Frankie’s struggle to reach beyond the limited possibilities that her own 1940s society had for young women. The characters are nuanced and full of courage, and even the minor characters could have starred in their own books. Bittersweet in many ways Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All, forces readers to reflect on the hardship of women who came before us, and would make a great discussion book for both teen and adult book clubs interested in a fiercely feminist read.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a coming of age story about young Italian girl, daughter of immigrants, growing up in a Catholic orphanage in Chicago during World War II. Frankie and siblings are abandoned by their father when their mother dies, but he still has enough money to bring them gifts and cook for them on visiting day??? (Explain that to me please) Then he marries another woman with her own family and takes them and his son out of the orphanage and moves to Colorado but not Frankie and her sister... (explain that to me please). Frankie is subjected to righteous (nonsensical and utterly abhorrent abuse by a crazed nun) and then kicked out. She and her sister have nowhere else to go but to live with their father (and new wife and additional creepy/rude stepsiblings) that moved back to Chicago. Our narrator is a ghost and ghost things are prevalent throughout, along with themes of young love, the war in the background and women suffering at the hands of basically everyone because they're women. I rooted wholeheartedly for Frankie, rolled my eyes at her sister and couldn't figure out why the ghost bothered me so much until her whole story came out in the last few chapters. All in all it was a bit too much to tackle here and left me sometimes confused when the scene switched back and forth.
I was not prepared for the harsh and beautiful truths of this book. A labor of love, of historical fiction and family history, woven with threads of the ghosts and devils that haunt us all. It was breathtaking to read, but I had to take it in small pieces. People are wonderful, awful beings and sometimes they're both and this let's you examine these realities if you have the courage.
(3.8)
This was quite an interesting concept of a book. The narrator was a ghost and the book followed both the story of a girl, Frankie, who lives in an orphanage during the depression and world war II, and the ghost, who is struggling with her past. I found the book to be interesting overall and it had a good ending. For some strange unknown reason I didn't like Frankie that much and the ghost, Pearl, wasn't my favorite either. I really liked Marguerite, however, and despite what I didn't like much about the protagonists this was an enjoyable book to read overall and I would recommend it to people.
This was quite an interesting concept of a book. The narrator was a ghost and the book followed both the story of a girl, Frankie, who lives in an orphanage during the depression and world war II, and the ghost, who is struggling with her past. I found the book to be interesting overall and it had a good ending. For some strange unknown reason I didn't like Frankie that much and the ghost, Pearl, wasn't my favorite either. I really liked Marguerite, however, and despite what I didn't like much about the protagonists this was an enjoyable book to read overall and I would recommend it to people.
3.5 stars. I’d recommend this to younger readers who need an introduction to the patriarchy & strong young women who can fight to overcome.
When Frankie’s mother died and her father left her and her siblings at an orphanage in Chicago, it was supposed to be only temporary—just long enough for him to get back on his feet and be able to provide for them once again. That’s why Frankie's not prepared for the day that he arrives for his weekend visit with a new woman on his arm and out-of-state train tickets in his pocket.
Now Frankie and her sister, Toni, are abandoned alongside so many other orphans—two young, unwanted women doing everything they can to survive.
And as the embers of the Great Depression are kindled into the fires of World War II, and the shadows of injustice, poverty, and death walk the streets in broad daylight, it will be up to Frankie to find something worth holding on to in the ruins of this shattered America—every minute of every day spent wondering if the life she's able to carve out will be enough.
I will admit I do not know the answer. But I will be watching, waiting to find out.
That’s what ghosts do.
Powerful. Spectacular. Thrilling.
Through the years, I have read few books that took me by surprise. The type of stories that took me by surprise. When I picked up a copy of THIRTEEN DOORWAYS, WOLVES BEHIND THEM ALL , I did not know what to expect from this story. I love historical fiction and I love books about ghosts. The fact that THIRTEEN DOORWAYS, WOLVES BEHIND THEM ALL is a historical fiction with fantasy aspect was one of the things that captured my attention. I thought that it would be interesting to read about something different. It was different and it was one of the things that made me fall in love with the story, it was unique. I have read a story from the ghost point of view before but nothing like this one. The moment that I picked up the book and started reading, I was hooked. It did not take me long to fall in love with the story and all of the characters. It was unlike any books that I read before and had two of my favorite genres. It was thrilling. I know that if it weren’t for work, I would kept on reading until I reached the end.
THIRTEEN DOORWAYS, WOLVES BEHIND THEM ALL is a type of story that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning until the end. Even as I reached the ending, I kept on thinking and wondering about what happened to Frankie and Toni after. I have a big feeling that it is going to be a book that I will go back to and read again. I loved Frankie, and of course, the ghost, Pearl. I thought that both of them were interesting characters and my favorites. Frankie and her sister Toni went through a lot and what their father did to them, leaving them in Orphanage but taking her brother, my heart broke for both of them. What kind of parent does that to their own children? I did not like him and Ada from the start, but after that, I disliked him even more. I felt as if he did not care about Frankie and Toni at all, based on how he treated them. I was hoping that both Frankie and Toni can have their happy ending.
