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With a Name like Love
WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE is a page turning, middle grade murder mystery full of heart and soul.
In the early summer days of 1957, Ollie's daddy, the Reverend Everlasting Love, pulls their travel trailer into town with the intent of offering a three day revival.
On their first day, Ollie meets a boy whose mother is in jail for murdering his father - and who asserts her innocence. But, even if Ollie were to believe the boy, could she convince her daddy to stay long enough to help him?
Ollie's longing for a friend and her daddy's penchant for searching out lost souls prove to be a formidable force in this little town where everyone seems bent on judging and jailing without so much as a promise of a trial.
In the early summer days of 1957, Ollie's daddy, the Reverend Everlasting Love, pulls their travel trailer into town with the intent of offering a three day revival.
On their first day, Ollie meets a boy whose mother is in jail for murdering his father - and who asserts her innocence. But, even if Ollie were to believe the boy, could she convince her daddy to stay long enough to help him?
Ollie's longing for a friend and her daddy's penchant for searching out lost souls prove to be a formidable force in this little town where everyone seems bent on judging and jailing without so much as a promise of a trial.
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First published September 27, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 330 reviews
May 6, 2021
Strongly drawn characters, as well as a very vivid setting, really make this mystery, set in 1957, stand out. The Love family never stay anywhere longer than three days in any place, traveling throughout the south with their trailer and their tent, their father preaching and the girls and their mother singing and supporting him the best that they can. But when they hit Binder, Arkansas, oldest daughter Ollie quickly sees that the town needs them for more than three days. And Ollie needs the town, too, to give her and her family time to breathe, to rest, to make friends.
January 18, 2018
Extra star for Ollie and Jimmy because their relationship is sweet but satisfying.
This book was light and enjoyable but...odd. Characters behave in psychopathic ways with little explanation except that their hearts are "full of hatred." The ending wraps things up a little too conveniently and, though the main conflict seems to be finding who killed Jimmy's Dad, there isn't much focus on it.
I liked the Love family, though, and I think the author does a good job with them.
A pleasant, fast read but I don't see myself reading it again.
This book was light and enjoyable but...odd. Characters behave in psychopathic ways with little explanation except that their hearts are "full of hatred." The ending wraps things up a little too conveniently and, though the main conflict seems to be finding who killed Jimmy's Dad, there isn't much focus on it.
I liked the Love family, though, and I think the author does a good job with them.
A pleasant, fast read but I don't see myself reading it again.
December 3, 2011
This is what might be known as a quiet book--a middle grade, historical fiction about a girl whose father is a traveling preacher. I usually read YA or adult fantasy/dystopian but, I was drawn in completely to Ollie's world and her huge heart and courage. And even though Tess Hilmo's writing is rich in detail and atmosphere, a sense of urgency and danger begins early and stays through the story.
I like that this book is never preachy, despite being about a family who travel from town to town to spread the gospel. Perhaps because Ollie's father is named Everlasting Love he is infused with compassion and a good-hearted nature that extends to all the family. That is not to say Hilmo's characters don't have faults and family squabbles--they do, and the dynamic feels authentic.
But when the family pulls their travel trailer into the small town of Binder, they find more than expected after Ollie befriends a boy whose mother is in jail for killing his father. Soon Ollie and her family are on the nasty side of intimidation from townsfolk who want them to leave.
My heart was captivatd by their strength in standing up for what they believe is right.
Here are some samples of style:
"Ollie played along and pretended not to see the boy, with his orange shirt and scraggly brown hair. He continued to follow them, blending into the tree shadows, as they walked down the last bit of farm road and turned onto Main Street.
Binder was a pitiful place, worn thin from years of want. It was exactly like all the other towns her daddy dragged them through. It was exactly the kind of nothing Ollie had come to expect.
Except, maybe for that boy."
And about her daddy:
"Reverend Love's voice was rich as molasses and deep as the Grand Canyon. It had power about it that made people reach into their pockets even when they didn't come with the intention of donating to the cause. He called it his trademark. Ollie's mama called it their only salvation."
I like that this book is never preachy, despite being about a family who travel from town to town to spread the gospel. Perhaps because Ollie's father is named Everlasting Love he is infused with compassion and a good-hearted nature that extends to all the family. That is not to say Hilmo's characters don't have faults and family squabbles--they do, and the dynamic feels authentic.
But when the family pulls their travel trailer into the small town of Binder, they find more than expected after Ollie befriends a boy whose mother is in jail for killing his father. Soon Ollie and her family are on the nasty side of intimidation from townsfolk who want them to leave.
My heart was captivatd by their strength in standing up for what they believe is right.
Here are some samples of style:
"Ollie played along and pretended not to see the boy, with his orange shirt and scraggly brown hair. He continued to follow them, blending into the tree shadows, as they walked down the last bit of farm road and turned onto Main Street.
Binder was a pitiful place, worn thin from years of want. It was exactly like all the other towns her daddy dragged them through. It was exactly the kind of nothing Ollie had come to expect.
Except, maybe for that boy."
And about her daddy:
"Reverend Love's voice was rich as molasses and deep as the Grand Canyon. It had power about it that made people reach into their pockets even when they didn't come with the intention of donating to the cause. He called it his trademark. Ollie's mama called it their only salvation."
September 6, 2019
"Be careful when you listen to people called they... They often tell lies."
—Reverend Love, With a Name Like Love, P. 15
"But some people are broken. They don't know anything other than hatred... It's like their heart gets going in the wrong direction early on in life, and they can never quite manage to bring it back around to love. It's a sad thing and we should have compassion for them. Think of the joy they are missing in life."
