Customer Reviews

The Year of the Sawdust Man (Aladdin Fiction)

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

 

 

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.

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.

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

Gold Star Award Winner!

Welcome to Harper, Louisiana, circa the 1930s. The norm is rule-abiding, conservative white folks. If you don't fit this mold, be ready to serve as the subject of town gossip and superstitions, just like the Bergen family.

Ivar is caring while his wife, Heirah Rae, is both free-spirited and strong-willed. As for their preteen daughter, Nissa, she is a dynamic combination of both. The Bergens' get the unwanted attention of many, especially when Heirah Rae suddenly leaves the family for a new life. Speculation arises about: her whereabouts, Nissa's somewhat extreme behavior, and Ivar's courtship of another woman.

How will Nissa and the rest of her loved ones adjust when the entire town is morally judging them?

If you're looking for a serious-toned book that captures the difficulties that separation has on children, look no further. THE YEAR OF THE SAWDUST MAN is unforgettable. Nissa's emotional struggle after her mother's disappearance is realistic and proves that while children are never to be blamed for the separation of their parents, it is hard for them to overcome that initial sense of guilt.

The book also explores various explanations on why adults separate, the relationships between step-parents and kids, and the acceptance of differing perspectives. Definitely a must-read for all who may be in situations similar to Nissa.

Reviewed by: Hannah Marie

I just finished reading The Year of the Sawdust Man and enjoyed it very much. The characters are vividly drawn and the feelings of Nissa after the departure of her mother are truthful and carefully examined.

I do have a couple of problems with the book, however. I doubt very much that LaFaye has spent any significant time in Louisiana. For example, almost all of the characters had moved in from elsewhere in the country or the world. Louisiana has the highest retention rate of its citizens in the US, and very little influx (especially from the areas the author makes her characters from), so it is doubly unlikely that the small town of Harper would get all of these "foreign" people. Things like that makes the novel ring more false than it should, at least for readers from Louisiana.

This would make a good book to use on an optional reading list for middle school students, however I would not recommend it to be required reading for one of their classes. The pace might be too slow to maintain students' interest (very little actually happens) and the portrayal of minorities is cursory at best.

Despite these detractions from the book (primarily from a pedagogical perspective) I enjoyed this book very much and thought it dealt with the issue of family separations very well.

The best book I have ever read this deserves a medal. But beware it makes you cry.