I listened to the audio of the newest novel from Jeannette Walls called The Silver Star and it was fantastic. She narrates it herself and she does an amazing job. Not only is she an immensely talented writer but also has a wonderful voice for story telling. As with her other novels that I’ve read I was completely drawn into the world she brought alive for me in The Silver Star.
The Silver Star is about two sisters: Bean who is twelve and Liz who is 15 and their wayward mother Charlotte. The story is told by Bean who is a little firecracker and a fantastic character who you can’t help but love from the very beginning. She makes it her business to know everything that is going on and is very passionate about doing the right thing in life.
The girls love their mother but she has an odd way of parenting that is very different from the norm. Many times she will leave her girls and go off on her own presumably to find herself. This time though she doesn’t seem to be coming back and the girls are running out of money and people are starting to notice her absence. When the police make a visit to the house the girls decide it’s time to board a bus and head to their Uncle Tinsley’s home in Virginia.
Uncle Tinsley is a widower and certainly not used to having young children about but he still he accepts his sister’s kids into the family home. Bean loves being at her uncle’s house and begins to learn many things about both her mother and the father she never knew. The girls even get a job working for the town bully Mr. Maddox and things seem to be going along fine until lines are crossed and Liz is left hurting. This gets Bean going for sure and she doesn’t stop fighting for what she thinks is right no matter whether the odds are in her favor or not.
The Silver Star is another great novel from Jeannette Walls full of great characters and the very quirky Bean. I can’t say enough about the audio production and how wonderful it was. I really enjoyed listening to this book and if you’re looking for a good summer read I hope you’ll consider reading or listening to The Silver Star!
Buy at: Simon & Schuster, Audible, or iTunes
Source: Review copy provided by the Publisher. No compensation was received and all opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this one as well Dar.
I think the world universally loved The Glass Castle! Walls did not narrate that one. She definitely has had a life that lends itself to good storytelling, but I have heard that Half Broke Horses wasn’t nearly as good. I’ll look into this one.
I would not have considered this one if not for your great review.
Glad to hear she did a good job with the narration – that’s not always the case when an author reads her own book.
I enjoy books about children and teens trying to make it on their own…or almost on their own.
I read The Glass Castle a few years ago. This audiobook sounds terrific–great review, Darlene!
I have The Glass Castle but haven’t read it yet. This is the first time I’ve heard of Silver Star, and now I want to read it as well. I think I’ll get the audio book since you loved the narration so much.
I will probably read this one. I read Half Broke Horses and enjoyed it. Then I read The Glass Castle…..not so much. But your review has convinced me this is worth reading.
I love Jeannette Walls, this was a good book.
I really love it when an author reads their book and has a great connection with the story. I’m off to add to this to my audible list!!