The Fluke family of five children suffers deeply from the Depression. The eldest is snappy, which can be expected from a girl in her mid-teens; the second is all-too-sensitive for a boy at thirteen years of age; Harper, the middle child, is cold towards the majority of her surroundings; Tin is his father's 'pet' child and burrows under the house like it's going out of style; and the new baby, Caffy, is a cute little figure that shapes the story's emotional take.

When Caffy is born, Tin begins to burrow under the house. The nasty mid-wife claims that he is jealous and wants attention, but Harper knows better. Tin is accomplishing something of his own, and is seeking solitude in the quiet of the underground, though he can hear the above conversations and happenings beautifully.

A few years after the tunnelling begins, the shanty can no longer take the decreasing foundation's lack of support, and collapses. Tin survives--though nearly--and Da throws a fit. For the protection of her children, Mam herds four of her children (Tin scampers away till he must come out and help rebuild) to a friends' house.

What was to become of the Fluke family seemed broken and unhealthy, but what did become of it was something of unspeakability.

The extremity of the conditions that the family survived proves enormous strength of the Fluke family. It was simply unbelieveable to read about.

The characters' reactions and depictions were not deliciously detailed or emotionally realistic. Their strength was awesome, but would be more awesomely so if only they showed some kind of feeling--and different feelings appropriate for their personalities--towards the tragedies and joys both.

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Created Nov 12, 2005 at 11:42am • Submit your own review...