deltajuliet83's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad, just a little too much like an after school special for my taste.
tills13's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve read this book dozens of times since I was given a family members old copy and I know I’ll read it dozens of times more, yes it is dated and of course certain phrases and terms wouldn’t be acceptable if it was published today but I don’t think that should stop anybody from reading it. It had a huge impact on me as a child and I’ve read it at least once a year since
sarahcoller's review against another edition
3.0
I probably wouldn't actually have given this four stars if this were my first time reading it...but there is a ton of childhood nostalgia wrapped up in this one. Now that I'm a Christian mother, I can see how much Judy Blume influenced me, opened doors that didn't need to be opened at my young age. I guess I sort of resent her for that. I don't get adults who purposefully take away kids' innocence. Seems abusive to me.
Anyway, back to 1988 or so... I always loved this story and that's saying something because I've never really been into the setting (American Southwest) and setting played a big part in this one. Weirdly, I was also obsessed with Barbara Kingsolver's The Bean Trees---similar setting. Anyway, I always felt for Davey. I thought it was pretty messed up that she had the worst experience of all the family members on the night her father died but no one thinks to get her help for months. She just sort of drifted, having to find healing in her own way. Blume makes that out to be ok. As a mother, I think that's a pretty messed up thing to do to your kid. At the time I read this, I was having my own issues with a self-absorbed mom so I guess that's why I found Davey relatable.
Reading this today, I figured out what's always bugged me about Judy Blume's writing (besides the crudeness)... She writes choppy thoughts. Like Dr. Seuss for teens. Trying to imagine her characters' conversations in my head makes them all sound really robotic.
Other annoying flaws that I didn't pick up on the first time include the "nowhere" character of Wolf. That went nowhere...what was the point of bringing in that character? I can't even see how he caused Davey to grow or change. Same with Jane, really. I mean, it gave Blume a chance to preach at her readers about the issue of teen alcoholism but we find that Davey has her own reasons for not drinking so why bring her in? Better yet...why not flesh these characters' stories out and make them a little more important to the storyline.
You know what? Now that I wrote all that out, I'm more annoyed than I was when I started. This book is getting three stars instead. Ha!
Anyway, back to 1988 or so... I always loved this story and that's saying something because I've never really been into the setting (American Southwest) and setting played a big part in this one. Weirdly, I was also obsessed with Barbara Kingsolver's The Bean Trees---similar setting. Anyway, I always felt for Davey. I thought it was pretty messed up that she had the worst experience of all the family members on the night her father died but no one thinks to get her help for months. She just sort of drifted, having to find healing in her own way. Blume makes that out to be ok. As a mother, I think that's a pretty messed up thing to do to your kid. At the time I read this, I was having my own issues with a self-absorbed mom so I guess that's why I found Davey relatable.
Reading this today, I figured out what's always bugged me about Judy Blume's writing (besides the crudeness)... She writes choppy thoughts. Like Dr. Seuss for teens. Trying to imagine her characters' conversations in my head makes them all sound really robotic.
Other annoying flaws that I didn't pick up on the first time include the "nowhere" character of Wolf. That went nowhere...what was the point of bringing in that character? I can't even see how he caused Davey to grow or change. Same with Jane, really. I mean, it gave Blume a chance to preach at her readers about the issue of teen alcoholism but we find that Davey has her own reasons for not drinking so why bring her in? Better yet...why not flesh these characters' stories out and make them a little more important to the storyline.
You know what? Now that I wrote all that out, I'm more annoyed than I was when I started. This book is getting three stars instead. Ha!
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 STARS
"Davey's father was murdered when a break-in at his store went horribly wrong. Now, Davey, her mother and her little brother are left shattered, with no idea how to go about rebuilding their lives. The family flees to New Mexico, to escape the painful memories. In this alien place, with its arid landscape and sunbaked earth, Davey meets Wolf, a mysterious boy who understands her without asking questions. Slowly she begins to piece the broken fragments of herself together again." (From Amazon)
I never really got into this novel. I have read it twice and always feel a little distant from the characters.
"Davey's father was murdered when a break-in at his store went horribly wrong. Now, Davey, her mother and her little brother are left shattered, with no idea how to go about rebuilding their lives. The family flees to New Mexico, to escape the painful memories. In this alien place, with its arid landscape and sunbaked earth, Davey meets Wolf, a mysterious boy who understands her without asking questions. Slowly she begins to piece the broken fragments of herself together again." (From Amazon)
I never really got into this novel. I have read it twice and always feel a little distant from the characters.
jamelba81's review against another edition
4.0
I've been wanting to read this book ever since I saw that there was going to be a movie version. I honestly can't remember if I have read this book before. I think that I probably did, but it also could have been "Deenie". That being said, it was an easy read that I finished in one sitting. I'm an avid Judy fan, so she can do no wrong in my book.
bdania's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mgross22's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
kandicez's review against another edition
3.0
I was fairly obsessed with both Judy Blume and Paula Danziger. They wrote about real teenage issues and I read and reread all of their books numerous times. This was no exception. I have not read it in close to four decades, so I was very interested to see how I would feel about it at my age. I was thrilled to find that Blume had not lost her “bloom” so to speak. Corny much? O_o
This story is about loss and grief, but in true Judy Blume style so much more is addressed. Davey is a 15 year old girl who loses her father in a convenience store shooting. The convenience store is located in Atlantic City and owned by her parents. Her mother, in an effort to escape the grief runs across the country to her sister and brother in law who live in Los Alamitos.
Davey is having a tough time. Anyone would who lost a parent so violently and suddenly, not to mention the stress of leaving everything familiar. When the stay is extended, Davey and her younger brother Jason are enrolled in school in Los Alamitos. As part of her healing and grieving process Davey takes up hiking, becomes a candy striper, is in the school musical and makes a few friends. Unfortunately, her closest friend has problems of her own.
There are issues all over the place. The death of Davey’s father is the catalyst for the story, but there is so much more going on. Just like in real life. Grief, depression, alcoholism, heavy-handed parenting by people who are not actually parents, crushes, and so, so much more. I really enjoyed the story this time around. There were a few things that surprised me, but when I thought about when it was actually written, I was no longer surprised.
Judy Blume still holds (most of) the appeal she had when I was young.
This story is about loss and grief, but in true Judy Blume style so much more is addressed. Davey is a 15 year old girl who loses her father in a convenience store shooting. The convenience store is located in Atlantic City and owned by her parents. Her mother, in an effort to escape the grief runs across the country to her sister and brother in law who live in Los Alamitos.
Davey is having a tough time. Anyone would who lost a parent so violently and suddenly, not to mention the stress of leaving everything familiar. When the stay is extended, Davey and her younger brother Jason are enrolled in school in Los Alamitos. As part of her healing and grieving process Davey takes up hiking, becomes a candy striper, is in the school musical and makes a few friends. Unfortunately, her closest friend has problems of her own.
There are issues all over the place. The death of Davey’s father is the catalyst for the story, but there is so much more going on. Just like in real life. Grief, depression, alcoholism, heavy-handed parenting by people who are not actually parents, crushes, and so, so much more. I really enjoyed the story this time around. There were a few things that surprised me, but when I thought about when it was actually written, I was no longer surprised.
Judy Blume still holds (most of) the appeal she had when I was young.
charlee92's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I liked this one. the topic of loss of a loved one is done really well. approachable but not too young.
runrina11's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25