Small town intricacies, larger than life inhabitants!
The Small Crimes of Tiffany Templeton by Richard Fifield
Tiffany Templeton (Tough Tiff) doesn't fit and yet she's in exactly the right space for being her.
Having been sent to detention school for shoplifting we relive her past story via letters written to her Probation Officer. Her current situation is puzzling and it takes time for the past and present to combine. When it does she's on her way to becoming whole.
Tiffany has secrets. Many. In some ways she's the secret keeper for the whole town, even if they don't know it.
Tiffany's fractured, by her mother's attitude towards her, by her father's betrayal and death, by the love she had for him, by her brother Ronnie's weirdness (definitely a head case), and the larger community.
Mind you she's also her own worst enemy. And she's faithful to the only real friendship she has with the flamboyant David who really has usurped Tiffany's relationship with her mother.
This is one dysfunctional family. But then the whole town of Garbadine is dysfunctional. Tiffany's mother is diabolical in a weird sort of way. How she holds the town to ransom is unbelievable. As is how she treats people who defraud her. But then by the end we all know where Tiffany gets her stubbornness from.
When David decides to stage Tiffany's play exciting and strange things happen. The actors are a hoot. But then this is Garbadine. The standout characters who help on Tiffany's road to redemption are Kelly Plotz, Betty Gabrian, the sheriff and Waterbed Fred.
There area some truly mind stopping moments here dealing with angst, forgiveness, love and hope. I loved the last line in the book, the sudden change of view signalling hope.
Not an easy read because despite the craziness it just sounds all too real. Tiffany's journey is harsh, and yet wonderful.
A Penguin Razorbill ARC via NetGalley
*****
Tiffany Templeton (Tough Tiff) doesn't fit and yet she's in exactly the right space for being her.
Having been sent to detention school for shoplifting we relive her past story via letters written to her Probation Officer. Her current situation is puzzling and it takes time for the past and present to combine. When it does she's on her way to becoming whole.
Tiffany has secrets. Many. In some ways she's the secret keeper for the whole town, even if they don't know it.
Tiffany's fractured, by her mother's attitude towards her, by her father's betrayal and death, by the love she had for him, by her brother Ronnie's weirdness (definitely a head case), and the larger community.
Mind you she's also her own worst enemy. And she's faithful to the only real friendship she has with the flamboyant David who really has usurped Tiffany's relationship with her mother.
This is one dysfunctional family. But then the whole town of Garbadine is dysfunctional. Tiffany's mother is diabolical in a weird sort of way. How she holds the town to ransom is unbelievable. As is how she treats people who defraud her. But then by the end we all know where Tiffany gets her stubbornness from.
When David decides to stage Tiffany's play exciting and strange things happen. The actors are a hoot. But then this is Garbadine. The standout characters who help on Tiffany's road to redemption are Kelly Plotz, Betty Gabrian, the sheriff and Waterbed Fred.
There area some truly mind stopping moments here dealing with angst, forgiveness, love and hope. I loved the last line in the book, the sudden change of view signalling hope.
Not an easy read because despite the craziness it just sounds all too real. Tiffany's journey is harsh, and yet wonderful.
A Penguin Razorbill ARC via NetGalley
*****
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