3.6 AVERAGE

funny reflective medium-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

Enjoyable story about the inhabitants of a small road and how their secrets reach a climax in the sweltering summer of 1976. Largely written from the viewpoint of 10 year old Gracie, it's a narrative filled with black jacks, custard creams and Angel Delight. I was 10 in 1976 and the author captures the lethargy and heaviness of the weather, and the sheer greed and mad imagination of small girls very well. The plot is a little overburdened but the writing is humorous and naturalistic so 4 stars.

Boring.

This is a book that should be read quickly. And by quickly, I mean within the same week.

It's a book that is written beautifully. There are many sentences that I absolutely loved. But I put the book aside for awhile to finish other things, and when I came back to it, there were way to many characters & secrets & nuances to remember.

This is a book with a LOT going on, and with almost nothing as it seems.

And it's definitely not a farming memoir. :-) I downloaded it after seeing it in a bookshop window. Apparently I had never read the back of the book... so I was really surprised when I started reading.

Lovely prose, very sweet young narrator, and, above all, what a great overall message: do not judge. Really enjoyed it.
lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Funny, quirky and a good mystery. Would love more by this author.

The beautiful prose is so simple and perfectly descriptive of every day life and how we treat others and the “other” in our community.
funny mysterious reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Loved that the children were the main characters/narrators! I thought it would be more mystery, but it was more of a reflective book about relationships and neighbors and holding secrets 

This book really blew me away. Bought it on a whim in the Atlanta airport and so glad I did. Read it, just do it; I'm going to be passing it on to a friend and recommending it to everyone. Also, if you are in a book club, do this one next!