Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Gallery Books
Pages
308
Description
In the summer of 1963, nine-year-old spitfire Starla Claudelle runs away from her strict grandmother's home. Mamie is the nearest thing to family Starla has. After being put on restriction yet again for her sassy mouth, Starla is caught sneaking out. She fears Mamie will make good on her threat to send Starla to reform school, so Starla walks to the outskirts of town, and just keeps walking. Walking a lonely country road, Starla accepts a ride from Eula, a black woman traveling alone with a white baby. The trio embarks on a road trip that will change Starla's life forever. She sees for the first time life as it really is - as she reaches for a dream of how it could one day be.
Description
In the summer of 1963, nine-year-old Starla Claudelle runs away from her strict grandmother’s Mississippi home. Starla’s destination is Nashville, where her mother went to become a famous singer, abandoning Starla when she was three. Walking a lonely country road, Starla accepts a ride from Eula, a black woman traveling alone with a white baby. Now, on the road trip that will change her life forever, Starla sees for the first time life as it really is—as she reaches for a dream of how it could one day be.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2013-07
Physical description
308 p.; 8.25 inches
ISBN
9781476740041
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member bnbookgirl
A most enjoyable book. The cover touted it as being similar to To Kill a Mockingbird. I did get a sense of that especially with the time and the setting. I was entranced by Starla and Eula. Some of the other minor characters were intriguing as well. The book is a bit reminiscent of Huck Finn as
Show More
well; Starla's journey with Eula especially. This is much different than her other titles and the break is going down a good path. A great coming-of-age story. Covers many current and historic issues that will make great fodder for book clubs. Show Less
LibraryThing member kmmt48
Excellent! Yes, it is a similar story of the civil rights era as in The Help, but it is so different. The main character is a nine year old girl, growing up in the deep south in 1963. The innocence of the character will make the reader chuckle and then the story will take a gritty turn when the
Show More
reality of the times intrudes on her existence. This is a story of true friendship made more poignant through the coming of age of the character during a very turbulent time in our country's history. The author did a wonderful job of developing the characters and their experiences. Show Less
LibraryThing member melaniehope
What a fantastic coming of age novel set in 1963 Mississippi.
I love books with sassy, spunky young heroines. In this book, Starla is that character. She is nine years old and lives with her grandmother who seems to spend most of her time upset or yelling at Starla. Starla's dad is far away working
Starla eventually runs away and hitch hikes, only to be picked up by a timid, lonely black women named Eula. The two embark on a life-changing road trip through the south. Starla quickly realizes that Eula has a white baby in her possession.
Starla finally convinces Eula to take her to Nashville to find her mom. Along the way, Starla is exposed to the pure hatred and prejudice of the south that she was sheltered from before. She and Eula meet many cruel people, but they also find true, deep friendships on their journey.
This book is beautifully written and I couldn't wait to pick it up and read each day. It is a book that is a pleasure to read and one that leaves you sad when it finally ends. I loved every minute of it. You will love the character of Starla. She has guts but is such a kind soul, that you can't help but fall in love with her. I definitely recommend this book!
I love books with sassy, spunky young heroines. In this book, Starla is that character. She is nine years old and lives with her grandmother who seems to spend most of her time upset or yelling at Starla. Starla's dad is far away working
Show More
on an oil rig and her absent mother, all but abandoned her for a dream of being a famous Nashville singer.Starla eventually runs away and hitch hikes, only to be picked up by a timid, lonely black women named Eula. The two embark on a life-changing road trip through the south. Starla quickly realizes that Eula has a white baby in her possession.
Starla finally convinces Eula to take her to Nashville to find her mom. Along the way, Starla is exposed to the pure hatred and prejudice of the south that she was sheltered from before. She and Eula meet many cruel people, but they also find true, deep friendships on their journey.
This book is beautifully written and I couldn't wait to pick it up and read each day. It is a book that is a pleasure to read and one that leaves you sad when it finally ends. I loved every minute of it. You will love the character of Starla. She has guts but is such a kind soul, that you can't help but fall in love with her. I definitely recommend this book!
Show Less
LibraryThing member bibliobeck
I really enjoyed this book - my read of the year so far. It reminded me of 'The Help' but really I think I'm drawing very superficial comparisons. We hear the story through the voice of Starla, a fiercely independent 9-year-old girl living in Mississippi with her grandmother. Starla has a keen
On the 4th July, cirumstances arise which cause Starla to flee her suffocating home town and set out to find her mother. She quickly teams up with Eula, a black woman travelling with a white baby. As Eula's back story is slowly revealed, a beautiful relationship between these two unlikely friends develops. All the characters and situations that occur as they travel across a dangerous south filled with prejudice and injustice are convincing and gripping.
