“O’Dell’s love for the fallen-on-hard-times coal country shines through in her fourth novel. A unique blend of such disparate elements as baseball, bullfighting, and fine art along with O’Dell’s multifaceted major and minor characters combine for intriguing vision. Her hard-hitting, well-crafted story packs a wallop.”
—Library Journal
“In this tough and tender tale, O’Dell’s triumphant portrait of loss and rejection, sanctuary and redemption, shines with poignancy, dignity, and transcendent joy.”
–Booklist
“O’Dell crafts a strong, moving story about a rich old lady and two poor boys who help each other overcome shattering losses…Sensitive, observant Kyle, sophisticated, salt-of-the-earth Luis and cantankerous Candace rotate as narrators, showing the grief-stricken boys and the walled-off woman tentatively forging a healing connection until the return of monstrous Rhonda provokes a crisis. O’Dell’s eye for class conflict remains as sharp as ever, but she’s broadened the reach of her sympathies…found new depths in her subject matter and her human understanding…Her most mature [novel], opening new paths for this talented writer.”
—Kirkus
[O’Dell] is a pro at capturing dialogue, and some characters’ wisecracks are laugh-out-loud funny…this gritty novel is a memorable read.”
—Publishers Weekly
Praise for Tawni O’Dell
“Rich, compassionate storytelling.”
—Entertainment Weekly
“With deft prose, authenticity of character, and sheer tenderness, O’Dell . . . is the absolute master of her craft.”
—Denver Post
“Poignant . . . achingly beautiful prose . . . remarkable.”
—San Diego Union
“O’Dell sketches her characters with telling details and cop-shop crackling dialogue.”
—USA Today
“It’s a pleasure to see such a gifted, ambitious writer reinvigorating the tradition of social conscience combined with personal passion that has illuminated some of the finest, most moving works in American literature.”
—Los Angeles Times
“Scorching . . . O’Dell’s characters fight free of stereotypes, taking on an angry, authentic glow.”
—Publishers Weekly
“O’Dell displays a marvelous gift for serving up eccentric, believable characters and vividly captures the bleakness and harshness of coal-mining country.”
—Library Journal
“Explosive drama … remarkable detail.”
—Philadelphia Inquirer
“O’Dell is an accomplished writer; assured and perceptive, she is especially good with quick dialogue that captures the anger and disappointment these characters carry.”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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