greeneyesread's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This is my second time reading this book. I first read it after the author personally signed and gave it to me as a gift . This book grabs you in and keeps you there.
There are historical parts and some truth to growing up in the south in 1962/1963. I came to love Samatha and her story, she is a bright girl that understands things that many white adults didn’t at the time. I enjoyed it and finished it within 24 hours.
There are historical parts and some truth to growing up in the south in 1962/1963. I came to love Samatha and her story, she is a bright girl that understands things that many white adults didn’t at the time. I enjoyed it and finished it within 24 hours.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Decent historical fiction about life in Jackson MS in 1962/1963 - what it was like to be white, slightly different, and not totally understand what segregation and racism were. Sam's story, starting with her wanting to be Mary Alice (she of the bra, cute outfits and split-level house) to moving beyond that to becoming a photographer, is rather ordinary. It's the events around her and the way in which she sees them that makes this a better story.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
abigailbat's review against another edition
2.0
On the one hand, I can certainly see classroom applications for this book. It's a middle-grade-appropriate book about the heartbreaking violence of the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi in 1962-1963. On the other hand, the same filter that softens the violence and makes the book appropriate for tween readers also distances the reader from the protagonist. There's a lot of telling, rather than showing, and the writing felt like the teen books I read when I was a tween in the early-mid-90s (and not in a good way). Teachers doing units on Civil Rights should definitely be aware of this book, but I don't know that it's going to have wide appeal on its own.
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Erin
BFF Charm: Yay!
Swoonworthy Scale: -2
Talky Talk: Like Erin When She's Tired Or Angry
Bonus Factors: Mississippi, Crazy Connections
Relationship Status: Fair Cabin Friend
Read the full book report here.
BFF Charm: Yay!
Swoonworthy Scale: -2
Talky Talk: Like Erin When She's Tired Or Angry
Bonus Factors: Mississippi, Crazy Connections
Relationship Status: Fair Cabin Friend
Read the full book report here.
debbie61497's review against another edition
4.0
A fast young adult read about life in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement. Very well written!
dtaylorbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This one almost ended up being a DNF but, literally, right at the middle page of the book, a plot element caught my eye that made me want to keep pushing through. Now, I can't remember what that element was. I can say it was a piece of action in an otherwise rather inactive story. It was a catalyst enough to keep me turning the pages.
But unfortunately I didn't have any kind of "OMG I'm so glad I kept reading!" revelations. The story was okay and I liked the writing enough but I don't think it popped. There wasn't too much that stood out, that struck me as being really powerful. I think it's because I felt the story was rather run-of-the-mill. It's the story of a Yankee white girl moving down to Jackson, Mississippi where outcasts are just as unwanted as anyone with a hint of color in their skin. Unfortunately I just didn't feel it was original enough.
There was a major historical element in the book, the sit-in at the drug store counter, that the MC was placed into but I just didn't feel it. I didn't feel the hum of the air or the hatred in the waitress's eyes or the fear at being caught "on the wrong side" of the fight. It was a girl hidden behind a camera documenting an event that others wanted to happen but they didn't want proof of.
On the other side I liked the growth of Sam throughout the story. You get a real sense of just how immature she is for her age at the beginning of the book and how self-conscious she was about her differences from everyone else. You wanted Stone to not be the Kreeper that kept on being insinuated because Sam liked him so much. But at the same time you wanted to slap her upside the head because of the way she kept convincing herself that he wasn't bad. By the end you could see her as an adult. By staying hidden behind that lens, she developed the backbone she needed to embrace her differences, to take a stand against the popular opinion, to work for what's right. You can actually see her cracking her way out of the shell wrapped around her and I loved her character for it.
But ultimately I just couldn't get myself involved in the story. It's not that I wasn't interested in the events going on, or the turmoil going on in Sam's life. It didn't matter how much I wanted to get engrossed; I just couldn't. I don't really think there's a legitimate reason for me not too. The writing was pretty good and as I said, I loved Sam. But I just wasn't feeling it. I think I felt it lacked passion for what was going on outside of Sam. Sam was a pure focus with everything else taking second chair. Maybe there was too much focus put on Sam and not enough on what was going on around her. Maybe reading it I couldn't get myself far enough out of her head to really feel what was going on. I'm not sure. I do think a lot of people would really like this book but it wasn't for me.
But unfortunately I didn't have any kind of "OMG I'm so glad I kept reading!" revelations. The story was okay and I liked the writing enough but I don't think it popped. There wasn't too much that stood out, that struck me as being really powerful. I think it's because I felt the story was rather run-of-the-mill. It's the story of a Yankee white girl moving down to Jackson, Mississippi where outcasts are just as unwanted as anyone with a hint of color in their skin. Unfortunately I just didn't feel it was original enough.
There was a major historical element in the book, the sit-in at the drug store counter, that the MC was placed into but I just didn't feel it. I didn't feel the hum of the air or the hatred in the waitress's eyes or the fear at being caught "on the wrong side" of the fight. It was a girl hidden behind a camera documenting an event that others wanted to happen but they didn't want proof of.
On the other side I liked the growth of Sam throughout the story. You get a real sense of just how immature she is for her age at the beginning of the book and how self-conscious she was about her differences from everyone else. You wanted Stone to not be the Kreeper that kept on being insinuated because Sam liked him so much. But at the same time you wanted to slap her upside the head because of the way she kept convincing herself that he wasn't bad. By the end you could see her as an adult. By staying hidden behind that lens, she developed the backbone she needed to embrace her differences, to take a stand against the popular opinion, to work for what's right. You can actually see her cracking her way out of the shell wrapped around her and I loved her character for it.
But ultimately I just couldn't get myself involved in the story. It's not that I wasn't interested in the events going on, or the turmoil going on in Sam's life. It didn't matter how much I wanted to get engrossed; I just couldn't. I don't really think there's a legitimate reason for me not too. The writing was pretty good and as I said, I loved Sam. But I just wasn't feeling it. I think I felt it lacked passion for what was going on outside of Sam. Sam was a pure focus with everything else taking second chair. Maybe there was too much focus put on Sam and not enough on what was going on around her. Maybe reading it I couldn't get myself far enough out of her head to really feel what was going on. I'm not sure. I do think a lot of people would really like this book but it wasn't for me.
anenbydragon's review
5.0
"If all those white men were this scared and angry over black people registering to vote, then voting must be a powerful, powerful weapon" -Sam
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read with powerful themes that people need to be aware of. This book brings to light a lot of the issues that we are still facing in society today and I highly recommend.
This book does discuss heavy topics so please be aware of the TW: abuse, death of a loved one, racism
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read with powerful themes that people need to be aware of. This book brings to light a lot of the issues that we are still facing in society today and I highly recommend.
This book does discuss heavy topics so please be aware of the TW: abuse, death of a loved one, racism
sarahherdrich's review
5.0
(ok well first my uncle gave me this christmas of 2012 and the fact that I hadn't read it until now is just really embarrassing)
Im really glad i finished this. It was a little slow at the beginning but she took the time to develop all the characters and it made the end so much more meaningful. McMullan does a really good job at showing both the darks and lights in sams situation and uses it to relate to photography.
Im really glad i finished this. It was a little slow at the beginning but she took the time to develop all the characters and it made the end so much more meaningful. McMullan does a really good job at showing both the darks and lights in sams situation and uses it to relate to photography.
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