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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
There’s something disconcerting about disliking a book where a child suffers horribly. It makes you feel like a heartless monster. But here I am, not liking Girlchild by Tupelo Hassman.
In this case, I don’t blame callousness for the dislike, but rather the clever way the story is told. Hassman has chosen to tell Rory Dawn Hendrix’s story by way of word collage. The novel is a mishmash of first-person narrative, social worker reports, and occasional chapters from the Girl Scout’s Handbook as translated by Rory. There’s also math problems, bartending guides, and other sort of wordy ephemera. What’s not there? A straight cohesive story that allows you to get close to the main character/narrator.
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In this case, I don’t blame callousness for the dislike, but rather the clever way the story is told. Hassman has chosen to tell Rory Dawn Hendrix’s story by way of word collage. The novel is a mishmash of first-person narrative, social worker reports, and occasional chapters from the Girl Scout’s Handbook as translated by Rory. There’s also math problems, bartending guides, and other sort of wordy ephemera. What’s not there? A straight cohesive story that allows you to get close to the main character/narrator.
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It took me a good 80 pages to get used to the format of the book. I liked the story, but would've liked it more if I fully understood everything from the beginning. I almost want to go back and reread now that I'm used to it!
While this book is cataloged as an adult book, it did win an Alex Award for adult books that appeal to a teen audiences. I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by the author. While it was difficult to keep the plot straight when listening to it, I really enjoyed the audiobook. My only issue with the book is that the ending seemed rushed and open ended. I think she handled the heavier content of this book great and I hope to see more from this author.
I never know how to rate books like this. It was beautifully written, which is probably why it won so many awards, but it was heart-breakingly depressing from start to finish. I liked it but I didn't. I was wonderful, but it wasn't.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Classism
Interestingly written. The subject matter, while tough at times, is compelling. I saw a lot of myself in Rory Dawn and a lot of where I grew up in the Calle. While my experiences were not hers,people are not so different. We all have secrets and different ways of coping when choices are made for us and not by us.
I can maybe understand why this has a lower rating but I don't agree with it. This book was meaningful. I know a lot of people think nothing really happens but that wasn't the point in the story. The premise was about daily life. Rory Dawn is poor white trailer trash but she's so intelligent that she lives in an in between world. She's too smart for the people in her trailer park and she's too trashy for the people in her school and community. They are holding their breath in anticipation for her to fail. Sometimes I think we get stuck on a predestined track for our lives and when you're so focused for so long on surviving, things like college and new clothes seem out of arms reach. Rory was precocious and quick and observant. This was a hard read for me and it felt close to my heart for personal reasons. The ending was significantly small but important.
I kept telling everyone I liked this book. And, then I realized that it took me over two months to read it--which it certainly shouldn't have, given its relatively unassuming length and short chapters. I think that I wanted to like this book-- I ALMOST liked this book.
The prose-poem style made it an interesting read, but I think that sometimes that same style also got in the way. The protagonist is likable enough, and the world that Hassman has created is believable. You can see the Calle in towns throughout America-- it could be in your city.
The book is poignant--at times--and gritty at others. Hassman does a good job of combining the two, but sometimes it feels lacking, perhaps because of the seemingly non-sensical additions (mostly within the realm of prose-poem like additions). Overall, it's a good read. With interesting, flawed characters, that you root for (and sometimes hate) all at once. It's a commentary on the cyclical nature often experienced by those in poverty, and the drastic ways out that everyone tries to find.
I enjoyed it-- it is not an addition to my favorites, nor will I revisit it to revel in it. For a first attempt, it is bold and relatively solid.
The prose-poem style made it an interesting read, but I think that sometimes that same style also got in the way. The protagonist is likable enough, and the world that Hassman has created is believable. You can see the Calle in towns throughout America-- it could be in your city.
The book is poignant--at times--and gritty at others. Hassman does a good job of combining the two, but sometimes it feels lacking, perhaps because of the seemingly non-sensical additions (mostly within the realm of prose-poem like additions). Overall, it's a good read. With interesting, flawed characters, that you root for (and sometimes hate) all at once. It's a commentary on the cyclical nature often experienced by those in poverty, and the drastic ways out that everyone tries to find.
I enjoyed it-- it is not an addition to my favorites, nor will I revisit it to revel in it. For a first attempt, it is bold and relatively solid.
There are some clever and beautiful lines in here if you're into that sort of thing.
I liked this book a lot. Interesting structure, and interesting point of view. It definitely took 50 pages or so to figure out the rhythm of it, but the story was compelling and kept me wanting to know how things would end.