Made in the U.S.A. (edit title)

• Rated 5 stars

“Wonderful book -- I read one or two of her previous ones and loved them, but this was outstanding. The heroine/hero were SO great -- typical of their upbringing, until they found love and acceptance. Takes a turn you almost can't believe about halfway through..........READ THIS. ”

• Rated 4 stars

“I'll be looking for other titles by Billie Letts. Not everyone can take such grim circumstances and shape a story with hope.
Two orphaned sibs, abandoned by their alcoholic dad and the sudden death--in a Wal-Mart--of the latest lived in lady friend, head for LA, thinking dad will be there, right along with a happy ending. We know better....But there's redemption here, in very human form. Plenty of discussion themes between the covers for any YA group...”

• Rated 4 stars

“Billie Letts has not let readers down with this story of traumatized children struggling to survive on their own in Las Vegas. At 15, Lutie proves her toughness as she tries to earn enough money to send her 11-year old, nerdy brother Fate to a private school. Fate feels they are watched over by a kind person, though, and his feeling proves true. It's almost too late for Lutie, though. Heartwarming, with some vivid details.”

• Rated 4 stars

“I was stressed out while Lutie and Fate were in Las Vegas. But a very good read.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Nowhere near as good as Where the Heart Is. Just ok. Meandering plot, unbelievable situations & characters, predictable ending.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Very typical Billie Letts- a small town feel, down and out characters, but All American good story. I enjoyed the story a lot. Runs the gambit of all emotions, and goes from sad to happy ending. ”

• Rated 2 stars

“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”

• Rated 4 stars

“I have read all of Billie Letts books and I enjoyed this one as much as the others. It does have a dark side and that was a little surprising. I liked the book and would recommend it.”

• Rated 4 stars

“I listened to this as an audiobook on my iPod. I usually have very different reactions to books that I read versus listened to.

I have read all the other books by Billie Letts, so I would have read it anyway, but when I saw that it starts out in Spearfish, SD, I had to read it right away.

I think it's better that I listened to this one. I probably would have found it too dark and depressing if I had read it myself. I have read Billie Letts' other books and I've liked them all, but I have been a bit bothered by the darkness--or maybe just the realness, I don't know.

The young lady who read this audiobook, Cassandra Morris, was amazing. I think I could listen to hear read a dictionary and it would be interesting.

I would say the second third of the book started to loose me a little bit. What is the deal with the circus in books lately??

It had a sort of fairy-tale, neatly tied-up ending, but I liked it. Some might find it a bit hokey and too coincidental, but sometimes it's nice to have a happily ever after ending. ”