Starla's voice is original and convincing and the story is compelling. The writing is beautiful and important points are made without unnecessary graphic descriptions which makes the issues raised even stronger. I really didn't want this gorgeous book to end and would highly recommend it.
Show More
sense of justice and of her own self which are completely misunderstood by her grandmother who cannot seem to spend the time to get to know her only grandchild. Starla's mother has abandoned her to become a 'famous singer' and her father has little to do with her as he is working on the oil rigs in the gulf. On the 4th July, cirumstances arise which cause Starla to flee her suffocating home town and set out to find her mother. She quickly teams up with Eula, a black woman travelling with a white baby. As Eula's back story is slowly revealed, a beautiful relationship between these two unlikely friends develops. All the characters and situations that occur as they travel across a dangerous south filled with prejudice and injustice are convincing and gripping.
Starla's voice is original and convincing and the story is compelling. The writing is beautiful and important points are made without unnecessary graphic descriptions which makes the issues raised even stronger. I really didn't want this gorgeous book to end and would highly recommend it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member BookSpot
So I love, LOVE this book. I was drawn to it to start with because of the age and gender of the narrator -- I seem to really enjoy novels told from the perspective of young girls, especially period pieces -- as well when its set.
Starla is a superb narrator and a fantastic character. Crandall takes
Yes, there are things she says, even sometimes to adults, that seem like they might get her in more trouble than they do but it gives better observations on the setting or what she's feeling, experiencing or what's happening than we would get had she been meek and/or respectful.
The racial dynamics, even those Starla's aware of, are very much apart of the novel. Though she's only nine years old, she understands that she's white and what that means for versus someone who's not - at least based on what she's been taught. The author does really well not playing it down, changing it to look better, somehow making it look better, or anything. It's was true so it is.
The relationship between Eula and Starla is real and honest and I just love it. We see so much growth from the both of them. They're both very unique characters who, at the start, are stuck in what the time and society allows for them, but, also, neither of them is quite adhering to what their 'role' is supposed to be.
They're not cookie cutter images of the period, but they're also not so far out of the norm that they don't fit. They're just great, real characters. Who needed each other.
It's being mentioned a lot with The Help and Whistling Past the Graveyard identifies a lot of issues and injustices facing African Americans in the 1960s as well, albeit mostly different ones as the setting is different. Plot wise, however, I think that To Kill a Mockingbird is one that fits better as Starla and Scout seem to be cut from the same cloth.
Starla reminded me, with her her 'sass,' her refusal to be that quiet little girl in the corner of a bit of Scout and also of Teaspoon from How High the Moon by Sandra Kring -- and not just because they all three have fantastic names and great fathers. She's not a character I'll forget soon
Whistling Past the Graveyard's story is absolutely heartbreaking at times, but it's also very uplifting and includes some of my favorite relationships and moments in a book of recent memory.
Starla is a superb narrator and a fantastic character. Crandall takes
Show More
full advantage of the youth and, at times, naivete of her storyteller. Especially given the time and setting of the novel. There's a lot happening in the 1963 South that might not get noticed or, perhaps, commented on by an older narrator or not as astutely as it does by Starla. All of the things that get her in trouble with her Mamie, all of her sassisng, give us readers a fuller story.Yes, there are things she says, even sometimes to adults, that seem like they might get her in more trouble than they do but it gives better observations on the setting or what she's feeling, experiencing or what's happening than we would get had she been meek and/or respectful.
The racial dynamics, even those Starla's aware of, are very much apart of the novel. Though she's only nine years old, she understands that she's white and what that means for versus someone who's not - at least based on what she's been taught. The author does really well not playing it down, changing it to look better, somehow making it look better, or anything. It's was true so it is.
The relationship between Eula and Starla is real and honest and I just love it. We see so much growth from the both of them. They're both very unique characters who, at the start, are stuck in what the time and society allows for them, but, also, neither of them is quite adhering to what their 'role' is supposed to be.
They're not cookie cutter images of the period, but they're also not so far out of the norm that they don't fit. They're just great, real characters. Who needed each other.
It's being mentioned a lot with The Help and Whistling Past the Graveyard identifies a lot of issues and injustices facing African Americans in the 1960s as well, albeit mostly different ones as the setting is different. Plot wise, however, I think that To Kill a Mockingbird is one that fits better as Starla and Scout seem to be cut from the same cloth.
