The Year of the Sawdust Man (Aladdin Fiction) [Paperback]

A. LaFaye (Author), Jeff Crane (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Aladdin Fiction

Nissa's life has never been perfect. Living in the small town of Harper, Louisiana with a mama as free-spirited as hers has led to lots of gossipy small talk and mean rumors. But now Mama is gone, and all the townsfolk can talk about is who she might have run off with.

Nissa's memories of the Sundays her mama would come home smelling of sawdust lead her to suspect some of the rumors could be true. Did her Mama go away with The Sawdust Man? And if so, does it mean she's never coming back?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in a small 1930s Louisiana town, this first novel about an 11-year-old girl abandoned by her mother "is filled with poignant insights into a hurt child's fragile psyche," said PW in a starred review. Ages 8-12. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-Nissa, 11, lives in the tiny Louisiana town of Harper in 1933, when her mother decamps, leaving a confused and grieving daughter behind. During the year that follows, Nissa tries to come to terms with her loss, with her father's growing attachment to another woman, and with her feelings of guilt and yearnings. The historical, small-town setting lends a slower, more innocent tone to the story than a modern setting might give, yet the feelings expressed are universal and deep. The author creates a believable set of characters and a realistic environment, and sustains them well with a lyrical and leisurely use of language. Readers will care a great deal for Nissa and her family. The readability level is low enough for intermediate grade students, but the complexities of the emotions and the situations the characters must deal with are adult in nature, even though the narrative is softened with euphemisms.
Darcy Schild, Schwegler Elementary School, Lawrence, KS
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689831064
• ISBN-13: 978-0689831065
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,085,161 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book was the best I've ever read!!, November 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Year Of The Sawdust Man (Hardcover)

This book is a heartwarming tale of a little girl who is trying to rise above the troubles of her life, and face them with grace and pride. I would recomend it to anyone who has ever faced adveristy or ever doubted the love that their parents felt for them- you are sure to relate to Nissa and all that she has been through. LaFaye has a writing style that is positivly unique- she has the ability to make you laugh and cry in the same sentence, and to cause you to relate to the characters no matter how different they may seem from you. This book is an emotional roller-coaster that is sure to be pleasing to everyone. It is a story that mirrors everyday life in its theme, actions, and characters. Once you read the first page- it is impossible to put it down until the last. I have never, in all the years that I have been reading, been so swept away by a book and it's verisimilitude. This is by far the best book that I have ever read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous book, December 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Year Of The Sawdust Man (Hardcover)

The world of Nissa Bergen is like none other in fiction. Her mother, Heirah Rae, causes the people of their small town in Harper, Louisiana, to talk constantly. She's a free spirit, doing as she pleases and finding beauty in the most surprising places. Her daughter, Nissa, has some of that spirit, but she also has a good share of her father's calm way of looking at the world. When something goes dreadfully awry in their family, Heirah Rae leaves, and Nissa and her father are left trying to understand. A book that will be enjoyed by teens and adults alike, A. LaFaye writes with a one-of-a-kind voice that creates Nissa Bergen as a strong young girl for the ages.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LaFaye's writing is anything but dusty, July 29, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Year of the Sawdust Man (Aladdin Fiction) (Paperback)

In year of the sawdust man Nissa Bergen (a smalltown girl from Harper Lousianna around depression times)'s fierce and dependent mother runs away from the gossipy mouths and ears of Harper. While her mother is gone she deals with her papa couritng and remarring a woman (Lara Ross-soon to be-Bergen) whom she doesn't care for.
It was intese at times on your emotions, but I loved the book. The writing had a strong flow to it and a great language.
5 stars LaFaye!
-Egg