Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Saving Cicadas: A Novel


"Part road trip, part mystery, and completely unexpected. Saving Cicadas picks you up in one place and puts you down someplace else entirely...." This is the description of Saving Cicadas, by Nicole Seitz.

And with that, I'm saying no more, at least where the book takes you, because I may end up ruining the ending for you, and trust me when I say, this is one book which, not only takes you down an unexpected path, but will send you back through the book looking for the clues you may have missed.



Oh no, was that too much information?

The book is narrated by Janie, a precocious 8 1/2 year old, and by her grandmother Mona. The story follows Janie, her mother Priscilla, her 17 year-old sister, who has Downs Syndrome, Grandma Mona, and her Poppy, Grayson.

Upon learning that their lives are about to change, Priscilla packs up her family for a summer road trip. Had she known where the trip would end she may have never left, but she does, and with the guidance of her family she finds her way back home. The changing narration adds interest to the story, and does not become confusing since there is only one narrator for each chapter, and the chapter title also names the narrator. The story takes you on a personal journey; a difficult, emotional ride which will leave you cheering on the characters to make the right choices, and amends with the past.

2 comments:

Nicole Seitz said...

I love your review! Thank you so much for taking the time to write and tell folks about Saving Cicadas. Sounds as if you enjoyed it.
God bless and happy reading,
Nicole

Jolanthe said...

Now I need to read it ~ can I borrow it?