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Review: Whistling Past the Graveyard

Published on 2 Comments on Review: Whistling Past the Graveyard

Whistling Past the Graveyard

The summer of 1963 begins like any other for nine-year-old Starla Claudelle. Born to teenage parents in Mississippi, Starla is being raised by a strict paternal grandmother, Mamie, whose worst fear is that Starla will turn out like her mother. Starla hasn’t seen her momma since she was three, but is WhistlingPastTheGraveyardconvinced that her mother will keep her promise to take Starla and her daddy to Nashville, where her mother hopes to become a famous singer—and that one day her family will be whole and perfect.

When Starla is grounded on the Fourth of July, she sneaks out to see the parade. After getting caught, Starla’s fear that Mamie will make good on her threats and send her to reform school cause her to panic and run away from home. Once out in the country, Starla is offered a ride by a black woman, Eula, who is traveling with a white baby. She happily accepts a ride, with the ultimate goal of reaching her mother in Nashville.

As the two unlikely companions make their long and sometimes dangerous journey, Starla’s eyes are opened to the harsh realities of 1963 southern segregation. Through talks with Eula, reconnecting with her parents, and encountering a series of surprising misadventures, Starla learns to let go of long-held dreams and realizes family is forged from those who will sacrifice all for you, no matter if bound by blood or by the heart.

My review............3 stars

Such a feel good kind of story! That is not to say that there wasn't some tension and sadness along the way, but in the end you come away with a sigh of satisfaction. The title refers to the act of keeping your head up and carrying on when you encounter trouble in your life. The narrator of this book is what makes the story! She is adorable, sassy, smart, precocious, and a kid I'd love to get to know. I thought the author did a good job with all of the characters. The segregation and racial tension was very well portrayed without it being an "in your face" part of the plot. It's the kind of book where you are rooting for the characters through all of their adventures.

I gave it three stars simply because it's the kind of book that probably won't resonate with me down the road, except to remember that I liked it. That still makes it a book worth reading, it's a worthy one.  And I dare you not to fall in love with little Starla.

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2 thoughts on “Review: Whistling Past the Graveyard”

  1. Elizabeth (Silver's Reviews)

    I have been wanting to read it since it came out. Nice review.

    I am looking at your header. Love your book shelf. I actually have a few of the books in the photo. The Wiley Cash book was good. I enjoyed The Tilted World too. Loved The Help. Love Chris B's books.

    ENJOY your day and week, and if you are in the frigid zone, stay warm.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Blog

    Reply ↓
    1. ondbookshelf Post author

      All of those books are my autograph collection. With the exception of The Help (how I wish that one was), because that just has to stay in a prominent place on my shelf!

      I'm in NC, and we are getting snow, then ice. If you know anything about the South, we freak out over storms! Should be an interesting few days 🙂

      Reply ↓

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