Guest Review: No Alligators in Sight - Kirsten B. Feldman

 

Here at The Phantom Paragrapher , I have asked for some help to catch up with the backlog of reviews and one of those who responded is Lindsay.  Above the YA Sign, is a lovely picture her daughter drew - isn't it cute. This will symbolise the reviews that Lindsay has written.

Welcome her aboard :)

 

The premise of this novel begins when a daughter finds a journal of her mother’s in an attic and on questioning her about it, finds out that her Mum kept it during a summer when she was 13 and as she states “in pain. “ The reader is then transported back and relives the events with Leticia (or Lettie’s chosen preference “Annie”, her confirmation name.).  Lettie lives with Bert, her little 9 year old brother and Joel, their alcoholic father.  Bert and Letty’s Mum left them 6 years ago to move to Key West with her lover.  The abandonment of their mother has caused major issues for both children but especially Lettie who is thrust in the role of carer for Bert, albeit unwillingly.  Joel, their father, also has problems but chooses to drown them daily in the local bar.  Lettie has never gotten over her mother leaving her, having many unanswered questions. When a major incident occurs, she and Bert are packed off to their mother’s in Key West but will this be the finally longed for reunion for which she hopes?

What to say about this book?.  It was by turns a coming of age story and an insight of what it is to be a troubled teenager.  Lettie makes for an endearing heroine.  The author cleverly intersperses the narrative with journal entries from Letty so that the reader gleans a firsthand account of the troubles and issues which Lettie faces and vicariously lives through them with her.  This book shows that not everyone is automatically cut out to be a parent and the damage which this causes to the children. It also highlighted the dynamics of extended families and the impact which they have on the ensuing relationships.   Lettie learns many lessons during her summer, not all of which she finds easy, but at the culmination of the novel, she eventually realises that everything she wants has been waiting for her all along.

I really enjoyed this book.  It dealt with so many themes; love, loss, family, and standing up to confront life’s challenges.  The characters were well structured and the story line was beautifully plotted.  I really had so much empathy for Lettie as a character.  Wonderful.