By Jerry Spinelli
Genre Middle Grade Historical Fiction
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis
Cammie O'Reilly lives and unusual life. Her father is the warden at the Hancock County prison and they live in an apartment on prison grounds. When Cammie was a baby her mother died saving her life. Now at the cusp of 13 her need for a mother has made her desperate. Finding a mother figure in a prison probably isn't the best idea but desperate times call for desperate measures.
First Sentence
It's a birdhouse now.
I'm not a huge middle grade fan so I'm not sure why this one ended up on my tbr list but it did and I'm very grateful. Actually, I think it's right on the line between middle grade and YA.
This was such a beautiful little story about a girl healing from the death of the mother she never knew. I found Cammie a bit of a brat at the beginning of the book and though I could clearly see why she was the way she was it still bothered me. Eventually she started to grow on me and I became very invested in her happiness.
I've heard people have a problem with this one because they think there's some stereotypical racism going on and I just have to smack my face. As I listened to his one I didn't have a clue what anyone's race was because no one in the book mentions race. They all treat each other the same which I'll admit was rare as this book takes place in 1959 but there you have it. Sheesh! Some people!
Anywho! The story wasn't perfect. I found some things to be skeptical about but I also found a thousand little moments that tugged at my heart strings. I really ended up liking it. I want to read more of Spinelli's books now.
Should you read it
I would highly recommend this one.
I'll have to look into this one. I enjoy middle grade stuff still.
ReplyDeleteIt was right on the cusp of middle grade and YA. I wonder what you’d think.
DeleteI've never been a huge fan of Spinelli, but this one sounds like it's worth trying. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is the only one I’ve read. I’ve heard the others aren’t great.
DeleteSounds interesting. I've to admit that it's the prison element that intrigued me the most. Will have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteIt was a very interesting look at it.
DeleteThis sounds like something I should get my niece! I bet she'd love it.
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
Yeah. I think kids will like it.
DeleteI really liked this one, too. Glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI don't read much historical fiction, but I do love middle grade. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. It sounds like something I might enjoy, but I'm not sure. I'll have to look at it.
ReplyDeleteI actually really like middle grade for some reason...I think perhaps it has less of the annoying romance angst of YA!
ReplyDeleteI always find it interesting when a bunch of people get up in arms about something in a book that I don't see any issue with. So many social justice warriors today. Glad you ended up enjoying it :)
I'm not really a fan of MG, either, but if it borders on YA, then it works better for me.
ReplyDeleteI guess these SJWs that see everything as racist would hate Gone with the Wind. Or, everything written before 1995. -_-