Review: A Well Written and Tender Story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 9, 2013
Little Joe by Michael Gallacock is a 2013 Greenleaf Press publication. This is the first book in the Round Rock series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.Litte Joe is the only survivor of a terrible car accident that claimed the life of his parents in 1942.Now he must live with his grandparents in Tennesse. Naturally, the nine year old boy must adjust to life without his parents, which is hard enough, but he also must adjust to leaving Texas and living on a farm. Little Joe hates every single thing about his new life.His grandmother's cooking, the farming chores, the climate, and the harsh realities of farm animals being used for food. The war is also looming in the background and a lot of the adult conversations have little Joe and his best friends "Sugar" and Bobby nervous and their imaginations running wild.This story focuses on one year in Little Joe's life. From the accident to the first anniversary of his parent's death.Little Joe goes from being petulant and bitter to realizing that things aren't really all that bad out on the farm. He also learns that despite all the trouble he has caused for his grandparents he is much loved by them.As a child, Little Joe can not comprehend the grief his grandparents are experiencing right along with him, nor does it occur to him that their lives have been upended as well. It isn't until Little Joe decides he has had enough of living on the farm and decides to trek back "home", does he begin to realize how much his grandparents care. Even when little Joe does the unthinkable and must accept responsibility for his actions, he really begins to comprehend that he is going to be alright.Even though this book does fall into a YA market, this book will appeal to older readers as well. It is a tender story of a young boy trying to cope with his parent's death and a life he has a hard time understanding. His eventual acceptance of things and the peace that comes to him is an uplifting way to warm the heart and bring a smile to your face.This was a well written novel . All of us could use a dose of Little Joe's medicine. Looking at the positives instead of the negatives always makes things seem better than we thought they were.Over all this one is an A.Little Joe by Michael Gallacock is a 2013 Greenleaf Press publication. This is the first book in the Round Rock series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.Litte Joe is the only survivor of a terrible car accident that claimed the life of his parents in 1942.Now he must live with his grandparents in Tennesse. Naturally, the nine year old boy must adjust to life without his parents, which is hard enough, but he also must adjust to leaving Texas and living on a farm. Little Joe hates every single thing about his new life.His grandmother's cooking, the farming chores, the climate, and the harsh realities of farm animals being used for food. The war is also looming in the background and a lot of the adult conversations have little Joe and his best friends "Sugar" and Bobby nervous and their imaginations running wild.This story focuses on one year in Little Joe's life. From the accident to the first anniversary of his parent's death.Little Joe goes from being petulant and bitter to realizing that things aren't really all that bad out on the farm. He also learns that despite all the trouble he has caused for his grandparents he is much loved by them.As a child, Little Joe can not comprehend the grief his grandparents are experiencing right along with him, nor does it occur to him that their lives have been upended as well. It isn't until Little Joe decides he has had enough of living on the farm and decides to trek back "home", does he begin to realize how much his grandparents care. Even when little Joe does the unthinkable and must accept responsibility for his actions, he really begins to comprehend that he is going to be alright.Even though this book does fall into a YA market, this book will appeal to older readers as well. It is a tender story of a young boy trying to cope with his parent's death and a life he has a hard time understanding. His eventual acceptance of things and the peace that comes to him is an uplifting way to warm the heart and bring a smile to your face.This was a well written novel . All of us could use a dose of Little Joe's medicine. Looking at the positives instead of the negatives always makes things seem better than we thought they were.Over all this one is an A.Little Joe by Michael Gallacock is a 2013 Greenleaf Press publication. This is the first book in the Round Rock series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.Litte Joe is the only survivor of a terrible car accident that claimed the life of his parents in 1942.Now he must live with his grandparents in Tennesse. Naturally, the nine year old boy must adjust to life without his parents, which is hard enough, but he also must adjust to leaving Texas and living on a farm. Little Joe hates every single thing about his new life.His grandmother's cooking, the farming chores, the climate, and the harsh realities of farm animals being used for food. The war is also looming in the background and a lot of the adult conversations have little Joe and his best friends "Sugar" and Bobby nervous and their imaginations running wild.This story focuses on one year in Little Joe's life. From the accident to the first anniversary of his parent's death.Little Joe goes from being petulant and bitter to realizing that things aren't really all that bad out on the farm. He also learns that despite all the trouble he has caused for his grandparents he is much loved by them.As a child, Little Joe can not comprehend the grief his grandparents are experiencing right along with him, nor does it occur to him that their lives have been upended as well. It isn't until Little Joe decides he has had enough of living on the farm and decides to trek back "home", does he begin to realize how much his grandparents care. Even when little Joe does the unthinkable and must accept responsibility for his actions, he really begins to comprehend that he is going to be alright.Even though this book does fall into a YA market, this book will appeal to older readers as well. It is a tender story of a young boy trying to cope with his parent's death and a life he has a hard time understanding. His eventual acceptance of things and the peace that comes to him is an uplifting way to warm the heart and bring a smile to your face.This was a well written novel . All of us could use a dose of Little Joe's medicine. Looking at the positives instead of the negatives always makes things seem better than we thought they were.Over all this one is an A.