Rating: 
Summary: A Can't Put Down Read!
Review: Kudos to Tawni O'Dell!...this is an excellent book. I have to admit that I finished the book all in one day...I could not put it down...you get so involved in the lives of these poor, vagabond children who are survivors...forced to survive and try to cope amongst almost impossible odds. The story is real and gripping and yes sometimes a bit disturbing but that makes it that more exciting...I grew up in Southwest PA so it was great to see how Tawni really brought to life the area and the people that make it up. I highly recommend this novel to anyone and Ms. Dell...you have a lifelong fan in me!
Rating: 
Summary: Wow.
Review: Deep and sad with a thought provoking and powerful ending. Definitely not a light read, and a page turner to the end. Makes you reconsider the chances we think we might want to take or the things we might want to do. The characters are extremely well created, and the descriptions take you right there.
Rating:
Summary: mesmerizing
Review: I could not put down this book! I was mesmerized by it! Full of secrets and surprises, it was a real page-turner. Some of first thoughts of reading this were, "my God, these poor kids raising themselves" but then it went deeper. Mental illness, incest, infidelity, its all in this book. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Harley, becoming a man, a father, and dealing with a horrible tradegy all at once. It's no wonder he was crazy! I think of the time that had passed until all of these secrets came to light. Its scary to think how long a person can keep secrets, tradegies, buried until they really start effecting your life. It makes me realize how important CLOSURE is in my own life.
Rating:
Summary: Dysfunctional families at it's best...
Review: This is the story of Harley Altmyer, and his struggles to getthrough every day life.... Harley is the narrator of the story, so we see things through his eyes. He's one very troubled young man, barely out of highschool and is trying to take care of his young sisters since none of the relatives wanted to take them in. Uncle Mike lives not too far away, but for some reason does not really want to have a lot to do with Harley and his sisters. Harley holds down two jobs to make ends meet. They barely survive on his income, eating meals such as hot dogs or pizza for dinner, if anything. All of them are obviously emtionally on edge and things get worse as Harley slowly finds out what really happened to dad. In the mean time, he gets involved with Jody's best friend's mother, who happens to be married,and this leads to more troubles at home. Although this story seems to be pretty convoluted and over done, I found it yet another great pick by Oprah. I really liked the character of Harley and felt very sympathetic to his situation. He has a good heart underneath it all, and this is what I think kept him going. The book may be a bit too much for some readers, but I found the storyline kept me interested til the very end.
Rating:
Summary: Innocently shocking!
Review: This book is not for the faint of heart. The summary inside the dust cover gives absolutely no indication of what kind of ride this book will take you on. But, this is good because everything that happens will surprise you. It will also likely shock you. But if you do read it, you will love it. This book is narrarated by a troubled boy, Harley, the eldest in a highly disorganized and dysfunctional family. He is just barely out of high school, but must raise his younger sisters alone after his abusive father is killed and his mother sent to prison for the murder. Harley is amazingly insightful as well as slightly delusional. However, the things Harley experiences at 19 and 20-years-old, with relatively little experience, will rally you to his side. Harley will make you chuckle, he may terribly disgust you, but he will definitely teach you the meaning of honesty and truth. And... I haven't remembered being so satisfied with the ending of a book in a long time.
Rating:
Summary: Fresh, With An Edge
Review: This is a great book if you're not looking for beach reading, althoughI also found it very quick and interesting reading. the characters aresimply unforgettable, and the writing is fresh and clear, with anervewracking edge I thoroughly enjoyed...
Rating:
Summary: Sick, Sick, Sick!
Review: The sickest book I've ever read. Completely devoured it, turned the pages like a maniac. A must read. If you're not a sissy.
Rating: 
Summary: depression, dysfuntion, incest, violence......
Review: This is a story of a truly dysfunctional family. A mother in prison for the murder of a husband that physically and emotionally abused her children. Four children left in the world to fend for themselves. The effects of the abuse lingered on long after the murder of the father. Harley is the oldest, left to care for his three sisters. In addition to the normal "troubles" of a nineteen year old boy, Harley had to deal with poverty, thoughts of violence, poverty and mental illness. Two of the sisters have problems and secrets of their own. The youngest is the only light in Harley's world. This story is depressing throughout. You would hope for a light at the end of the tunnel for this family but there is only more of the same. It has a dissapointing ending that leaves you with a lingering feeling of sadness. It was an interesting book but I found the foul language and violence unsettling. It could have been written well without it.
Rating:
Summary: Reality
Review: Amazing book! Couldn't put it down.....it was real.
Rating:
Summary: A great story teller
Review: This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The story is wonderful, but the best part is the story-teller. Tawni O'Dell is a straight-forward writer, and spins a wonderful tale of angst, anger, frustration, hope, and human resilience. I read the entire book in 24 hours. I couldn't put it down! It is a must read.
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