A review by shighley
Beneath a Meth Moon: An Elegy by Jacqueline Woodson
3.0
I listened to the audio version; the reader was a bit distracting when trying to alter her pitch to voice the male characters, and the sing-song rhymes and cheers were really grating. She did make Laurel sound vulnerable and pathetic at times. I have not read much fiction concerning meth, largely news reports, as it is a huge problem in rural parts of our state. I understand why the book would jump around much as Laurel's recollections would, but it made the story a bit jarring at times, especially in depicting the times her father tried to help her. What a friend Laurel had in Kaylee.
I have to admit that at times my mind probably wandered, as I read most of this while driving. At times I wondered if she really would survive, even though the first chapter really set up the ending. Much of the description of the meth highs seemed repetitive after awhile.
I wonder if Woodson made this book free from swearing and sexual references so that more middle schools would include it; there certainly aren't that many books that address this issue that are readily accessible to students.
I have to admit that at times my mind probably wandered, as I read most of this while driving. At times I wondered if she really would survive, even though the first chapter really set up the ending. Much of the description of the meth highs seemed repetitive after awhile.
I wonder if Woodson made this book free from swearing and sexual references so that more middle schools would include it; there certainly aren't that many books that address this issue that are readily accessible to students.