Customer Reviews

Small Town Sinners

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As someone fascinated by Hell Houses and Evangelical Christian (I watch/read everything I can get my hands on in regards to these topics), I was excited when I heard about the concept of this book. And once I found out it was released, I snapped it up on my Nook. Thank GOODNESS for instant gratification.

I liked that the question of one of the character's sexuality is never really answered because, in the eyes of the characters closest to this one, it doesn't matter. The cast of characters, as an ensemble, is very strong and very distinct--yet none of the characters overpowered one another.

If I had to pick one problem with the novel , I would say that Lacey's parents were a bit unpredictable. One minute is was a sort of 'fire and brimstone' and then the next it seemed 'gentle as a lamb.' I understand that they were un-used to punishing her, but I think a grounding might have been something that might have been tried. It wasn't bothersome, again because I enjoyed the book and the depth to which Lacey could grow and expand to find herself.

This book also brought up questions about double standards, and I really enjoyed the fact that it was questioned by the characters. Lacey earned my respect and kept it. If only everyone could be as dedicated to conscious thought and being in touch with their mind.

The Abortion Girl line was a little odd. While an important topic, it was weird to see how much this girl wanted to be the character. It was almost perverse and, if you've seen the documentaries 'Hell House' and 'Jesus Camp' you know exactly what I'm talking about. It's clear that author Melissa Walker not only did her research, but she kept characters real and believeable.

I bought this for my Nook and I LOVE it. I can't wait to read it again.

When I say that I've never read a book like this before, I tend to mean it. And when I say it in regards to Small Town Sinners, I really, really mean it.

When I first started reading Small Town Sinners, I was worried that the deep religious aspects of the book would be too much for me. To my surprise, I was really able to let the differences between Lacey's beliefs and mine go and just get wrapped in her story. There were only a few moments where I wanted to groan in annoyance. I was just so involved in her story and her growth as a character that what I believe didn't matter, and I think that's the sign of a great book with great writing.

Because despite growing up as the daughter of pastor in a very small, very religious town - Lacey is still a normal teenage girl with normal teenage girl urges. She's trying to figure herself out throughout the course of this book, what she wants and who she is and what she believes, and I really identified with that. Especially the parts where she was trying to figure out if Ty liked her or not. I thought her need to question what she was taught, combined with her need to obey her parents and God without question, was done absolutely beautifully, and I think it's something every one can relate to at some point.

I loved all of the characters in this book. I loved Starla Joy and Dean and Lacey's father and mother and Tessa and Ty and all the different roles they played in the story and in Lacey's growth as a person. I don't think the story would have felt as complete as it did if even a single character had been missing.

Overall, I really enjoyed Small Town Sinners. The religious aspects of this book were well done - it was done in a way that didn't shove it down your throat, but still managed to convey Lacey's strong religious beliefs. The storyline wasn't by any means action packed, but I did get so involved in the story that I was basically able to read it one day.

Lacey Anne Byer has always been the good girl. She obeys her nine o'clock curfew, attends church regularly, and never argues with her parents. She's never minded not being the center of attention, but this year, Lacey is definitely ready for a movie moment or at least something more than ordinary. This year, she's determined to land a good role in Hell House, her church's way of teaching about sin and drawing new people to their faith. She's sure that'll be her chance to shine. But then Ty Davis moves to town, and suddenly, all Lacey can think about is shining in a different sort of way--a way that would get Ty to notice her. Ty is sweet, smart, and cute, and Lacey finds herself falling for him even though the fact that he doesn't believe like she does confuses her. But as the number of shocks and conflicts connected to Hell House increase, Ty is the only person she can talk to as she starts to question the behavior of her church community. And as these conflicts grow closer to home, Lacey will have to decide whether she wants to be the girl shaped only by her church's beliefs or the girl who's defined by her own.

