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Book Review of Tomato Girl

Tomato Girl
lildrafire avatar reviewed on + 117 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 16


Ellie wants to be a good girl- for God, for Daddy, and most especially for Mama, because Mama's "moods" terrify her. Told from the 11 year olds perceptions, I was astounded at how Pupek simply uses what Ellie sees and feels to let us, the readers, infer the situations, the horrors, and unimaginable secrets Ellie has to face, often alone, in this wonderful, sometimes painful, story.

This is a story of betrayal. This is a story of how families and individuals pretend life is grand to the outside world, wearing their fake smiles, while in reality life is crumbling. This is the story of the kindness of strangers. But mostly, this is a story about coping. And that's the hardest story of all. Brilliant.

Many times reviewers will comment "this writer's style is reminiscent of...," but I'm not going to do this with Pupek, and although I do see influences, her style is her very own.