Casey Larken's father is dead and his half brother Davey inherited dad Joseph's multimillion dollar fortune. Davey was the only "legitimate" child. Joseph was a pretty awful guy, as we learn when the book opens with his sparsely attended funeral. Casey- well, he got a house and $50,000 and the house turns out to be … Continue reading Greetings From Asbury Park – Daniel H. Turtel
Tag: #comingofage
Chevy in the Hole – Kelsey Ronan
Let me start by saying this is an AMAZING book, successfully jumping timelines and generations in two families from Flint, Michigan and portraying the history of the city in an engaging, emotionally meaningful and factual way. I'm one of those people who paid attention to Flint, Michigan pretty much since I saw Roger and Me … Continue reading Chevy in the Hole – Kelsey Ronan
Four Treasures of the Sky – Jenny Tinghui Zhang (Audio)
This is a powerful, enlightening, thoughtful, beautifully written -- and devastating story. The audio version was worth the time, with an extraordinarily talented narrator, Katharine Chin. Audio is particularly valuable when as here, the writing is exquisite. But, since I have no writing to reference, I may get some details wrong. Sometime in the late … Continue reading Four Treasures of the Sky – Jenny Tinghui Zhang (Audio)
All Day is a Long Time – David Sanchez
David Sanchez has written an important, compelling, disturbing, sympathetic and at times infuriating novel about addiction. It is written from the perspective and random thoughts of protagonist David, who at fourteen tries crack for the first time. It reads like a dream and reminds us always of Davids humanity, as he steals from family, becomes … Continue reading All Day is a Long Time – David Sanchez
The High House – Jessie Greengrass
The High House starts slowly but stick with it. Greengrass soon builds her story and pulls a variety of threads together in this lovely and sad and believable portrayal of a time when it is dramatically foreseeable that human habitation of earth will end due to climate change. Francesca is Caro's stepmother. She is a … Continue reading The High House – Jessie Greengrass
The Last House on the Street – Diane Chamberlain
How does Ellie, a twenty year old pharmacy student at University of North Carolina, born and raised the daughter of a pharmacist in Round Hill evolve into a freedom fighter, voter registration worker, civil rights activist in 1965? What does this mean to everything she ever took for granted in life? A personal note: I … Continue reading The Last House on the Street – Diane Chamberlain
Stork Bite – L. K. Simonds
In 1913, David Walker lived with his Gramps, his Mama, his Papa and his Catahoula Hound, Huck, "obedient only to David." in one moment along the Pigs trail, while David is duck hunting with his grandpa's wartime Sharps .22 rifle, his life changes dramatically. He kills a white man, and the fact it is in … Continue reading Stork Bite – L. K. Simonds
Buses are a Comin’: Memoir of a Freedom Rider – Charles Person with Richard Rooker
This is the single best coming-of-age memoir I have ever read. I have read and enjoyed many. It is 1961, and eighteen-year-old Charles Person needs his parents'' permission to become the youngest of the original Freedom Riders of 1961. James Farmer of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) led up the plan to test the … Continue reading Buses are a Comin’: Memoir of a Freedom Rider – Charles Person with Richard Rooker
Unspeakable Things – Jess Lourey
It is a supreme compliment from me to say this book reminded me of Jane Smiley's work. Cassandra "Cassie" McDowell and her older sister Persephone "Sephie" are 12 and about 14 when we meet them, living on a farm and going to school in Lilydale, MN. Cassie is the narrator and her character is why … Continue reading Unspeakable Things – Jess Lourey
They Called me Bookworm 