Starla reminded me, with her her 'sass,' her refusal to be that quiet little girl in the corner of a bit of Scout and also of Teaspoon from How High the Moon by Sandra Kring -- and not just because they all three have fantastic names and great fathers. She's not a character I'll forget soon
Whistling Past the Graveyard's story is absolutely heartbreaking at times, but it's also very uplifting and includes some of my favorite relationships and moments in a book of recent memory.
Show Less
LibraryThing member smartchiksread
I enjoyed this book. Taking place (mainly) in Cayuga, Mississippi in 1963, this novel follows Starla Claudelle as she runs away from home in a split second decision that will change the direction of her life, as well as the lives of many others.
Abandoned by her mother, Starla lives with her Mamie-
My heart went out to Starla. A young girl who was clearly unloved and unwanted by those around her. Her mother wasn't the only one who had abandoned her. Those around her had clearly abandoned her as well. Although it had some harrowing moments, this story warmed my heart. Crandall gets deep inside the minds of her characters and the motives behind their actions. I look forward to reading more of her books.
Read this book if...
*you enjoy southern fiction
*you enjoy books about racial issues
*you enjoy stories that take place in the 1960's
*you enjoy stories that take place "on the road"
Abandoned by her mother, Starla lives with her Mamie-
Show More
her father's mother- while he works at an off shore oil rig. Mamie plainly hates Starla as well as her absent mother and spends most of her time making Starla miserable. When Mamie's cruelties, as well as those of her small town, finally push her over the edge, she runs away, hoping to find her mother in Nashville. On the way, she meets Eula, a black woman traveling in a beat up truck with a white baby. Eula takes Starla home with her. What happens next (I won't include spoilers) sends the three of them on an adventure that will force them to face the hard, cold realities of life and will teach them the true meaning of love and family.My heart went out to Starla. A young girl who was clearly unloved and unwanted by those around her. Her mother wasn't the only one who had abandoned her. Those around her had clearly abandoned her as well. Although it had some harrowing moments, this story warmed my heart. Crandall gets deep inside the minds of her characters and the motives behind their actions. I look forward to reading more of her books.
Read this book if...
*you enjoy southern fiction
*you enjoy books about racial issues
*you enjoy stories that take place in the 1960's
*you enjoy stories that take place "on the road"
Show Less
LibraryThing member librarian1204
One of the very best books I have read in a long time. Mississippi in 1963 is all you need to know to realize what the crux of this book will center on. Nine year old, hot tempered Starla, needs to escape life with a very strict and structured grandma. Her mother is in Nashville and the book is
Show More
about the journey she makes to get to Nashville and the people she meets who will change her forever. Everything about this book is so well done. Setting is captured, , not just in place but in time. Love the characters. Starla seems to go from 9 to 19 and back to 9 in her abilities, but it all works perfectly. I agree with others who have said it ranks with "The Help". Show Less
LibraryThing member Kikoa
Fantastic story....Enjoyed it from page one. My favorites of course are Starla and Eula. What a lesson in strength and faithful friends. The love they shared simmered off the pages as the story progressed. We all want to be heard, valued and most of all Loved.
Thank you Susan Crandall-You have
Thank you Susan Crandall-You have
Show More
touched me I have grown. Show Less
LibraryThing member khiemstra631
The year is 1963, and Starla Claudelle runs away from her grandmother's house, striking out for Nashville, TN where her mother lives. She accepts a ride along the way from Eula, a black woman driving an old rattletrap truck. They go to Eula's to spend the night and eventually strike out for
Show More
Nashville together. Along the way Starla and Eula both learn a lot of lessons about life. This is the best book I have read so far in 2013, and I highly recommend it. Book discussion groups would find it a good one to read. Show Less
LibraryThing member susiesharp
Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall Narrated by, Amy Rubinate
I truly enjoyed this book, my favorite character was Eula, there were times Starla would get on my nerves and you just wanted to shake her, but she was young & naïve, abandoned by her mother, raised by a grandmother who is
The friendship between Eula & Starla is sweet and I loved how much they each learned from each other even when they didn’t realize it, Starla’s eyes were opened to what goes on in the world outside of her little Mississippi town where the only “coloreds” she knows are the help for the rich people in town, but what I liked was with Starla’s naïveté she doesn’t judge Eula on the color of her skin just by her deeds and the size of her heart.
