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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Our Little World by Karen Winn is both a nostalgic look back at the mid-80s and a fascinating mystery. This coming-of-age novel is set in the mid-’80s in a cul de sac in a small town in New Jersey. The story is about the loss of innocence, sisters, and growing up. All this is written by a debut author!
Bee Kocsis is just about to start seventh grade when a new family moves in across the street in their cul de sac in their small-town New Jersey. Max Baxter is close to Bee’s age and Sally Baxter is only three years old and they become friends with Bee and her younger sister Audrina. Bee and Audrina are only a year apart, and they are best friends and worst enemies at the same time. Bee is convinced that her sister Audrina is much prettier and more social than Bee, and this causes some jealousy between the sisters.
Their idyllic life on the cul de sac is shattered when little Sally goes missing at the Deer Chase Lake on a hot summer day. Bee, Audrina, and Max are all at the lake when she goes missing, but nobody knows what happened to Sally. Bee’s relationship with her sister changes, as does the relationships of the adults on the cul de sac as the investigation into Sally’s disappearance continues.
Our Little World is full of nostalgia, mystery, angst, and emotions. I read this in one sitting, as I couldn’t wait to see what happened to Sally, and I enjoyed the writing so much. I was a young woman in the mid-80s and I found this book to be very true to life in the mid-80s. The descriptions of the cul de sac, the beach at the lake, and school felt very realistic and they brought back memories of my own childhood.
I liked that the mystery of Sally’s disappearance is completely told through the eyes of Bee, and the author did an excellent job of telling the story through an adolescent’s eyes and not that of an adult. The relationship between Bee and Audrina is so authentic. They are best friends one minute and sworn enemies the next, but there is always their underlying love for each other.
I highly recommend Our Little World by Karen Winn to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a bit of mystery. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Bee Kocsis is just about to start seventh grade when a new family moves in across the street in their cul de sac in their small-town New Jersey. Max Baxter is close to Bee’s age and Sally Baxter is only three years old and they become friends with Bee and her younger sister Audrina. Bee and Audrina are only a year apart, and they are best friends and worst enemies at the same time. Bee is convinced that her sister Audrina is much prettier and more social than Bee, and this causes some jealousy between the sisters.
Their idyllic life on the cul de sac is shattered when little Sally goes missing at the Deer Chase Lake on a hot summer day. Bee, Audrina, and Max are all at the lake when she goes missing, but nobody knows what happened to Sally. Bee’s relationship with her sister changes, as does the relationships of the adults on the cul de sac as the investigation into Sally’s disappearance continues.
Our Little World is full of nostalgia, mystery, angst, and emotions. I read this in one sitting, as I couldn’t wait to see what happened to Sally, and I enjoyed the writing so much. I was a young woman in the mid-80s and I found this book to be very true to life in the mid-80s. The descriptions of the cul de sac, the beach at the lake, and school felt very realistic and they brought back memories of my own childhood.
I liked that the mystery of Sally’s disappearance is completely told through the eyes of Bee, and the author did an excellent job of telling the story through an adolescent’s eyes and not that of an adult. The relationship between Bee and Audrina is so authentic. They are best friends one minute and sworn enemies the next, but there is always their underlying love for each other.
I highly recommend Our Little World by Karen Winn to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a bit of mystery. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Holy smokes…. what an emotional ride.
I found the aspect of Sally’s disappearance interesting & I’m glad that we were able to find out what happened (I would’ve been so upset if the author left us hanging). I really enjoyed reading about Bee and Audrina because it reminded me of me & my sister and our relationship growing up.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one but it definitely made me sad
I found the aspect of Sally’s disappearance interesting & I’m glad that we were able to find out what happened (I would’ve been so upset if the author left us hanging). I really enjoyed reading about Bee and Audrina because it reminded me of me & my sister and our relationship growing up.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one but it definitely made me sad
I finished this book in less than 24 hours. It had me hooked from the first page. Borka, or Bee as she's called, is growing up in New Jersey with her sister Audrina. Audrina and Bee are typical sisters, fighting a lot while also envying each other's strengths, fighting and making up as sister's do. When a new family moves in across the street, the paths of their lives are changed. When the youngest of the new neighbors goes missing during a summer day at the lake Bee and Audrina each handle the tragedy in their own way while trying to navigate growing up, sisterhood, and the trauma of being so closely related to a crime. This story captures the 80's perfectly and was like being wrapped in nostalgia.. It's beautiful, and tragic, and a stunning debut by Karen Winn.
