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Description edit
From the national bestselling author of Whistling in the Dark comes another funny, poignant, unforgettable story. The summer Gibby McGraw catches her big break, the cicadas are humming, and it’s so warm even the frogs are sweating. Brain damaged after a tragic car accident that took both... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
Gibby McGraw considers herself NQR, not quite right, since she suffered from brain injury she received in a car accident. Both of her parents died in that accident, and so she lives with her grampa, Charlie Murphy. She feels her momma cannot rest in peace until Gibby becomes QR, quite right.... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters/People edit
- Gibson "Gibby" McGraw: Gibby is the narrator of the story. Gibby has been in an accident and she is "not quite right"
- William "Billy" Brown, Junior: Gibby's guardian angel. He fought in the Vietnam War and returned home with some issues.
- Charles Michael Murphy: Grandfather to Gibby and owner of the local breakfast shop: Top O' the Mornin'.
- Mr. Buster Malloy: Miss Lydia's brother and the future governor of Kentucky
- Miss Lydia Malloy: Owns Land of a Hundred Wonders. She was Mama's best friend.
- Miss Jessie Tanner: Grampa's lady friend. She sells eggs to Grampa, and Gibby rides her mule, Peaches. She owns and runs Tanner Farm.
- Willard DuPree: Grampa and Gibby's neighbor who smokes hemp.
- Addy Murphy: Gibby's mother who died in a car accident.
- Sneaky Tim Ray Holloway: He lives with his aunt, Miss Jessie. He's a sexual predator.
- Vern Smith: He's Teddy's brother. He does the talking for both brothers.
- Georgie Malloy: Miss Lydia's son who drowned.
- Janice Lever: Carol (Clever's) mother
- Mr. Howard Redmond: Gibby's idol
- Sheriff LeRoy Johnson: The sheriff in town. Gibby doesn't like him.
- Rosie Adelaide: Carol's (Clever)'s baby
- Carol Lever: Known in the book as Clever, Gibby's best friend and mischief maker
- Teddy Smith: Brother of Vern. He helps take care of The Land of a Hundred Wonders. Miss Lydia calls him the Caretaker. He rarely speaks.
- Reverend Jack: He's a reverend at the Cumberland United Methodist Church. He's someone who can talk to Gibby when her grampa can't get through to her.
- Miss Cheryl: Gibby writes a story about her and Miss Dee Dee.
- Mr. Cubby St. James: A taxidermist.
- Cooter: A friend to Tim. Miss Florida's grandson.
- Bob: He owns Bob's Drug Emporium where Gibby gets her pictures developed.
- Miss Florida Smith: She works at Top O' the Mornin' and bakes incredible pies. She helps out Miss Lydia who calls her the Tender.
- Keeper: Gibby's dog.
- Miss Dee Dee: Gibby writes a story about her and Miss Cheryl.
- Miss Loretta: She owns Candy World. Gibby thinks she and Reverend Jack are an item.
- Dr. Sam Cooper: Grampa's doctor.
- Deputy Jimmy Lee: He's the sheriff's deputy.
- Darlene Abernathy: She's the receptionist at the hospital. She doesn't like Gibby.
- Sonny: The horse Billy rides.
- Dancer: The horse Cooter rides.
- Big Bill Brown: Billy's wealthy father.
Quotes edit
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“SHERIFF: And for what purpose would you be wantin' to know that information?GIBBY: For the article I will be writin' about him once he turns up dead, ya big asshole.”
- Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
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“Life has a short wick, Gib. Burn bright whenever you can, hear?”
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know that kin is the most important thing in life. If they don’t love you and accept you for what you are, you might as well go hunting without a gun.
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NQR, which is his pet name for Not Quite Right,
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WONDER # 15 THE HIGHWAY OF LIFE HARDLY EVER TAKES YOU TO WHERE YOU’RE HEADING
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It’s only natural to stuff sad stuff away, like Billy’s war and my crash, but listen here—if you expose those sorrows to the light of day, you might be pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
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how it all worked out for Billy and me. Can’t be a rainbow without there first being a god-awful storm, right?
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People can hide their badness from one another, but the scent of wrongdoing is pungent and unmistakable to our four-legged friends.
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Reverend Jack says my mind gets to wandering more than the
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There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. —Albert Einstein
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times hope has left you holding the bag, and ya still keep up with it, hell, that’s just plain ignorant.
Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers
Setting & Locations edit
- Browntown: This is where the African American people live. Gibby's warned to stay away since there are race issues happening.
- Texas: Grampa is from here. Also, he flies her for an operation.
- Bolivia: Gibby considers running off to Bolivia like Butch and Sundance.
- Kentucky: The state where the novel is set.
- Cairo: Gibby thinks she wants to live here because she saw the movie Cleopatra.
- Vietnam: Billy fought in the Vietnam War.
- Grant County
- Cray Ridge: The location of Gibby and Grampa's home. It is located on the shores of Lake Mary.
- Blackstone Cave: Gibby and her friends played here when they were kids.
Organizations edit
- The Importance of Perception in Meticulous Investigation: Gibby references this book as the ultimate journalist's guide.
- Gibby's Gazette: The newspaper that Gibby creates. She puts copies around town for people to read.
First Sentence edit
Ya ever notice how some folks get well known for how they dress or hunt or even what kind of truck they drive?
Table of Contents edit
A Deadline
Black and White and Red All Over
The Creek Don't Really Rise
Sneaky
A Friend Indeed
Making Hay While the Sun Shines
Mr. Charles Michael Murphy
As Clever Does
The Gadabout
The Queen of Browntown
Reverend Jack
A Not So Hot Mama
The Odd and the Otter
An Eye for an Eye
Hiding and Seeking
White Sheets
On My Ownish
Baby Talk
On the Lamb
The No Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The Hideout
Back Home
Cheating
Not Copacetic
Free at Last
Vengeance Is Mine
Like a Greased Pig
Surrounded
At the Gallop
Hightailin' It
Back to Blackstone
The Truth Doesn't Always Set You Free
Sunup
Land of a Hundred Wonders
The Soul of the Matter
Birthday
The Showdown
In Conclusion, I'd Like to Say
Glossary edit
- leather-like: Gibby's briefcase made of a leather-like material.
- QR: Quite Right - Gibby longs to be QR.
- NQR: Not Quite Right - Gibby refers to herself as NQR since her accident.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Lesley Kagen (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: NAL Accent
Country: USA
Publication Date: 2008
ISBN: 0451224094
Page Count: 289
Publisher: NAL Accent
Country: USA
Publication Date: 2008
ISBN: 0451224094
Page Count: 289
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813.6
Subjects edit
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Links to Supplemental Material edit
- Lesley Kagen: Information about the novel.
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