This is a road trip book and these two are on a doozy, and it seems like what could go wrong did go wrong, plus they have a white baby named James along for the ride (again I remind you these 3 are traveling from Mississippi to Nashville in 1963) so you can guess what some of the trouble they run into is. I don’t want to give too much away but let’s just say Starla’s daddy hasn’t been all that honest with her about her mamma. As I said before there are times when Starla’s “red rage” (as she calls it) get her into more trouble than she needed to be in and there were times I just wanted to yell Starla NOOOO, but what fun would that book have been?
Amy Rubinate narrates this one and does a great job she sounds like a young girl when narrating Starla and when narrating Eula she is an African-American woman, it is almost like two different people are narrating but it is only the very talented Rubinate each character has their own voice and there was never any trouble knowing who was talking. Highly recommend reading this one on audio!
I highly recommend this book, if you are a fan of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt and/or Calling Me Home I would say get this book right now!
4 ½ Stars
I truly enjoyed this book, my favorite character was Eula, there were times Starla would get on my nerves and you just wanted to shake her, but she was young & naïve, abandoned by her mother, raised by a grandmother who is
Show More
much tougher on her than anyone realizes. She is a sassy little thing and has this idealized idea of her mother who she thinks is a big star in Nashville plus a father who works out on an oil rig and doesn’t come home very often. When Starla gets into trouble she runs away from her Grandmother Mamie’s home to be with her mother, but things don’t go as smoothly as Starla thinks, she is picked up by a black woman, Eula, who is traveling with of all things a white baby (remember this is 1963) Eula promises she will get her to Nashville but they need to stop at her house first and Eula’s husband is none too happy to have two white children in his home, this is when things get a might complicated for Starla & Eula.The friendship between Eula & Starla is sweet and I loved how much they each learned from each other even when they didn’t realize it, Starla’s eyes were opened to what goes on in the world outside of her little Mississippi town where the only “coloreds” she knows are the help for the rich people in town, but what I liked was with Starla’s naïveté she doesn’t judge Eula on the color of her skin just by her deeds and the size of her heart.
This is a road trip book and these two are on a doozy, and it seems like what could go wrong did go wrong, plus they have a white baby named James along for the ride (again I remind you these 3 are traveling from Mississippi to Nashville in 1963) so you can guess what some of the trouble they run into is. I don’t want to give too much away but let’s just say Starla’s daddy hasn’t been all that honest with her about her mamma. As I said before there are times when Starla’s “red rage” (as she calls it) get her into more trouble than she needed to be in and there were times I just wanted to yell Starla NOOOO, but what fun would that book have been?
Amy Rubinate narrates this one and does a great job she sounds like a young girl when narrating Starla and when narrating Eula she is an African-American woman, it is almost like two different people are narrating but it is only the very talented Rubinate each character has their own voice and there was never any trouble knowing who was talking. Highly recommend reading this one on audio!
I highly recommend this book, if you are a fan of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt and/or Calling Me Home I would say get this book right now!
4 ½ Stars
Show Less
LibraryThing member nightprose
It is 1963 in rural Mississippi. Nine year old Starla Claudelle is being raised by her very strict paternal grandmother, Mamie. It isn’t easy, and she often feels neglected or unloved. Starla’s father is away working on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Her mother, Lulu, has been gone to
After sassing Mamie, fiery, red-haired Starla is not allowed to go to the Fourth of July festivities. When she sneaks out to join her best friend, she is caught by the neighborhood gossip. Fearing Mamie will send her away to reform school, Starla runs away. She feels if she can make it to Nashville, her father will join them and they can be a real family again.
Taking off down the country road out of town, Starla is offered a ride. The black woman introduces herself as Eula. She is traveling with a white baby she calls James. Though segregation is is serious issue, Starla accepts the ride hoping it will get her closer to Nashville and her mother.
The adventure that follows changes everything for Starla and Eula, forever altering both of their lives. It becomes a long and dangerous journey traveling without men, with race issues, the needs of an infant, and many unforeseen problems.
Life isn’t always what it seems, and dreams are sometimes just that. This is a hard lesson for Starla. Family can be more than blood, often being about the deep bonds of the heart and soul. Starla and both Eula learn this valuable fact of life together.
Susan Crandall has written a wonderful coming of age novel, yet it is about so much more. It is filled with life lessons, wisdom, warmth and love. I recommend this great spirited novel, and look forward to more books like this from her.
Show More
Nashville for many years, working at becoming a country singer.After sassing Mamie, fiery, red-haired Starla is not allowed to go to the Fourth of July festivities. When she sneaks out to join her best friend, she is caught by the neighborhood gossip. Fearing Mamie will send her away to reform school, Starla runs away. She feels if she can make it to Nashville, her father will join them and they can be a real family again.
