homeschool mama 2006-02-28

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

I was very happy when my daughter started reading this book because it offered a different setting than she usually read about. There are not many books for girls set in the Appalacian mountains.

At first I enjoyed reading and discussing the book with my daughter but then I became disturbed by the subject matter. I do not believe that pedophilia, teen pregnancy, incest and suicide are appropriate material for a pre-teen.

While the book is an enjoyable read I highly reccommend a parent read it first to make sure it is appropriate for their child.

VBarrett 2006-02-21

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

I actually picked this book up at my local library's annual book sale. I purchased it for my 5th grade daughter. The title is what caught my attention. I am orginally from Appalachian West Virginia, and come from a long line of miners. I notice that many people who are not from the mountains often use correct language usage when referring to a "Holler" (Hollow)

Although, I purchased this book for my daughter I found myself reading the entire book in a single afternoon. The dialect that the author uses is beautiful, and very accurate. the story brought back many happy memories for me.

I do not know if Ms. White is from the South or not. If she isin't, she should be commended for accurately and beautifully, capturing one of the worlds most beautiful cultures, that often goes unnoticed, or is stereotyped in a negative manner. If Ms. White is in fact from the mountains, she should be commended for writing this book that shares a forgotten heritage.

The only thing is, if you are not from the south you may have a difficult time reading and understanding the dialect in this book. You will also not reconize many terms and words that are commonly used in the mountains. And since this the setting takes place around the time my Gradmother was growing up, you will find some notions that may seem strange to the average "northerner" For example; "Feed sack dresses" (which were very pretty, and if you had one you were lucky!)

I gave the book to my daughter to read. She came to me later that day and said "Mom, this book is written the way you talk!!!" I had to laugh at that one!
She had a little bit of a hard time reading the dialect. So I read the book aloud for both her, and my youngest. It has since become one of our favorite books.
I plan on picking up other books by this author!

1999-07-26

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

This is an incredible book. It's about a girl and her friends and how her whole world seems to be changing. I think Ruth White did an incredible job. I read it in two days then I read it again in one day! Everybody should read this book. It's one of the best books I've ever read!