Search - Icy Sparks

Ick. I agree with a previous reviewer about my disappointment at her religious awakening at the end of the book. I got the feeling she knew what she wanted to end with all along and tried to make it fit. The ending overshadowed what was a fair book, but at times too cute and contrived. Would not read again nor recommend.

As a first novel about growing up poor, orphaned, and prone to fits in a small Appalachian town, Icy Sparks tells a fascinating story. By the time the epilogue rolls around, Icy has prevailed over her disorder and become a therapist: "Children silent as stone sing for me. Children who cannot speak create music for me." For readers familiar with this particular brand of coming-of-age novel--affliction fiction?--Icy's triumph should come as no great surprise. That's one problem. Another is Rubio's tendency to lapse into overheated prose: this is a novel in which the characters would sooner yell, pout, whine, moan, or sass a sentence than simply say it. But the real drawback to Icy Sparks is that some of the characters--especially the bad ones--are drawn with very broad strokes indeed, and the moral principles tend to be equally elementary: embrace your difference, none of us is alone, and so on. When Icy gets saved at a tent revival, even Jesus takes on the accents of a self-help guru: "You must love yourself!" With insights like these, this is one Southern novel that's more Wally Lamb than Harper Lee.

This book was great until the last ten pages or so when the main character gets "saved" and all of her problems are solved because she accepts Jesus. It was a cheap ending to what was an otherwise an enjoyable book. The ending actually made me angry enough to throw the book in the trash which is something I would never usually do.

A book about a girl who is growing up different, in a time when different gets you sent to an asylum. Inspirational story to remind us all that there are people who can be kind and good and life can be hard for everyone in different ways. Quick read!

I enjoyed this book. I had some of the same issues with the religious overtones that other reviewers complained about, but they didn't overshadow the aspects that I liked. Anyone who grew up struggling with a poorly understood mental or neurological condition or learning disorder will identify with Icy. It reads like a memoir. The author either really did her research or has some personal connection with Tourettes Syndrome. She has really captured the damaging feelings of confusion and isolation that result from going through your formative years labeled as strange, stupid, a troublemaker over actions which you have little control over.

Love it!!