Taking off down the country road out of town, Starla is offered a ride. The black woman introduces herself as Eula. She is traveling with a white baby she calls James. Though segregation is is serious issue, Starla accepts the ride hoping it will get her closer to Nashville and her mother.
The adventure that follows changes everything for Starla and Eula, forever altering both of their lives. It becomes a long and dangerous journey traveling without men, with race issues, the needs of an infant, and many unforeseen problems.
Life isn’t always what it seems, and dreams are sometimes just that. This is a hard lesson for Starla. Family can be more than blood, often being about the deep bonds of the heart and soul. Starla and both Eula learn this valuable fact of life together.
Susan Crandall has written a wonderful coming of age novel, yet it is about so much more. It is filled with life lessons, wisdom, warmth and love. I recommend this great spirited novel, and look forward to more books like this from her.
Show Less
LibraryThing member JanaRose1
Set in the early 1960's, this novel follows the adventures of nine year old Starla. After running away from home, she takes a ride from a black woman, Eula. Quickly she realizes that Eula has taken the white baby that she is traveling with and things begin to unravel. When Eula's husband tries to
I had a hard time putting this book down. Starla's innocence and curiosity about the world kept me guessing what would happen next. I thought the book did a good job of portraying the race relations and tensions of the time. Overall, highly recommended.
Show More
murder Starla, Eula rises to her protection, killing him with a skillet. Starla quickly convinces Eula to take her to Tennessee, where she hopes to be reunited with her mother, someone she believes is a famous singer.I had a hard time putting this book down. Starla's innocence and curiosity about the world kept me guessing what would happen next. I thought the book did a good job of portraying the race relations and tensions of the time. Overall, highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member MsHooker
I read this book as part of a book club I am in. I really enjoyed the characters but I feel Crandall may have been trying to hard. The concept of a young child's whole concept of the world changing was a strong one though. I would recommend this book to people who like historic fiction.
LibraryThing member TheBoltChick
Whistling Past the Graveyard was a truly wonderful book. I have seen comparisons to To Kill A Mockingbird, and while I enjoyed it, I don't feel it rose to the level of Harper Lee's masterpiece.
The story opens in 1963 Mississippi and is told by Starla, a 9-1/2 year old girl being raised by her
Starla's grandmother isn't just strict, she is often cruel. She seems to resent having Starla around. Starla is headstrong, getting into trouble regularly. She dreams of when her mother will be famous and come to get her. Then her father won't have to work on the oil rigs anymore, and they can be a real family.
Starla sneaks out while grounded, and getting in trouble again, decides to run away to Nashville to find her mother. She starts walking in what she believes is the general direction of Nashville. As it begins getting dark, a black woman named Eula offers her a ride. She hesitates at first, but then accepts. Thus begins the road trip that will change Starla's life forever. The people she meets and the experiences she has make Starla see the world in a whole new way.
This is a remarkable coming-of -age novel. The narration of the book feels wonderfully authentic. Highly recommended.
The story opens in 1963 Mississippi and is told by Starla, a 9-1/2 year old girl being raised by her
Show More
strict grandmother. Her father works on the oil rigs and only gets to come home for short periods of time every few months. Her mother has moved to Nashville and is trying to become a recording star. Starla's grandmother isn't just strict, she is often cruel. She seems to resent having Starla around. Starla is headstrong, getting into trouble regularly. She dreams of when her mother will be famous and come to get her. Then her father won't have to work on the oil rigs anymore, and they can be a real family.
Starla sneaks out while grounded, and getting in trouble again, decides to run away to Nashville to find her mother. She starts walking in what she believes is the general direction of Nashville. As it begins getting dark, a black woman named Eula offers her a ride. She hesitates at first, but then accepts. Thus begins the road trip that will change Starla's life forever. The people she meets and the experiences she has make Starla see the world in a whole new way.
This is a remarkable coming-of -age novel. The narration of the book feels wonderfully authentic. Highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member 2LZ
I received an advanced uncorrected digital galley of Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall from NetGalley.com in return for my honest thoughts and opinions of the work.
Whistling Past the Graveyard is the story of outspoken, sassy, nine-year-old, Starla Claudelle whose beautiful way of
Whistling Past the Graveyard is Starla's journey. Her mother had abandoned her when she was three years old to pursue her dreams of becoming a famous singer in Nashville. Her father worked on an oil rig in the Gulf, and Starla was left in the care of her grandmother, Mamie, who seemed to resent the child and often was spiteful and cruel to her without reason. A series of events prompted Starla to search for her mother. Along the way, she met, Eula, a selfless, loving black woman who was an inspiring mother-figure to Starla. This shameful period of our history, a time of disgraceful discrimination based on skin color, prohibited these colorblind friendships, but together, Starla and Eula, created their own kind of family touching and transforming many that they encountered.
