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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “Billie Letts is one of my favorite authors and she only puts a book out every few years. "Made in the U.S.A" is another excellent story by Letts. Great characters.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “I really liked the other Billie Letts books I read, but I honestly didn't like this one. Kind of dark and depressing. Possibly because I really don't care for anything to do with a circus and this book took you there.. finally. Very disappointing” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“This wasn't what I expected it to be; this has a Hollywood-type happy ending where I was expecting the main character to have more trouble adjusting to her new life (especially since she's no longer smoking cigarettes and snorting cocaine). ”
Tamia B wrote this review 7 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A sad story, but captivating.”
Conni Z wrote this review 8 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Made in the U.S.A.
juliefaillaearhart wrote this review 10 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
by Billie Letts
Published by Grand Central Publishing
Click on book
cover to order
at Amazon.com
Reviewed by Julie Failla Earhart
I predict that Billie Letts’ new novel, Made in the U.S.A, will be a New York Times bestseller. It has everything: a great plot, compelling characters, and a feel-good ending that makes the reader’s heart soar. I wanted to applaud when I reached the conclusion.
Life has not been easy for fifteen-year-old Lutie McFee and her eleven-year-old brother Fate. Their mother died when Lutie was six. The kids are living with Floy, the latest in a long line of their alcoholic father’s ex-girlfriends. When she keels over dead in a Spearfish, South Dakota, Wal-Mart checkout, Lutie knows that foster care is only a breath away. The kids take her car and head to Las Vegas in attempt to locate their missing father.
Now they’ve reached rock bottom. The happiness they hoped to find in Vegas is stripped away when they learn some grave news about Dad. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than two homeless children, but two homeless children living right off the Strip is more depressing.
However, Lutie and Fate are lucky. They have someone who seems to watch over them; someone who leaves them little treats and notes. Their benefactor stays at arm’s length, but when Lutie is savagely attacked outside the hotel they currently call home, Juan Vargas can’t help but get involved. He takes the kids back to his home in Oklahoma, a place he, too, hasn’t been in fifteen years. It is there, among the myriad of relatives that all three find a place to finally call home.
Letts’ moving novel is a quick read. Her masterful storytelling is flawless and the characters interesting. I was especially drawn to Fate’s dorkiness. He’s a creepy little guy who worries about global warming, plays Scrabble by himself, and keeps his book of facts handy.
The story would be more tragic if Lutie and Fate hadn’t had Juan’s watchful eye, but Made in the U.S.A would be another story without him.
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“such an amazing book! i'll definitely read more of her work!”
Erin F wrote this review 12 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“awful depressing book- I was not expecting this from the Where the Heart is and Honk and Holler author. So sad and graphic.”
Joanna C wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A LONG time ago, I read Lett's Where the Heart Is and Honk and Holler Opening Soon. I loved them. I think my mom passed them on to me. Well last week, a friend and I went to Borders to browse and I saw this one on the shelf. I wrote it down and came back and put it on hold at the library. It came in very soon and I devoured it! It's one of those tear-jerkers. It was equally horrifying and heartwarming. I definitely recommend this one.”
Jennifer J wrote this review Monday, October 5 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I was dissappointed! I enjoyed "Where the Heart Is" and thought I would give Billie Letts another try. This book does not compare. The circus theme was a stretch for me. ”
Karen B wrote this review Friday, September 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Not what I expected-much darker. But I enjoyed it.”
Julie S wrote this review Thursday, September 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Wonderful story, heartwrenching and uplifting.”
Bibliobabe wrote this review Wednesday, September 9 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
