Louisiana's Song (Maggie Valley Novels) [Hardcover]

Kerry Madden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 17, 2007 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Maggie Valley Novels

Livy Two is happy that Daddy is finally out of his coma, but the befuddled man who comes home is not the daddy the Weems family once knew. He forgets their names, he wanders off—he won’t even touch his beloved banjo. Set in Appalachia in 1963, this heartwarming, and heart-wrenching, follow-up to Gentle’s Holler is narrated by the irrepressible Livy Two, and traces the ups and downs of her large mountain family. Shy and awkward 11-year-old Louise (Louisiana) becomes the reluctant hero as she develops a talent for painting, takes care of Daddy, and shows a surprised Livy Two that sometimes the quietest sibling turns out to be the strongest.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In this follow-up to Gentle's Holler (2005), narrator Livy Two and her siblings are trying to cope after their father survives a horrible car accident but is too fragile to support the family. Brother Emmett has quit school to work in town, their mother knits sweaters to sell, and Livy begins working on the bookmobile with Miss Attickson and writes country-music songs that she hopes to sell in Nashville. Eleven-year-old Louisiana, a talented artist, turns out to be her father's best caretaker. It's a hand-to-mouth existence with the specter of an even less-desirable situation—a move to Grandma Horace's house—always lurking. Those who have read Gentle's Holler will best appreciate this sequel, but it does stand alone. Beautifully written and true to its setting in the North Carolina mountains during 1963, this continues the warm, loving, and poignant saga of a family that struggles with everything but love. Bradburn, Frances

About the Author

Kerry Madden has written plays, journalism (Los Angeles Times, Salon, Five Points: A Journal of Literature and Art, and Sierra Club Magazine), and six books including Offsides, a New York Library Pick for 1997, and Writing Smarts, a guide to creative writing published by American Girl. In 2005 she turned her hand to children’s literature with Gentle's Holler, the first installment in what became the award-winning Maggie Valley Trilogy, Viking Children's Books. It earned starred reviews in both Kirkus and Publisher’s Weekly, was named a “Pick” by both the New York and the Chicago Public Libraries, and was the featured children’s book of North Carolina at the National Book Festival. The next book in the trilogy, Louisiana’s Song (2007) was equally well received, being named a Bank Street College Book of the Year and a finalist for several other awards. The third installment, Jessie’s Mountain, was published in 2008 to strong reviews. Most recently Madden published UpClose Harper Lee as part of Viking's UpClose Series and received a starred Kirkus for this biography. She has taught at the University of Tennessee, Ningbo University in China, UCLA, and elsewhere, and has visited schools across the country as a guest author. She has just accepted a new job at the University of Alabama in Birmingham as a professor of Creative Writing beginning the fall of 2009.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (May 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670061530
• ISBN-13: 978-0670061532
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,182,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dear Kids,
I write books and teach writing workshops to kids of all ages. My first novel, OFFSIDES, was called "A Great Santini" from the girl's point of view and selected by the New York Public Library as one of the Ten Recommended Books of 1997 for Mature Teens. My dream is for it to find a second life someday. It's been out of print for many a year now.

My second (published) book, WRITING SMARTS: A Girl's Guide to Writing Great Poetry, Stories, School Reports, and More! (published by American Girl Library, 2002) hopefully helps kids craft their own stories and poetry. I love using it when I teach writing workshops and get kids to write about their favorite secret places.

My debut children's novel, GENTLE'S HOLLER, was included in the "100 BOOKS FOR READING AND SHARING" by the New York Public Library in 2005. The Chicago Public Library also selected GENTLE'S HOLLER for its 2006 Best of the Best Bibliography. GENTLE'S HOLLER received a SIBA Nomination for Favorite Children's Books of 2005. I loved writing GENTLE because I got to go to the Smoky Mountains in my head and play lots of mountain music.

GENTLE'S HOLLER (Starred Kirkus and PW review) is the story of a young girl from the Great Smoky Mountains, coming to terms with life in a large family and her desire to create her own adventures beyond the holler.

My next Maggie Valley book, LOUISIANA'S SONG has just been published this spring, 2007, and JESSIE'S MOUNTAIN will be published in 2008. Right now, it's a Smoky Mountain trilogy.

GENTLE'S HOLLER has just been released by Recorded Books this spring, read by Kate Forbes.

So that's about it...I post kids' stories and poems on my blog.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, wonderful storytelling, August 24, 2007

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Louisiana's Song (Maggie Valley Novels) (Hardcover)

Louisiana's Song is the second in Kerry Madden's trilogy that takes place in Maggie Valley in North Carolina's Smoky Mountains. It's the early 1960s and the Weems family life is narrated through the eyes of twelve-year-old Livy Two.

In Gentle's Holler (see our earlier review), the Weems dad is seriously injured in a car accident. It's eight months later and the family eagerly awaits his homecoming. Dad is going to be recuperating in the smokehouse and Louisiana has painted the walls with family memories. The children's excitement is dashed when they realize dad's brain injury has severely impacted his memory. He's confused, cranky, doesn't seem to recognize his children and often hears music playing in his head.

Money is tight (a perpetual problem in the Weems household) and Grandma Horace is subsidizing the family. She takes to heart the adage that `the person with the gold makes the rules' and has snatched the `head of household' role. She wants to move home and badgers mom Weems with the idea of taking the family back to Enka where a steady paycheck can be found.

While navigating the trials of dad's accident, money problems and Grandma Horace's threats, Livy, Louisiana and the other children do their best to contribute to the family coffers, pull together, and have some fun. From the bookmobile where Livy Two works, the letters to a Nashville agent, the pancake house, an amusement part and the contributions of a shy, tall Louisiana selling her art, we breathe the beloved mountain air where the Weems family lives and feel the strength of a proud mountain family determined to beat back poverty and take on life in their own terms.

In the age of `it's all about me' and little of `us,' Madden shares the idea that there is much value in pulling together and helping others. The values are positive, the tenacity and creativity of the Weems family is delightful. And Livy Two is an extraordinary narrator.

Waiting for the third book in the trilogy is difficult. Will the Weems family move from Maggie Valley? Oh, no! That's a problem waiting to unfold.

Armchair Interviews says: Highly recommended. Be sure to read Gentle's Holler too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, June 28, 2007

By 

Barbara O'Connor - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Louisiana's Song (Maggie Valley Novels) (Hardcover)

Love this book. The setting, the characters, the humor, the heart. It has it all. Madden clearly has a deep love and respect for the Smoky Mountains, their people and traditions. Can't wait for the third book in the trilogy!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From an 8yr. old's perspective..., April 17, 2008

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Louisiana's Song (Maggie Valley Novels) (Hardcover)

This book can show about really good times and really hard times. It could definitely teach people that have an easy and carefree life about much harder times and much better times. It's adventurous and exciting, and if you love nature, this book is perfect for you.


Alexis...
8yrs. old