I loved this novel. The story was substantial. The characters were well-developed and connected with the reader. I was sorry when the book ended. I highly recommend reading it.
Whistling Past the Graveyard is the story of outspoken, sassy, nine-year-old, Starla Claudelle whose beautiful way of
Show More
thinking and loving people unconditionally contrasted with the cruelty and discrimination of the time. Starla was white and although her Mamie, taught Starla, by example, to think that her color made her superior to a black person, Starla's sincerity and innocence enabled her to defy such ignorance and befriend Eula, a kindly black woman who treasured Starla and made her feel loved for the first time in her life. Whistling Past the Graveyard is Starla's journey. Her mother had abandoned her when she was three years old to pursue her dreams of becoming a famous singer in Nashville. Her father worked on an oil rig in the Gulf, and Starla was left in the care of her grandmother, Mamie, who seemed to resent the child and often was spiteful and cruel to her without reason. A series of events prompted Starla to search for her mother. Along the way, she met, Eula, a selfless, loving black woman who was an inspiring mother-figure to Starla. This shameful period of our history, a time of disgraceful discrimination based on skin color, prohibited these colorblind friendships, but together, Starla and Eula, created their own kind of family touching and transforming many that they encountered.
I loved this novel. The story was substantial. The characters were well-developed and connected with the reader. I was sorry when the book ended. I highly recommend reading it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member brangwinn
Set in Mississippi and Tennessee as the Civil Rights movement was beginning,10 year old Starla, is an excellent narrator. She runs away from her grandma to find her mom in Nashville. She is offered a ride by Eula, a black-woman who has stolen a white baby from the steps of a church. As they make
Show More
their way to Nashville, Starla sees first hand the treatment of blacks in Mississippi. She discovers that love in a family does not necessarily include a mom who has no use for her. Not quite the intensity of To Kill a Mockingbird, but it's clear that a child makes an excellent narrator for showing us history. If you like The Help, you'll enjoy this book as well. Show Less
LibraryThing member pjhess
Mississippi in 1963 and 10 yr old Starla has had enough living with her grandmother Mamie who's strict rules become just a little too much. Starla is grounded again and decides it's time to take off and find her mother in Nashville. Along the way she meets Eula, a colored woman with her own
Show More
problems. Ms. Crandall does an excellent job of being true to the era and the things we love and hate about the south. I highly recommend this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member ecataldi
This book was adorable!! If you are a fan of "The Help" or "The Secret Life of Bees" then this is the book for you!!! Susan Crandall vivdly brings to life the most remarkable, yet relateable characters I've read in a long while.
Set in 1963 Mississippi, young, naive Starla runs away from her strict
Starla doesn't think through her runaway plan and is soon rescued from the sweltering heat by Eula, a nice black woman who is caring for a white baby. Together the three of them go on a journey that will radically change their lives and make them stronger than they ever thought possible.
The story is beautifully told through Starla's eyes and really helps illustrate the "seperate but equal" unjustices that were plaguing the south. Starla comes to understand how unfair and uneuqal things are by traveling with Eula and her peception of the world is forever altered.
It's a beautiful story! I highly recommend!
For fans of historical fiction and southern literature.
Set in 1963 Mississippi, young, naive Starla runs away from her strict
Show More
grandmother and heads to Nashville to reconnect with her mother whom she hasn't seen since she was young. Daddy's off working on an oil rig so Starla is set on finding and living with her momma, a famous singer by the name of Lulu. Starla doesn't think through her runaway plan and is soon rescued from the sweltering heat by Eula, a nice black woman who is caring for a white baby. Together the three of them go on a journey that will radically change their lives and make them stronger than they ever thought possible.
The story is beautifully told through Starla's eyes and really helps illustrate the "seperate but equal" unjustices that were plaguing the south. Starla comes to understand how unfair and uneuqal things are by traveling with Eula and her peception of the world is forever altered.
It's a beautiful story! I highly recommend!
For fans of historical fiction and southern literature.
Show Less
LibraryThing member trishrope
First off let me say I didn't finish this book, but skimmed the last 200 pages. Secondly, I would actually give this book 2.5 stars if I was able. The 2 star rating seems a bit harsh since I didn’t dislike the book; the writing is solid, the dialog authentic and the story relatively interesting.
