-
interesting characters, a good read
“This was an enjoyable book, with an interesting and unusual story line, and I fell in love with the characters. I still love The Honk and Holler Opening Soon the best. Billie Letts always tells a good story and I've read every one of hers. I'm always waiting for her next one.”
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-10-24. -
0 of 1 members found this review helpful.
Children falling between the cracks
“Fate and Lutie McFee are no strangers to making their own way in the world. At 11 and 15, the brother and sister have already been orphaned by both their mother and then Floy, the ex-girlfriend to which their father abandoned them as he went to seek his fortune in Las Vegas. Now that the threat of foster care looms overhead, Lutie takes her little brother on a hasty road trip, hoping to track down their father in the hopes of reunion.
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-10-19.
Yet Vegas is hardly the tiny Midwestern town the McFees left behind. With precious little money and no sense of direction, the siblings eventually manage to find out the only thing that matters -- their father isn't coming back. So, determined to stay together, Fate and Lutie join the countless others living between the cracks of a major city, doing whatever it takes to find shelter and keep food in their bodies. Some days, this means partaking in terrible things -- things which Lutie tries to shield her little brother from, as long as she possibly can.
Still, it's just a matter of time before the children's luck runs out; one terrible day, it finally does. Just when the two are at rock bottom, with nowhere to turn, an unlikely Samaritan steps into their lives. With him comes the chance at a new life, one with family, friends, love and security. But is it too good to be true? Or will Lutie and Fate ruin things unwittingly themselves?” -
Great Book
“I love this author. It is so worth it to read her books. I love them so much, I can't put them down. I will read one in less then 24 hrs.”
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-09-27. -
2 of 2 members found this review helpful.
A Pleasant Read
“Billie Letts is a wonderful author whose novels, "Where the Heart Is" and "Honk and Hollerin" are two of my favorite novels. I went into, "Made in the U.S.A." with the highest of hopes, and though my bubble wasn't completely burst, it didn't rise high. I believe the problem was plausibility. Known for her quirky characters and their eccentric lifestyles, I have willing suspended belief before, but this time Letts asked a little too much of me.
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-08-16.
Lutie, 15, and her 11 year old brother set on a driving trek to Las Vegas when their foster mother of sorts drops dead at a Wal-Mart in Spearfish, S.D. In search of their deadbeat father who left them years before, upon arrival they find that he is dead and are forced to live on the streets of Las Vegas hustling for food, stealing their necessitie, and residing in their car. Someone is watching them, however, and embarks on a way to rescue them both, but not before both are damaged by the flesh eaters that patrol for homeless children.
"Made in the U.S.A" is an enjoyable, emotional, and quality read. Just go into with the knowledge that some things might not ring true, but also that some things ring so true your heart breaks.
Nice effort and worth reading.” -
Too Unbelievably Neat
“Like many others, I read an thoroughly enjoyed Where the Heart Is, so I bought Made in the U.S.A. on a whim, thinking that it too would satisfy. Unfortunately, I was wrong. As others mentioned, it had way too many inconsistencies (tiger/lion, etc.). Although I had no problem believing that children such as Lutie could slip through the cracks and be left to "live" on the streets, I do agree that perhaps somewhat at the library would have turned Fate in to Child Protective Services. Juan's coming to their rescue so neatly and cleanly all the time is a bit too much, and the whole circus part was not credible. If Lutie ended up performing with them, wouldn't T. somehow recognize/find her? After all she owed him LOTS of money.
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-08-02.
It was a very easy read, but once I got 3/4 of the way through, I didn't even read the entire thing, as its ending was so predictable and "too unbelievably neat."
”
