michelletheshell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ladyofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This book swept me away just as soon as I opened the cover and read the first page. It's a character driven, action packed, and a little bit of surviving against the world book.
I fell in love with all the characters, though I think my favorite was Janey (for reasons!).
I think you will be falling for this book just as much as I do, and become part of the Gas Station Pagans.
Five beautiful stars!
I fell in love with all the characters, though I think my favorite was Janey (for reasons!).
I think you will be falling for this book just as much as I do, and become part of the Gas Station Pagans.
Five beautiful stars!
missprint_'s review against another edition
4.0
Fourteen-year-old Amelia has been taking care of things at home for a while by the time her mama passes. She knows all about running the family gas station and she's fair to middling when it comes to taking care of her younger brother and sister, Earle and Lucey.
The only problem is, Melia isn't sure that the state will see it that way if anyone finds out they don't have an adult taking care of them. It's bad enough that Melia is scraping the bottom of the barrel to keep the gas station afloat while Harley Blevins eyes them with a mind to buy--or run them out of business. Melia certainly has no intention of letting her and her siblings wind up in foster care and split up. No way.
All Melia has to do is keep her family together and keep the gas station running until she comes of age and can adopt Earle and Lucey. No easy feat with no adult in sight. When a hobo literally falls in her path, Melia thinks she might have found exactly what she needs to keep everyone fooled. She just needs everyone to play along for a little while in Lucky Strikes (2016) by Louis Bayard.
Lucky Strikes is Bayard's first historical novel written for younger readers. This book is pretty solid middle grade fare although because Amelia is fourteen it technically falls under the umbrella of YA.
This book is narrated by Melia in a breezy and conversational style. Throughout the book she is talking to someone (addressed as "you") although readers don't learn who exactly that is until the final pages of the story.
Bayard uses his expertise as an author of historical fiction to bring 1934 Walnut Ridge, Virginia to life. Lucky Strikes is filled with vivid imagery and detailed descriptions that will immediately bring readers into the story as well as its unusual settings. This novel makes 1934 and the Great Depression immediately approachable to readers without bogging the story down in extraneous historical facts.
Amelia is a plucky, self-starter of a heroine who doesn't waste time on sentimentality when there is work to be done. While she often feels a bit too old to be a fourteen-year-old--particularly because of her pragmatism--it is possibly a side-effect of her having sensibilities from a very different time. The story also largely works because Amelia is fourteen which lends urgency to her need to find an adult to act as a stand-in parent.
Lucky Strikes is a madcap story about perseverance, friendship, and how sometimes family can be found in the most unlikely places. Recommended for fans of historical fiction and fast-paced stories.
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
The only problem is, Melia isn't sure that the state will see it that way if anyone finds out they don't have an adult taking care of them. It's bad enough that Melia is scraping the bottom of the barrel to keep the gas station afloat while Harley Blevins eyes them with a mind to buy--or run them out of business. Melia certainly has no intention of letting her and her siblings wind up in foster care and split up. No way.
All Melia has to do is keep her family together and keep the gas station running until she comes of age and can adopt Earle and Lucey. No easy feat with no adult in sight. When a hobo literally falls in her path, Melia thinks she might have found exactly what she needs to keep everyone fooled. She just needs everyone to play along for a little while in Lucky Strikes (2016) by Louis Bayard.
Lucky Strikes is Bayard's first historical novel written for younger readers. This book is pretty solid middle grade fare although because Amelia is fourteen it technically falls under the umbrella of YA.
This book is narrated by Melia in a breezy and conversational style. Throughout the book she is talking to someone (addressed as "you") although readers don't learn who exactly that is until the final pages of the story.
Bayard uses his expertise as an author of historical fiction to bring 1934 Walnut Ridge, Virginia to life. Lucky Strikes is filled with vivid imagery and detailed descriptions that will immediately bring readers into the story as well as its unusual settings. This novel makes 1934 and the Great Depression immediately approachable to readers without bogging the story down in extraneous historical facts.
Amelia is a plucky, self-starter of a heroine who doesn't waste time on sentimentality when there is work to be done. While she often feels a bit too old to be a fourteen-year-old--particularly because of her pragmatism--it is possibly a side-effect of her having sensibilities from a very different time. The story also largely works because Amelia is fourteen which lends urgency to her need to find an adult to act as a stand-in parent.
Lucky Strikes is a madcap story about perseverance, friendship, and how sometimes family can be found in the most unlikely places. Recommended for fans of historical fiction and fast-paced stories.
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
britomarte's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book I wish I could have written. The pacing was stellar, the characters were whole and alive, and the voice was second to none.
To make it even better, it's set in Warren County, where I was born and where my grandfather still lives.
To make it even better, it's set in Warren County, where I was born and where my grandfather still lives.
carabee's review against another edition
5.0
Though I'm still unsure I agree with the younger YA designation, I am confident readers of all ages can find a character to love in this book. A complex, non-stereotypical female protagonist, an unconventional family, a model for handling hardships, and a great voice-y style. The rural setting was another draw for me, and it was nice to see the beauty and community of the small town alongside the potential for judgment and busybodies, a balance of the good and bad where most books tend to choose just one side.
prof_shoff's review against another edition
5.0
This book really grew on me. I was intrigued enough to buy it, interested enough to start reading today, pulled in enough to read the whole thing in one sitting and, in the end, I just loved it. I laughed out loud more than once; I even cried a little, too. Definitely a keeper!
rikkia's review against another edition
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Violence, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
almo's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, to be completely honest, I requested this book because of its cover. I mean, of course, I also read the blurb, but the cover is what really tickled me bloomers: gorgeous! Thankfully, after having read the book, I can say the same for the actual story as well.