I've always found it a little difficult to read books that are so heavily connected to religion and faith, mostly because I have my own doubts and am just not a very religious person. Small Town Sinners, however, is thankfully in no way preachy; it neither endorses nor condemns the beliefs and practices of one religious sect but instead explores the gray areas between organized religion and personal faith. Walker has taken an interesting look at a girl from a very conservative evangelist family who is confronted by a series of events which cause her to doubt and question everything she was raised to believe. Lacey's journey to self confidence and self definition is beautifully portrayed and realistically written because Walked has a true talent for crafting such complex and utterly believable characters. I'll admit that it was still hard for me to get through certain sections of this book where the more negative side of organized religion and the more controlling part of conservatism came into play, especially because Lacey's character often got trampled under all of this. I can't deny, though, that Walker has done a wonderful job of showing the integral role that religion and faith can play is people's lives, usually for the better.

Fans of the Violet trilogy by Melissa Walker will be interested in taking a look at her newest novel, Small Town Sinners, despite its rather different content. This novel will also appeal to fans of The Dark Divine by Bree Despain and Days of Little Texas by R.A. Nelson.

I loved SMALL TOWN SINNERS so much because I could really relate to Lacey. No, I didn't grow up in a devoutly religious home, or a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business, or even around Hell Houses. But I did grow up trying to please everyone but myself, and I still feel like I don't really know who "I" am. The "who am I" question is a question that everyone deals with at some point in their life, and I just adore the way Lacey begins to find herself. (The literary term for a "coming of age" story is bildungsroman in case you were curious. How's that for random literary knowledge?) SMALL TOWN SINNERS addresses bullying, drunk driving, teen pregnancy, and abuse all while placing it in a realistic context. By "realistic context" I mean that the situations are all happening in a realistic way and not the hard-to-believe way that sometimes happens in novels. These events do not all happen to one person; they do not all have the worst possible consequences. Each situation has a different layer of complexity. For example, the majority of drunk driving themes in today's novels result in death, and death is a very real consequence of drunk driving. However, there are less severe consequences that are just as damaging to a person. Dealing with the fact that you were the cause of someone else's injury, or the way people react toward you after the accident can be very traumatic as well. This is just one example of how Melissa Walker eloquently addresses serious teen issues.

I also really loved the treatment of the Hell House. I have actually attended one of these before, although it was a less severely named Judgement House, and I don't remember the scenes being as intense as they are in the book (although my memory seems to be failing lately). The Hell House in STS helps Lacey to understand that it's time she start questioning her beliefs, not because they are wrong, but because she needs to discover what SHE believes and not what she is told to believe. I liked the way Walker put it (and I'm paraphrasing here), "My parents already have their answers so there's no room for questions. I have questions and need to find the answers for myself." Like I said, that is not an exact quote, but it embodies the beautiful message of the novel.

This book does deal with religious views, and while I wouldn't call it a "religious novel" I would caution that some of the images created and beliefs represented in the Hell House may be extreme for some readers. Scenes include suicide, abortion, and the Devil. These issues and descriptions were no problem for me; however, they may be too graphic for younger readers. I suggestion parents read STS before allowing children under15 to do so.

I read Melissa Walker's SMALL TOWN SINNERS from cover to cover in one sitting. It's a fast paced novel that makes the reader think while drawing the reader in with a beautiful love story. A must read!

Originally posted here: [....]

Melissa Walker produced a novel that combines religion and controversial issues with a skillfully crafted approach. I normally don't read books that focus on religion, but there was something intensely special drawing me into the story. Lacey, the perfect daughter to a pious family, surprisingly captured my attention with her kind natured heart. Even though her life seemed sheltered and a little brainwashed by her overbearing father, I appreciated her natural sense of self. She never questioned her faith in God, even when she was presented with unexpected evil, thus helping me build a respect for her individuality.

