Aside from my affinity for the title (which sucked me right in), I adored this story because of its strong appeal towards both adults and teens. Lately I've been on a kick when it comes to reading adult fiction with teens as main characters, and Florine Gilham, the star of this particular story, is a high contender for one of my favorite protagonists. Florine is a wonderful combination of sassy and vulnerable as, in her small Maine town of the 1950's, she endures more family heartbreak and crises than anyone of her age deserves.
Florine's beautiful and charismatic mother disappeared her twelfth summer, and this event catapults Florine into a spiral that is both intriguing and depressing. Yet as much as the story of Florine is based on her mothers disappearance, this is also a tale about Florine's fisherman father who suffers silently for the wife he lost, her loving and strong grandmother who holds the tiny town together, and a group of faithful friends who will do whatever it takes to pull Florine through.
For a character that only grows 5 years in the span of the story, you as a reader feel as if it's been a lifetime. Florine goes through more in her adolescent years then I hope to experience in fifty, and maybe the best part of the book is that in the end you still don't know if she'll come out on top (but you hope with everything you have that she does).
I also have a love for most stories that are set in Maine (despite the fact that I have never visited...) and this setting didn't disappoint. The imagery is rich, the characters are vivid, and Florine is one smart alecky, prickly, (and yet so endearing) soul who is looking for her own definition of life and won't let you forget it. If you're looking for an awesome mix of mystery, coming of age, and true heart, this is the title for you.
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