I think this might be the first time I only made one note on my Kindle while reading. I wasn't even searching for things to criticise because I was too damn busy with reading. I know right?!
And now that I'm done, I still can't think of anything negative, or anything that I would've liked to see differently at all. Which means this book is damn well near perfect.
I cried twice. TWICE! One time in the beginning, when Amelia's mother died (it's no spoiler if it's in the blurb, right?) and then another time near the ending (which I did could not have predicted to play out the way it did).
It's 1934 and 14-year-old Amelia, better known as Melia, runs a gas station together with her mother. She also has two younger siblings, Earle and Janey, who help out when they can, but are more focussed on being 'regular children' and going to school.
I LOVED that both Melia and her mother are self-made car mechanics. They can simply hear what's wrong with a car and then fix it. Wearing car mechanic matching overalls and taking care of shit the same way a man would do is very impressive, especially because this is set in 1934 when women were still supposed to wear dresses, and cook and clean for the menfolk. Well, as Melia could've said: "Ain't nobody got time for that!".
The story is told in the first person by Melia, and she writes the way she talks:
"I set there just in case she did"
"...and they come right into my bedchamber..."
It only took me two pages or so to get used to that. It's not like you have to try very hard to decipher those kinds of phrases.
It's a good thing Melia's such a strong character because after her mama dies, she has to take care of her siblings, keep the gas station running, and fight off the evil Goliath figure, Harley Blevins, who wants to claim the gas station and add it to his gas station collection.
When Hiram Watts, an old and smelly hobo, literally comes falling out of a truck onto one of the gas pumps of Brenda's Oasis (the name of the gas station), Melia decides to take him in and convince the outside world that Hiram is her daddy. It's going to be a challenge to do so because that outside world is rather judgemental, having called Melia and her family the 'Gas Station Pagans' (which is also the original title of this book if I'm correct) because they refused to go to church and whatnot.
But guys, this book....it has everything you could wish for! Or maybe I should say that it has everything that I could wish for. It has dysfunctional characters, a strong heroine (who's far from perfect, mind you), a little bit of awkward romance, unconditional love, suspense, heartwarming actions, and gut-punching moments.
The writing is superb, I was totally convinced of the characters and the world surrounding them. Even though at times, nothing happens at all, I wasn't bored for a single second during these 320 pages.
Remember I was talking about the only note I made while reading? I bet you've been dying to read about it, skimming through the boring parts to get to it. OR, you just scrolled up again to look for it because the thought of it already left your brain again. Either way, here it is:
"Fuck me, this is like Little Women with gas pumps in Virginia!
And it sort of is! A book with strong female characters yet still leaving room for the male heroes to shine as well. Melia would be the Jo of this story, abbreviated name included. Brilliant. I'm giving this one 5 shiny brownies and a firm recommendation for basically anyone. It's targeted at young readers, and anyone who's over 12 years old should be able to enjoy it!
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
I think this might be the first time I only made one note on my Kindle while reading. I wasn't even searching for things to criticise because I was too damn busy with reading. I know right?!
And now that I'm done, I still can't think of anything negative, or anything that I would've liked to see differently at all. Which means this book is damn well near perfect.
I cried twice. TWICE! One time in the beginning, when Amelia's mother died (it's no spoiler if it's in the blurb, right?) and then another time near the ending (which I did could not have predicted to play out the way it did).
It's 1934 and 14-year-old Amelia, better known as Melia, runs a gas station together with her mother. She also has two younger siblings, Earle and Janey, who help out when they can, but are more focussed on being 'regular children' and going to school.
I LOVED that both Melia and her mother are self-made car mechanics. They can simply hear what's wrong with a car and then fix it. Wearing car mechanic matching overalls and taking care of shit the same way a man would do is very impressive, especially because this is set in 1934 when women were still supposed to wear dresses, and cook and clean for the menfolk. Well, as Melia could've said: "Ain't nobody got time for that!".
The story is told in the first person by Melia, and she writes the way she talks:
"I set there just in case she did"
"...and they come right into my bedchamber..."
It only took me two pages or so to get used to that. It's not like you have to try very hard to decipher those kinds of phrases.
It's a good thing Melia's such a strong character because after her mama dies, she has to take care of her siblings, keep the gas station running, and fight off the evil Goliath figure, Harley Blevins, who wants to claim the gas station and add it to his gas station collection.
When Hiram Watts, an old and smelly hobo, literally comes falling out of a truck onto one of the gas pumps of Brenda's Oasis (the name of the gas station), Melia decides to take him in and convince the outside world that Hiram is her daddy. It's going to be a challenge to do so because that outside world is rather judgemental, having called Melia and her family the 'Gas Station Pagans' (which is also the original title of this book if I'm correct) because they refused to go to church and whatnot.
But guys, this book....it has everything you could wish for! Or maybe I should say that it has everything that I could wish for. It has dysfunctional characters, a strong heroine (who's far from perfect, mind you), a little bit of awkward romance, unconditional love, suspense, heartwarming actions, and gut-punching moments.
The writing is superb, I was totally convinced of the characters and the world surrounding them. Even though at times, nothing happens at all, I wasn't bored for a single second during these 320 pages.
Remember I was talking about the only note I made while reading? I bet you've been dying to read about it, skimming through the boring parts to get to it. OR, you just scrolled up again to look for it because the thought of it already left your brain again. Either way, here it is:
"Fuck me, this is like Little Women with gas pumps in Virginia!
And it sort of is! A book with strong female characters yet still leaving room for the male heroes to shine as well. Melia would be the Jo of this story, abbreviated name included. Brilliant. I'm giving this one 5 shiny brownies and a firm recommendation for basically anyone. It's targeted at young readers, and anyone who's over 12 years old should be able to enjoy it!
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
mynameisacolour's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25