Alas, I have limited time to read, and so I have to be selective (not that I don’t read mindless cozy mysteries occasionally-but I know upfront I am reading for sheer mindless entertainment, not great writing or thought provoking ideas). But when I see a book targeted to adults being heralded as a classic by both critics and fellow customer reviewers my expectations are high. This book fell very short of my expectations (and I’m sure it didn’t help that the last book I finished, for the second time, was The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton-now there’s a Classic!), but I would recommend it to middle school students and high school students.
Show More
So why did I stop reading and give it only a 2 star rating? The story and characters were not as complex as I was expecting. I feel like this is more of a book for younger readers (middle school or high school). Readers who may not be that familiar with the South, and specifically the Jim Crow era would learn a little something about both. I read books for Children, Juveniles & YAs, but I like to know up front the audience to whom it is aimed. Another coming of age novel, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is classified as a YA novel, which I could never understand, since it covered complex themes, had fully fleshed out characters, and he took an over-written period in history (WWII) and made it seem fresh and original. I fear many adults may have missed an excellent book because it was miscategorized, but I digress.Alas, I have limited time to read, and so I have to be selective (not that I don’t read mindless cozy mysteries occasionally-but I know upfront I am reading for sheer mindless entertainment, not great writing or thought provoking ideas). But when I see a book targeted to adults being heralded as a classic by both critics and fellow customer reviewers my expectations are high. This book fell very short of my expectations (and I’m sure it didn’t help that the last book I finished, for the second time, was The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton-now there’s a Classic!), but I would recommend it to middle school students and high school students.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Debra_Armbruster
A quick read but nothing earth-shattering.
_Whistling Past the Graveyard_ is a coming of age story set in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Era. The protagonist, Starla, a nine-year old girl from a broken home, finds a mother in Eula, a domestically abused black woman who picks her up
_Whistling Past the Graveyard_ is a coming of age story set in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Era. The protagonist, Starla, a nine-year old girl from a broken home, finds a mother in Eula, a domestically abused black woman who picks her up
Show More
hitch-hiking. After trials, tribulations, happy accidents and crushing disappointments, Starla finds family and herself. Show Less
LibraryThing member Dmtcer
I received this book as an advanced reader e-book through Net Galley. From the beginning I found myself captivated by 9 year old Starla's character. She is feisty, rough-and-tumble, goes to bat for the underdog and yet she is seemingly unaware of her own sense of value or place in the world. Her
I was reminded of The Secret Life of Bees; the setting is similar - a young girl traveling with a black female friend in the midst of the American south during the early 1960's and the Civil Rights movement. Similar to Lily in The Secret Life of Bees, Starla is seeking her mother, and is running from a grandmother reminiscent of the character of T-Ray in Bees.
This well written story is dark yet entirely captivating. As a heroine, Starla, in her young life, has to learn to endure situations and experience tragedies no parent would wish for their children. I would recommend this book to those who loved The Secret Life of Bees; it will not disappoint.
Show More
father works on an oil rig, her mother is in Nashville, and she lives with her paternal grandmother who lacks warmth and love; she is afraid Starla will grow up "trashy" like her mother. When Starla's "red-rages" get her into trouble she decides to run away to live with her mother in Nashville, 600 miles away from her hometown. Almost from the start, Starla runs into trouble, but in her quest she discovers herself and her place in the world, along with true love and friendship. I was reminded of The Secret Life of Bees; the setting is similar - a young girl traveling with a black female friend in the midst of the American south during the early 1960's and the Civil Rights movement. Similar to Lily in The Secret Life of Bees, Starla is seeking her mother, and is running from a grandmother reminiscent of the character of T-Ray in Bees.
This well written story is dark yet entirely captivating. As a heroine, Starla, in her young life, has to learn to endure situations and experience tragedies no parent would wish for their children. I would recommend this book to those who loved The Secret Life of Bees; it will not disappoint.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Dmtcer
I received this book as an advanced reader e-book through Net Galley. From the beginning I found myself captivated by 9 year old Starla's character. She is feisty, rough-and-tumble, goes to bat for the underdog and yet she is seemingly unaware of her own sense of value or place in the world. Her
I was reminded of The Secret Life of Bees; the setting is similar - a young girl traveling with a black female friend in the midst of the American south during the early 1960's and the Civil Rights movement. Similar to Lily in The Secret Life of Bees, Starla is seeking her mother, and is running from a grandmother reminiscent of the character of T-Ray in Bees.