Now, it wouldn't be fun without a cute boy. Ty, in my opinion, was the voice of reason throughout the chapters. Between the two, they learned a lot from each other. She made him into a better person while he taught her it's okay to question life and to stand up for what you believe in. Also, I really enjoyed the whole idea behind feeling comfortable enough to ask why, instead of just accepting it. All in all, the journey that Lacey goes through as a person was phenomenally written. I couldn't have ask for a better ending to a thought-provoking debut. I am curious to see what message Melissa will leave us with next.

I have been looking forward to reading Small Town Sinners for a very long time. What I didn't expect was how religion would play such a huge role in this novel and instead of it taking away from the story, it actually adds more depth to it. Small Town Sinners is a story about faith, growth and figuring how whether what to do when what you believe and what you think conflict.

I'll be the first to admit that Small Town Sinners is not exactly a light and easy read. At some points in the novel, I actually wanted to jump in the story and slap some all of the characters silly. But the thing is, you have to keep in mind that this book is about SMALL TOWN SINNERS. It's not an action packed, fast paced book, but the writing style, the character growth and the potential for romance will keep you reading.

One thing I loved about this book is Lacey's own personal growth. In the beginning, her faith was everything. And though she quickly begins to develop feelings for Ty, she's still very true to herself, even though she does not understand why he doesn't believe in the things she believes in. Then, things begin to get a bit rocky as people she knows begin to fall in the sinner category. From the events at the Hell House, to the church itself, to her friends, family and everything in between, Lacey soon begins to realize that not everything is black and white. Does that make you a saint or a sinner or something else completely?

Now, for those who fear that this book may be a little too much for you, I must tell you it does not cram religion down your throat. In fact, it does what everyone has done at one point in their life. It makes you question things you once thought were unquestionable. Isn't that part of growing up? And though a lot of the characters are incredibly closed minded and just, for lack of a better word, pains, just know that the ending is well worth the journey spent.

I recommend checking out Small Town Sinners just for the writing and story telling alone. It really is a beautiful story. Don't believe me? One of my favorite quotes comes from the very last page. "He says I can't be certain of anything, that everything changes. Even things we once thought were unquestionably true. And I know that he's right." If that doesn't make you want to rush out and read this book, then I don't know what will.

Melissa's writing style is great and I read the entire book probably because of this and Ty. The religion and The Hell House in Small Town Sinners is what bothered me along with anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, and shipping pregnant girls to some institute to give birth. I know people and some religion based organizations or people not affiliated with religion DO believe in these things and this stuff does happen. The MC's father had me calling him bad names, I marked a certain passage he said that had my blood boiling. People should change and grow during a book and I didn't see enough of that for me. I understand change doesn't come overnight, but some things that were done/said were forgiven too easily for me. Just because you do one thing right doesn't mean it completely wipes out what you said prior especially when these items are unrelated. The main character also didn't fight back as much as I thought she should have. I've seen some praises for this book, but after reading Small Town Sinners, I've learned to stay away from novels touching on religious beliefs and possibly other taboo topics.

Melissa Walker's newest book, Small Town Sinners, is a story that provides no easy answers when it comes to spirituality, love, growing up, or being a teenager. It is a heartfelt look into the questions that arise when teens start to develop their own thoughts and are no longer are satisfied with the answers parents provide.

Lacey Anne Byer wants to be Abortion Girl in her church's annual Hell House production. She knows the impact Abortion Girl has on people and she is sure that this is her chance to finally have the spotlight. Unfortunately, Lacey is not chosen to be Abortion Girl. She gets a lesser part but is trying to be content with that. She has some new excitement in her life courtesy of Ty Davis, a boy who has returned to Lacey's small hometown after years away. Lacey is excited to get to know him again and he seems equally fascinated with her. It should be an easy move to finally getting her very first boyfriend but as with many things, life provides no easy shortcuts for Lacey.

