This is the first book that I've read by Barbara Kingsolver, and I wasn't impressed. She does have a beautiful knack for describing characters and their varying personalities, but it's as if she doesn't know what to do with them after they've been introduced. The actions don't match what she describes. She's very inconsistent. For instance; the main character is supposed to be very close to her mother, but rarely calls or writes. In fact, when her mom gets remarried, she doesn't even attend or visit. Doesn't this seem odd for such a close and tight relationship? She then supposedly found a friend in a girl at a fast food joint, but drops the friendship as soon as she's fired from the joint. Why introduce such a character and describe a fondness, then drop them like a hot potato? She then fell in "love" with Estevan; a man who is married and she barely knows. All she knows for certain is, "that he speaks fine English". Now, really...what a nitwit! Barbara Kingsolver portrays the main character as an independent young woman (at the beginning), but as soon as she's threatened with a little snag (Turtle being taken away) she becomes helpless...and uncaring. I felt that the only reason she kept and fought for Turtle was jealousy. As soon as she saw the love and adoration between Turtle and Esperanza, she realized that she wanted her?? The main character is completely selfish and this was a horrid story. I will give Barbara Kingsolver the benefit of the doubt and try one more book, but if she continues to tease me with her entry of lovely characters and then the unexplainable disappearance of them, I shall put her on my forever "do not read" list. ( )

I enjoyed this novel - not my favorite by Kingsolver, though. A young girl has just graduated from high school and leaves her mother behind (they are very close) to see what she can make of her future. At one of her stops, a woman approaches her car and gives her her baby. The girl doesn't really know what to do but can't say no. It is apparent that the baby has been horribly abused - she does not talk or laugh. She stops at a motel, where she is able to find work. Eventually, she gets on the road again. Her car breaks down, and she ends up a tire place where she again finds work. The owner of the tire place houses illegal immigrants and is a kind, no-nonsense woman. The girl moves in with a woman whose husband has just left her. This woman worries about everything and is very insecure. Her character is a very likable one. This is a story of this girl growing up and learning to trust herself and her instincts, while learning how to love this little baby and ease her out of the protective shell she has created.

An excellent novel! I loved Kingsolver's language, tone, characters and storyline. The book left me really happy and satisfied! I'm looking forward to reading the sequel! ( )

A gripping read, with great characters. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. ( )

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