This well written story is dark yet entirely captivating. As a heroine, Starla, in her young life, has to learn to endure situations and experience tragedies no parent would wish for their children. I would recommend this book to those who loved The Secret Life of Bees; it will not disappoint.
Show More
father works on an oil rig, her mother is in Nashville, and she lives with her paternal grandmother who lacks warmth and love; she is afraid Starla will grow up "trashy" like her mother. When Starla's "red-rages" get her into trouble she decides to run away to live with her mother in Nashville, 600 miles away from her hometown. Almost from the start, Starla runs into trouble, but in her quest she discovers herself and her place in the world, along with true love and friendship. I was reminded of The Secret Life of Bees; the setting is similar - a young girl traveling with a black female friend in the midst of the American south during the early 1960's and the Civil Rights movement. Similar to Lily in The Secret Life of Bees, Starla is seeking her mother, and is running from a grandmother reminiscent of the character of T-Ray in Bees.
This well written story is dark yet entirely captivating. As a heroine, Starla, in her young life, has to learn to endure situations and experience tragedies no parent would wish for their children. I would recommend this book to those who loved The Secret Life of Bees; it will not disappoint.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Anansilaw
Beautiful language. The author's descriptions made me feel the emotion or transported me to the place. Told in the voice of a 9-year old child with an absent father and a mother who abandoned her. Starla lives with a resentful grandmother who rarely misses an opportunity to punish her in some way.
The depth of this story surprised me. Set in Mississippi during the 1960s - it may be Freedom Summer though that's not clearly referenced. The Jim Crow South is a character and Starla experiences the impact of racism and white privilege. There's a lot more here than the back cover describes. Highly recommend
Show More
She runs away on the 4th of July heading to Nashville in search of her mother and the dream of a happy family. She finds danger and courage, disappointment and acceptance, heartbreak and unconditional love. It's quite a journey.The depth of this story surprised me. Set in Mississippi during the 1960s - it may be Freedom Summer though that's not clearly referenced. The Jim Crow South is a character and Starla experiences the impact of racism and white privilege. There's a lot more here than the back cover describes. Highly recommend
Show Less
LibraryThing member porch_reader
Set in 1963 in Mississippi and Tennessee, Whistling Past the Graveyard tells the story of 9-year-old Starla. Starla's mother has moved to Nashville and her father works on an oil rig in the Gulf, so she is forced to live with her father's mother, Mamie, who doesn't seem to appreciate Starla's spunk
Once I got into the story, I found it an enjoyable read. As Starla and Eula navigate the obstacles they face, we come to know more about them and their relationship deepens. However, there were times when Starla said or did things that seemed inconsistent with her age. The book doesn't go deeply into the challenges facing the South in 1963 either, and I expect that this is partially because Starla is only beginning to understand the conditions faced by Blacks at that time. So, although I found Starla a charming character, having a 9-year-old narrator limited the book a bit.
Show More
and energy. In trouble for the umpteenth time, Starla decides to run away and find her mother, but trouble finds Starla first and she finds herself on the run with a Black woman named Eula and abandoned baby James. Once I got into the story, I found it an enjoyable read. As Starla and Eula navigate the obstacles they face, we come to know more about them and their relationship deepens. However, there were times when Starla said or did things that seemed inconsistent with her age. The book doesn't go deeply into the challenges facing the South in 1963 either, and I expect that this is partially because Starla is only beginning to understand the conditions faced by Blacks at that time. So, although I found Starla a charming character, having a 9-year-old narrator limited the book a bit.
Show Less
LibraryThing member 68papyrus
Whistling Past the Graveyard is a saying which means that although you might be scared you have to stay strong and keep pushing on. The story of Starla Claudelle opens during July 1963, one of the most turbulent times in American History. The Civil Rights Movement is in full swing and the nation is
Show More
in turmoil, especially in Mississippi. When Starla's grandmother threatens her with reform school again, Starla decides to run away to live with her mother in Nashville. While on her journey she meets a black woman named Eula who is traveling alone with a white baby. Eula helps Starla get to Nashville and together they face many obstacles along the way. This book was a wonderful read! I loved the relationship between Eula and Starla and how they come to trust and love one another. The author painted a very realistic portrait of the constant fear and unrest faced by people of color during this time period. She also shows that good and bad people exist in all races. This book depicted both the best and the worst examples of how humans treat one another. 5 stars! Perfect for fans of the Secret Life of Bees. Show Less
Awards
Maine Readers' Choice Award (Longlist — 2014)
Southern Book Prize (Winner — Fiction — 2014)
Call number
FIC J Cra