There is so much I enjoyed about this novel. It is a complex look into spirituality, religion, and beliefs and how that conflict with the feelings and hormones that come with being a teenager. Lacey has never really questioned her parents'. They have always held all the answers, but when she sees her best friend Dean being picked on, with no repercussions for the bully, and when she sees her other best friend's older sister being sent away for an unplanned pregnancy, with no consequences for the boy who played a part in the pregnancy, she starts to question all she has been taught and all the church has taught her. The world truly isn't quite so black and white anymore. There are layers and emotions coming out at Lacey at every turn, things she did not expect to feel, or even want to feel sometimes.

I think Melissa Walker did a great job of carrying over the world of gray into the characters. Yes, I was meant to dislike Dean's bully but as it slowly came to be revealed, there was more going on with his character. Likewise, and perhaps more intensely, Lacey's dad is a character filled with layers. At points, I felt he was somewhat misogynistic, but yet he obviously cares for his family and Lacey, wanting only the best for her. He is a protective father who wants Lacey to steer clear of bad influences but he does not always go about explaining that in the best way, causing strife. But then he does something, mostly off the pages of the book that is filled with somewhat better intentions perhaps showing he is trying to understand Lacey and her point of view. However, even by book's end he is not necessarily a changed man. Still very set in his ways, he is not perfect, but neither is Lacey. She has some deep questions to figure out about herself throughout her journey. Does she blindly follow her parents' lead or does she finally discover her voice and start to make decisions that feel right to her?

Melissa Walker is talented; I've known that since I read her first book, Violet on the Runway. Small Town Sinners takes that talent and gives it even more dimension and thoughtful questions to ponder. I was deeply engrossed in this story and truthfully, I didn't always like Lacey Anne but I don't think I was meant to. She did some growing up and changing throughout the story and I feel like she is in a good place, by story's end, to continue to develop and mature and find answers for herself.

I also kind of love that Melissa Walker wants to cast Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton as Lacey's parents. Friday Night Lights fans strike again! Small Town Sinners is one of the more powerful contemporary titles I've read in 2011. It's a book that has stuck with me, several days after I finished it. I truly felt like this was an honest and nonjudgmental approach to faith and religion, a book teens will relate to so easily because they are going through much of the same questioning Lacey and her friends are undergoing. I would not pass this book up. Not too many YA books have impressed me this year but this one has left a mark. (And yes, I fully acknowledge I'm a bit of a Melissa Walker fangirl but believe me, that does not diminish the quality of this book or my reaction to it in the slightest.) Also, for the fans of the classic movie, Footloose (Special Collector's Edition), this book definitely has that Footloose quality to it! No dancing but it just... made me think of that movie in the best way possible.

It is Lacey Anne Byer's ambition to play Abortion Girl this year in her church's annual Hell House production. It's a part she's sure she can nail, and she knows that Hell House will be an amazing ministry to her community. But just about the time that she snags the role, things start to get complicated in Lacey's life. She discovers that her best friend's older sister is pregnant, her other best friend Dean is being bullied--and no one is doing a thing about it, and a childhood friend, Ty Davis, returns to town with some secrets of his own. As the practices for Hell House heat up and Lacey gets closer and closer to Ty, Lacey's doubts build up, forcing her to grapple with her faith for the first time in her life.

Melissa Walker offers a very interesting perspective on an Evangelical community in Small Town Sinners. She does an excellent job at portraying Lacey and her friends in a way that makes them realistic and normal, just more religious and connected to their church community than the teenagers that dominate the YA genre. Of course, faith and uncertainty and questioning what you believe in are all major themes in this book as situations unfold that touch Lacey personally, and the reactions (and sometimes hypocrisy) of her friends, parents, and other members of the community force her to realize that right and wrong aren't so simple, and black and white don't exist in this gray world. Readers can empathize with Lacey on this, especially as she struggles to do what she has always been taught was right while at the same time figuring out what that really is. This novel represents just one denomination of Christianity whose viewpoints and utilization of the Hell House as a "ministry" are very extreme (and wrong) in this reviewer's opinion, but the important message in Small Town Sinners is that we all sin, and are all in need of forgiveness. The events of this story are eye-opening, for both Lacey and for the reader.