lesliejerkins's review against another edition
3.0
Tough subject matter dealt with a poignant, not too heavy hand. Went fast, liked the characters.
booknerdnative's review against another edition
5.0
"You’d be surprised by the things you can walk through, when it’s necessary to keep walking"
Synopsis
Percy James set off one day to find her mother, Carletta, whom, for all of Percy's life, has struggled with addiction. Percy fears that her mother is caught in the snow storm, strung out on meth, deep in the woods of Northern Michigan.
While Percy is looking for her mother, she comes across a baby, abandoned and freezing in a room located at a drug dealers farmhouse. She makes a split second decision to save this baby girl, and try and take the child to safety. Percy endures the isolation of a blizzarding, burning cold climate, and the sacrifice of her own life as she desperately tries to evade a small band of criminals that are tracking her down
Thoughts // Review
This book was far more witty, warm, and funny, than it had any right to be. Although this book was filled with almost numbingly dark circumstances, the author has an incredible talent for respectfully lightening situations by using humor; but, also by using the warmth of love, hope, tenderness, and the chance of change.
I thought Percy was an excellent protagonist. She was brave, courageous, and everything I would hope for in a daughter someday. She took on the life that she was given, and chose to be better. She chose to be the change that breaks the pattern. I felt a swell of pride and admiration for her as she braved her journey, and never let anything stand against her.
It was interesting to see the narration from Shelton's (the drug dealer in pursuit of baby Jenna) perspective as he tries to rationalize every decision that he is making, no matter how absurd or out of this world it may sound to someone who is sober and well. At times I found myself feeling sorry for him as he tried to make sense of his decisions, and then had to remember that everything happening to him, he was doing to himself. The author did an excellent job with his character and making him, and the lifestyle he lives, feel real and authentic.
As Percy endures these life threatening circumstances to save the life of this baby, I can't help but see Percy trying to save her own life. This baby that she is trudging through the deep woods of Northern Michigan, is a baby that could have very well ended up living the same life that Percy lives (if the baby would have survived to be a teenager). Percy was doing for this sweetgirl, what she could never have done for herself.
Subjectively, this is probably my favorite book of 2017 so far, and I adored the protagonist, Percy, as she explores her own courage and sacrifices everything to save a life.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
Synopsis
Percy James set off one day to find her mother, Carletta, whom, for all of Percy's life, has struggled with addiction. Percy fears that her mother is caught in the snow storm, strung out on meth, deep in the woods of Northern Michigan.
While Percy is looking for her mother, she comes across a baby, abandoned and freezing in a room located at a drug dealers farmhouse. She makes a split second decision to save this baby girl, and try and take the child to safety. Percy endures the isolation of a blizzarding, burning cold climate, and the sacrifice of her own life as she desperately tries to evade a small band of criminals that are tracking her down
Thoughts // Review
This book was far more witty, warm, and funny, than it had any right to be. Although this book was filled with almost numbingly dark circumstances, the author has an incredible talent for respectfully lightening situations by using humor; but, also by using the warmth of love, hope, tenderness, and the chance of change.
I thought Percy was an excellent protagonist. She was brave, courageous, and everything I would hope for in a daughter someday. She took on the life that she was given, and chose to be better. She chose to be the change that breaks the pattern. I felt a swell of pride and admiration for her as she braved her journey, and never let anything stand against her.
It was interesting to see the narration from Shelton's (the drug dealer in pursuit of baby Jenna) perspective as he tries to rationalize every decision that he is making, no matter how absurd or out of this world it may sound to someone who is sober and well. At times I found myself feeling sorry for him as he tried to make sense of his decisions, and then had to remember that everything happening to him, he was doing to himself. The author did an excellent job with his character and making him, and the lifestyle he lives, feel real and authentic.
As Percy endures these life threatening circumstances to save the life of this baby, I can't help but see Percy trying to save her own life. This baby that she is trudging through the deep woods of Northern Michigan, is a baby that could have very well ended up living the same life that Percy lives (if the baby would have survived to be a teenager). Percy was doing for this sweetgirl, what she could never have done for herself.
Subjectively, this is probably my favorite book of 2017 so far, and I adored the protagonist, Percy, as she explores her own courage and sacrifices everything to save a life.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
donnek's review against another edition
2.0
Meh??? I knew at about the 25% that this wasn't really my type of story and/or book but I wanted to know what happened to the baby, Jenna. I found the communication and relationship between Percy and Portis amusing and entertaining. However, the rest of the story was awful and depressing.
theshiftyshadow's review against another edition
2.0
Starts really well but just kind of peters out towards the end.
allaboutthembrains's review against another edition
3.0
It's an enjoyable read and I was invested in the story and felt for the characters. Nothing special, just good
deannar's review against another edition
3.0
I'll admit: I should have saved this to read for another time. It was already late when I started. I'll also admit: the main POV is excellent, but I didn't care at all about the POV of a tweaker who nearly kills... um, I lost count of how many people he almost killed on purpose or by neglect.
So I rushed through some parts, enjoyed others, and was left a bit heartsick at the very frank descriptions of life for the child of an addict. But this does end with hope.
So I rushed through some parts, enjoyed others, and was left a bit heartsick at the very frank descriptions of life for the child of an addict. But this does end with hope.
caveatlectors's review against another edition
5.0
Oh Percy, Jenna, and Portis. It was a beautiful mix of love, the bitter cold, and survival. I cheered for Percy, cried for Portis, and hoped for Jenna.
lenabrary's review against another edition
2.0
SPOILER: this book starts with a dead, decaying dog. Wish I knew that coming into it.
What can I say about Sweetgirl, other than it's short and not so sweet? It's a good story if you have a few hours to kill - Mulhauser's prose is very easy to follow along. It's not so sweet because there's nothing sweet about Percy's life. She does what she has to, takes on responsibilities that are not hers to take on, sees too much at her age and somehow manages to come out all the better for it. It's very reminiscent of Winter's Bone, because Percy is also a strong character who decides to take life into her own hands and get what she deserves and so long denied herself - happiness and people to care for her.
What can I say about Sweetgirl, other than it's short and not so sweet? It's a good story if you have a few hours to kill - Mulhauser's prose is very easy to follow along. It's not so sweet because there's nothing sweet about Percy's life. She does what she has to, takes on responsibilities that are not hers to take on, sees too much at her age and somehow manages to come out all the better for it. It's very reminiscent of Winter's Bone, because Percy is also a strong character who decides to take life into her own hands and get what she deserves and so long denied herself - happiness and people to care for her.
haydensharpe's review against another edition
4.0
Literary fiction is not my genre, but I liked this book a lot. Mulhauser tells a compelling story. He makes a short event seem larger than life. He raises the stakes, and tells his story well. Percy James is a great character, and she is so easy to root for. I might write up a more detailed review later.
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