As you may have noticed, I haven't posted a book review this semester yet. That's because I'm currently enrolled in two reading intensive course - Politics of the US and Literature for Children and Young Adults. I've been meaning to post this review for sometime now... Sorry for the delay! I'm glad for my first review of the semester to be about a book with a storyline that takes place in my part of the country!
Brilliant young novelist Rachel Keener interweaves the coming-of-age stories of two young women, each on a twisting journey from very different but equally troubling pasts that will lead to a shared future. "When Angel sets fire to her childhood home, it isn't the end--it's the beginning. Left with nothing but a few memories in her pocket, Angel escapes into the fields of tobacco, the only place she has ever felt safe. Hidden by those green-gold leaves, she sets her eyes on the mountains and believes someone waits for her there. Angel will do whatever she has to until she finds her. She longs to empty her pockets, hand over the answers to what became of her, and whisper, This is my story.
As Angel journeys toward the mountains, Hannah is struggling to tell her own story. The daughter of missionaries who follow the rules of a small and strict religious sect, modesty is prized above all else. Wearing floor length polyester skirts, and never cutting her hair, Hannah is forced to live a separate life from her peers. Until the summer her family moves to James Island, South Carolina. Slowly, Hannah begins to escape the confines of her strict upbringing, and soon makes a choice that will forever change the course of her life.
As these two women's paths connect, Hannah's past will prove to mean everything to Angel's future."
While reading this book, I felt for both characters. I tried to imagine what I would have done, if I had been either one of them. Rachel Keener makes both of them relatable. I found myself trying to figure out how the two characters were going to come together because they seemed to have nothing in common. I won't ruin the dramatic ending by telling you, but I loved it! I really enjoyed this book's creative storyline and the characters. I also liked the setting - the south.
I also liked that it contains a Reading Group Guide. It makes the reader really consider the plot and think about things. The Memory Thief comes out 3/12/10 and I would recommend it!
Disclaimer: I received this book for free for this review. No other compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.
The title itself already sound interesting enough as it is. I'll be sure to read this book when I have the chance. It sounds simply fascinating.
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