Back of the book blurb: For eleven-year-old Ellie Sanders, her father has always been the rock that she could cling to when her mother’s emotional troubles became too frightening. But when he comes under the thrall of the pretty teenager who raises vegetables and tomatoes for sale at the general store that he runs, Ellie sees her security slowly slipping away. Now she must be witness and warden to her mother’s gradual slide into madness.
Told from Ellie’s point of view, Tomato Girl takes the reader into the soul of a terrified young girl clinging desperately to childhood while being forced into adulthood years before she is ready. To save herself, she creates a secret world, a place in which her mother gets well, her father returns to being the man he was, and the Tomato Girl is banished forever.
She is Too Fond of Books’ review: Jayne Pupek’s impressive debut novel, Tomato Girl, is a haunting tale that will leave you shocked, saddened and angry … yet, hopeful.
The novel is told in the first person from the perspective of Ellie, a girl on the cusp of adolescence who is forced to grow up too fast. There is constant contrast and tension between her typical girlhood pleasures (playing dolls, making a home for an Easter chick) and the unexpected pressure of attempting to care for her own mother.
Her mother, Julia, has suffered bouts of what may be manic depression since before Ellie was born. Ellie’s father, Rupert, has always been able to temper Julia’s episodes and care for both her and Ellie. Then a chain of events becomes the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, and Julia spirals downward, bringing Ellie’s hopes with her:
In my whole life, I’d never felt so alone.
I curled up in the corner and closed my eyes. For once, I wasn’t afraid of what bad dreams might come while I slept. I knew now that bad dreams can find you even when you’re awake.
We see all this through Ellie’s eyes, as we view the various adults that interact with her – her father, the neighbors, her schoolteacher, and the Tomato Girl herself. Tess, the “tomato girl” whose family farm supplies produce to the local market, is also caught between childhood and adulthood, escaping into a relationship with an older (married) man, while looking for a father-figure in him. Tess is unsure whether her role is sister/confidante/friend to Ellie or mentor/surrogate.
The novel is set in rural Virginia in the mid-1960s. Added to the themes of physical, mental, and sexual abuse are ribbons of racism.
Pupek’s background in the mental health industry allows her to write with both brutal honesty and great sensitivity about Julia’s illness and the dependencies and co-dependencies in the novel. The events aren’t sensationalized, but they are raw and may be difficult to read.
Visit the author’s website to read her bio, sample her poetry, and subscribe to her blog.
I have to post this trailer … earlier today Natasha and Trish pointed us to an article with 20 book reviewing cliches. I used “haunting” (one of the no-nos) in my review, then happened upon this youTube clip; I guess I’m not the only guilty party when it comes to “over-used” words! {big grin} I stand by my use of “haunting” in my review and endorse its use in this video.
Here are a few other bloggers who have reviewed Tomato Girl; leave a link and I’ll add your name to the list:
- Kathy at BermudaOnion
- Wendy at Caribou’s Mom
- Sandra at Fresh Ink Books
This book was difficult to read at times, but I loved it. I thought about it for a long time after I read it. I think your review is great, too.
I read that article Trish sent too. Some good stuff in it.
I haven’t read this book but I loved your review. I loved “ribbons of racism.” That really struck me.
I love the cover of this book. It has been on my wishlist for some time. Glad you liked it…
I’ve seen this review by several people (of course I can’t think of which ones of the long list I follow!) and it was all good stuff. The book is on my List of books to grab if I see it while I am in a book-shopping mood! I had no idea that “haunting” was a no-no word. I use it now and again, and when I do, it always feels appropriate, because that it how I feel. Maybe I should dig into the Thesaurus…eerie, memorable, spooky, nagging, recurrent, persistent?
You wrote a great review here! This is a book which has stuck with me. Thanks for the link to my review
I’d heard such great things about this one that I recently bought a copy!
Wanted to let you know that I have an award for you at my blog, Unmainstream Mom Reads if you want to go pick it up.
Also, I am running 7 different book contests right now – you’ll find links on the righthand sidebar at the top
While I found this book hard to read at times, it’s still one of my favorites from last year.
nice review! I don’t think I have ever seen a book trailer before. …
I really enjoyed this book too. I was so angry at the dad though but I do think amidst all the horrible stuff that happened in the end I had hope that Ellie did well for herself.
Oh and thanks for the 20 annoying cliches link – hilarious. I’m sure I’ve used some of those lots of times
kathy – yes, parts were difficult. anything violent/hurtful happening to a child always is. Pupek wrote with great sensitivity I think (she didn’t overstate the difficult parts)
Ti – racism wasn’t the main focus, but it played a role in the way townspeople treated folks on the “other side of the tracks”
Violet – the colors on the cover are perfect – yellow, green and red tomatoes!
Sandy – a “book-shopping mood” … is there any other way to be?!? (like a chocolate-eating mood!)
Wendy – I actually read it a few months ago and haven’t been able to formulate my thoughts, it was so powerful. In good company, though, I still have reviews for THE MADONNAS OF LENINGRAD and WHO BY FIRE to write; other powerful books that stay with you.
Melissa – I’ll look forward to reading your thoughts on it.
Mo – thanks for the award and the heads up on your contests!
Dar – I think you, Kathy, Wendy and I feel the same way.
Nicole – some book trailers are better than others. I like this with the text and music. Subtle and the characters are left to your imagination.
Iliana – yes, that’s why I listed “hopeful” as one of the adjectives I felt; Ellie deserved a good life and people to love her.
I had seen this reviewed elsewhere and put it on my “check it out” list and your review has only confirmed that I want to check it out!
It was hard to read at certain points, but it was so good.
Jenners – It’s so well-written! I’ll look for your review (I know, that wish list grows and grows!)
Anna – it was tough at points, but I think Jayne Pupek wrote those scenes with sensitivity, not sensationalism, don’t you?