The coming of age story about a young girl and the tragedy she and her family endure. Lou is a tough as nails 12 year old who idolizes her father, ignores her mother and protects her 7 year old brother.

After a tragic car accident Lou and her brother Oz are sent to Virginia high in the Appalachian Mountains, to be cared for by a woman they've never met.

Louisa Mae Cardinal is Lou's namesake and their great grandmother. She has lived high in the mountains for most of her life and has raised a family there.

The story is set in the 1940's and we learn a lot about how tough life was not only in the mountains but also with the coal mining towns popping up and shutting down equally fast. The outsiders would come in take all the coal and the lumber give people hope and snatch it away when they'd used up all the resources.

If you want a really good read. Not action or romance just something to occupy your mind and your time this is good for that.

The characters were so in depth and you felt for them exactly what the author planned for you to feel. My favorite character of the book was Diamond, this kid had such presence, passion, loyalty, freedom and his complete innonence is so easy to fall in love with.

What happens to Diamond. There were a lot of shockers and surprises and they brought tears to my eyes. I wanted so much for a different outcome.

Learn more about the Applachian Mountains maybe even take a trip there and see if they really are that amazing.

Hope and peace. It made me feel like I should be happy with my life and not complain about things so much. I felt like I should be out there living every day and wasting not one single second.

David Baldacci is best known for his hit Mystery Novels and this was his first attempt at a non-mystery. But he does a good job of keeping you on your toes. I enjoyed his writing style and I would definitely read something from him again.

It's sincere and heartfelt. I recommend this book because it makes you accept the fact that things can't always be controlled. It makes your realize that death is sure, but also that if you really beleive in them good things can happen.

There are a lot of heart aches throughout this book. if you're not feeling much like crying or contemplating the meaning of our existence then this isn't the book for you.

I really enjoyed this. I mostly only read romances, autobiogrphies and self-help books, but I am glad I gave this one a try. It was worth the time and the tears.

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Created Jan 10, 2006 at 12:52am • Submit your own review...