Review: A Story of Tragedy, Love, and Becoming Who You Were Meant to Be
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 18, 2013
"Coming of age" is a term that carries great weight.  As the years pass by, we will all inevitably age, but coming of age only happens once in a lifetime, during those tender years when we must decide who we want to be.  This transformation, typically during adolescence, is the inspiration for many works of fiction, including this one.For Flannery Curry in Tiny Dancer, her coming of age is precipitated by a family tragedy, which triggers a series of event in her small Carolina town, notably involving her African-American neighbors.  In addition to forming a bond with them, Flannery seeks to answer questions about her past while navigating various relationships with her peers.  All of these experiences combine to help her grow from an awkward tween to a mature young woman.I found this book quite enjoyable, if a little long.  The author's strength lies in her ability to create word pictures, such as when Flannery is lying in her room,  letting the smoke from the neighbors' cooking, "float over [her] windowsill, hovering over [her] like a lovely barbecue-scented spirit."  I especially liked the descriptions of Flannery's neighbors and their many friends and relations.  Of all the characters in the book, those were the most believable.At points, the book got bogged down in overly detail, play-by-play descriptions.  While there were many well-crafted sentences, at other times the writing seemed a bit clunky.  Overall, however, I found the book quite satisfying, particularly in the end.  This is a great book for those who remember, or want to remember,  the heartache and joy of adolescence.Lisa Runge (The Kindle Book Review)The Kindle Book Review received a free copy of this book for an independent, fair, and honest review. We are not associated with the author or Amazon.