I could tell how well researched the book was, the historical facts were so accurate and was very interesting to read about. There were a few times that I did not realize how late I was reading, it made me lose track of time. I do not think that there were many parts in the book that I did not enjoy. I loved that the book was going back and forth between Frankie and Pear’s stories. I feel as I got to know both of them better. Even though the story was fiction, it felt real just by the way that it was written. THIRTEEN DOORWAYS, WOLVES BEHIND THEM ALL was beautifully written and all the descriptions, emotions were so vivid, making the reader feel as he was there, along with Frankie and Pearl. I would highly recommend picking up a copy of this book, you will be blown away.
Now Frankie and her sister, Toni, are abandoned alongside so many other orphans—two young, unwanted women doing everything they can to survive.
And as the embers of the Great Depression are kindled into the fires of World War II, and the shadows of injustice, poverty, and death walk the streets in broad daylight, it will be up to Frankie to find something worth holding on to in the ruins of this shattered America—every minute of every day spent wondering if the life she's able to carve out will be enough.
I will admit I do not know the answer. But I will be watching, waiting to find out.
That’s what ghosts do.
Powerful. Spectacular. Thrilling.
Through the years, I have read few books that took me by surprise. The type of stories that took me by surprise. When I picked up a copy of THIRTEEN DOORWAYS, WOLVES BEHIND THEM ALL , I did not know what to expect from this story. I love historical fiction and I love books about ghosts. The fact that THIRTEEN DOORWAYS, WOLVES BEHIND THEM ALL is a historical fiction with fantasy aspect was one of the things that captured my attention. I thought that it would be interesting to read about something different. It was different and it was one of the things that made me fall in love with the story, it was unique. I have read a story from the ghost point of view before but nothing like this one. The moment that I picked up the book and started reading, I was hooked. It did not take me long to fall in love with the story and all of the characters. It was unlike any books that I read before and had two of my favorite genres. It was thrilling. I know that if it weren’t for work, I would kept on reading until I reached the end.
THIRTEEN DOORWAYS, WOLVES BEHIND THEM ALL is a type of story that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning until the end. Even as I reached the ending, I kept on thinking and wondering about what happened to Frankie and Toni after. I have a big feeling that it is going to be a book that I will go back to and read again. I loved Frankie, and of course, the ghost, Pearl. I thought that both of them were interesting characters and my favorites. Frankie and her sister Toni went through a lot and what their father did to them, leaving them in Orphanage but taking her brother, my heart broke for both of them. What kind of parent does that to their own children? I did not like him and Ada from the start, but after that, I disliked him even more. I felt as if he did not care about Frankie and Toni at all, based on how he treated them. I was hoping that both Frankie and Toni can have their happy ending.
I could tell how well researched the book was, the historical facts were so accurate and was very interesting to read about. There were a few times that I did not realize how late I was reading, it made me lose track of time. I do not think that there were many parts in the book that I did not enjoy. I loved that the book was going back and forth between Frankie and Pear’s stories. I feel as I got to know both of them better. Even though the story was fiction, it felt real just by the way that it was written. THIRTEEN DOORWAYS, WOLVES BEHIND THEM ALL was beautifully written and all the descriptions, emotions were so vivid, making the reader feel as he was there, along with Frankie and Pearl. I would highly recommend picking up a copy of this book, you will be blown away.
This is a stunning book. I've been obsessed with Laura since reading [b:Bone Gap|18806240|Bone Gap|Laura Ruby|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1402928507l/18806240._SY75_.jpg|26737294], and this just made her brilliance ever more apparent. The book's conceit is somewhat similar to The Book Thief, and I'm sure it will garner a lot of comparisons. Zusack's book was narrated by Death, Ruby's by a ghost. Both take place during WW2. They are very different stories, but they have the same level of heart at their centers.
Thirteen Doorways follows two girls - one dead, one living - through the war. On its surface, it meanders and stretches, weaving through vignettes of each girl's experiences. But ultimately, it's about girlhood and the loss of it, about forgiveness and vengeance, and Ruby's beautiful prose guides us through. This is a book to hold close to your heart.
Thirteen Doorways follows two girls - one dead, one living - through the war. On its surface, it meanders and stretches, weaving through vignettes of each girl's experiences. But ultimately, it's about girlhood and the loss of it, about forgiveness and vengeance, and Ruby's beautiful prose guides us through. This is a book to hold close to your heart.
Ruby's storytelling is layered, encompassing, and quietly beautiful. I had to sit with this one for a bit.