Our Little World is a subversive, coming of age story. It's a hauntingly, beautiful tale of sisterhood. It is filled with tragedy, grief, friendships, and family drama. Majority of the story is told from Bee's childhood perspective of the things that happened in the mid 80's so there is some nostalgia to be felt from that time. We all have defining moments in our lives, things that happen that causes our understanding of our lives to be split into befores and afters. In Bee's case it starts with the disappearance of their four year old neighbor, Sally and ends with her own sister's untimely death. Everything about Bee is ensconced in those years. The book was also a great reminder that small, seemingly unimportant decisions in our lives can add up to giant mistakes with earth shattering consequences. It also reminded me that people everywhere, big and small, are carrying burdens that we know nothing of and that the things we tell ourselves about ourselves or even other people aren't always correct. Feelings are not facts. Overall, while heavy, Our Little World is so beautifully done and is written in such a way that I never wanted to put it down.
This is a coming-of-age novel centered around sisters, Bee and Audrina, growing up on a cul-de-sac in New Jersey during the mid-80s, before the internet and cell phones. A time when kids were free to play outside without a care in the world. Until one day, Sally, the 4 year-old girl that lives across the street disappears from the lake. Did she drown? Was she taken? They were there with her brother, Max, but no one saw where Sally went. That afternoon forever changes them and their relationships with friends and each other. There are other events that change their childhood as well, none seem to be for the better. I found it to be, overall, just a depressing story. I do think it’s fairly well written, especially considering this is the author’s debut novel, but I felt it dragged at times.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and provide an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and provide an honest review.
Absolutely loved it. Writing is beautiful, fast pace, I fell in love with, Borka, Bee.
Our Little World transports the reader back to 1985, when almost-seventh-grader Bee Kocsis is enjoying a carefree summer, until her neighbor’s little sister goes missing from the nearby lake. What was thought to be a safe community is upended by the failure to find the girl, and people start to stick to themselves and grow suspicious. Even within her home, Bee is finding the relationship with her sister to become strained in the wake of their neighbor’s disappearance.
This is a strong, gripping coming-of-age story that follows Bee as she navigates the sudden change in her community and the ensuing confusion brought on by adolescence. Bee is dealing with complicated family dynamics and learning that things aren’t always as she expects.
While this read did leave me with nostalgia for the ease of life in the 80s, it did hammer home that a story such as this could happen anywhere. Our Little World is a great choice if you’re in the mood for a suspenseful mystery.
Special thanks to NetGalley & Dutton for a free ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is a strong, gripping coming-of-age story that follows Bee as she navigates the sudden change in her community and the ensuing confusion brought on by adolescence. Bee is dealing with complicated family dynamics and learning that things aren’t always as she expects.
While this read did leave me with nostalgia for the ease of life in the 80s, it did hammer home that a story such as this could happen anywhere. Our Little World is a great choice if you’re in the mood for a suspenseful mystery.
Special thanks to NetGalley & Dutton for a free ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Bee is a 7th grader enjoying a summer of fun with the new neighbors, especially Max the 7th-grade boy. Until Max's little sister goes missing while they are at the lake swimming. Life turns upside down for not only Bee and her sister, Audrina, but the entire small town. Bee and Audrina are your typical sisters, the best of friends and the worst of enemies. Bee is constantly envious of her sister's charisma. This book isn't just about the disappearance of Sally the neighbor girl, it's about sisterhood and the struggles of growing up not feeling like you are good enough and in the shadow of your sibling. The book kept me intrigued, but sometimes almost felt like a memoir and not a fictitious story. I had to remind myself that these characters were made up. The end had me for sure. 4.5 stars. Thank you, NetGalley for the eARC.