—Reverend Love, P. 208
With a Name Like Love is truly one of the sturdier, more sincere titles to debut in the year 2011. It centers on a family whose shared cause is to spread the Christian faith as domestic missionaries, caravanning all across the U.S. of 1957 to disseminate the seeds of the gospel to the general populace for no more pay than what they collect in gifts at their portable sermon sites, with nothing duplicitous or dark going on behind it at all. Reverend Love is as kind and honest as his name and disposition would indicate, and his family generally follows his example, sacrificing the benefits of a normal life to bring the word of God to a wide variety of spiritual seekers. While there's plenty of drama in this story, it doesn't come about as a result of any kind of religious scam or a pastor who doesn't practice the lessons he preaches. Most of the drama stems from the mystery of the murder of an abusive husband and father in a town in which the Loves stop to preach, and the attempts that this traveling family make to nail down the identity of the real killer and free the woman being mistakenly jailed, all before having to hit the road again to evangelize in another town.
Olivene (Ollie), the oldest of five daughters in the Love family, has been less and less keen on the idea of traveling the preaching circuit as she's grown toward adolescence. Now thirteen years old, the parts of life on the road that she may have once found charming are more of an annoyance, and she has little space for privacy inside the portable trailer that her family calls home. Ollie is about to find out that 1957 is destined to be a year of major change for her, though, when her family's trailer pulls into the small town of Binder, Arkansas for a three-day revival. What was supposed to be just another stop along the road quickly morphs into a deep and involving mystery when Ollie learns that the mother of a boy in town, Jimmy Koppel, has been arrested for the murder of the boy's father, and is scheduled for removal to the state prison any day now. Even such a violent and disturbing case as this, startling as it might be, wouldn't have much to do with Ollie were it not for the fact that it becomes clear to her after only a few minutes of conversation with Jimmy that his mother is not the killer, yet there's no one around who's willing to help prove her innocence. To most of the people in Binder, a Koppel of any kind is a bad seed, and they have no qualms about sending Jimmy's mother up the river, guilty or not.
Ollie befriends Jimmy quickly, and desperately wants to help him in his terrible situation, but how much can she do on her own in just three days? If something doesn't happen really quickly, Jimmy is going to be a virtual orphan inside of a week, sent off from the only home he's ever known to live with an aunt that he's never even met. Ollie knows that the type of Christian her daddy raised her to be isn't one who walks away from a situation when help is needed most, but time is ticking and allies are few as the number of days allotted the Loves for their stay in town dwindles, and Jimmy's mother moves another few hours closer to being shipped off to prison. If Ollie can somehow get her father to agree to an extension of their stay, maybe there will still be hope that the family can work to exonerate Jimmy's mother before the deadline, but how are they supposed to find new evidence in the case when even the sheriff is set against them, and almost no one outside of their family believes that the wrong person is being punished? Maybe the answers have been in plain sight for Ollie the entire time, if she can figure out the right way to look at the situation and the logical motive for a killer that few would have guessed...
In the creation of With a Name Like Love, her first published novel, Tess Hilmo shows a lot of promise in the field of juvenile literature. There are some elements of this story that compare favorably with books that have won the Newbery Medal, such as the innate sense of thoughtfulness among the main characters, often expressed in their conversations, that marks many of the very best Newbery books. I look forward to more of what Tess Hilmo has to offer, and I certainly would rate With a Name Like Love as two and a half stars.
—Reverend Love, With a Name Like Love, P. 15
"But some people are broken. They don't know anything other than hatred... It's like their heart gets going in the wrong direction early on in life, and they can never quite manage to bring it back around to love. It's a sad thing and we should have compassion for them. Think of the joy they are missing in life."
—Reverend Love, P. 208
With a Name Like Love is truly one of the sturdier, more sincere titles to debut in the year 2011. It centers on a family whose shared cause is to spread the Christian faith as domestic missionaries, caravanning all across the U.S. of 1957 to disseminate the seeds of the gospel to the general populace for no more pay than what they collect in gifts at their portable sermon sites, with nothing duplicitous or dark going on behind it at all. Reverend Love is as kind and honest as his name and disposition would indicate, and his family generally follows his example, sacrificing the benefits of a normal life to bring the word of God to a wide variety of spiritual seekers. While there's plenty of drama in this story, it doesn't come about as a result of any kind of religious scam or a pastor who doesn't practice the lessons he preaches. Most of the drama stems from the mystery of the murder of an abusive husband and father in a town in which the Loves stop to preach, and the attempts that this traveling family make to nail down the identity of the real killer and free the woman being mistakenly jailed, all before having to hit the road again to evangelize in another town.
Olivene (Ollie), the oldest of five daughters in the Love family, has been less and less keen on the idea of traveling the preaching circuit as she's grown toward adolescence. Now thirteen years old, the parts of life on the road that she may have once found charming are more of an annoyance, and she has little space for privacy inside the portable trailer that her family calls home. Ollie is about to find out that 1957 is destined to be a year of major change for her, though, when her family's trailer pulls into the small town of Binder, Arkansas for a three-day revival. What was supposed to be just another stop along the road quickly morphs into a deep and involving mystery when Ollie learns that the mother of a boy in town, Jimmy Koppel, has been arrested for the murder of the boy's father, and is scheduled for removal to the state prison any day now. Even such a violent and disturbing case as this, startling as it might be, wouldn't have much to do with Ollie were it not for the fact that it becomes clear to her after only a few minutes of conversation with Jimmy that his mother is not the killer, yet there's no one around who's willing to help prove her innocence. To most of the people in Binder, a Koppel of any kind is a bad seed, and they have no qualms about sending Jimmy's mother up the river, guilty or not.
Ollie befriends Jimmy quickly, and desperately wants to help him in his terrible situation, but how much can she do on her own in just three days? If something doesn't happen really quickly, Jimmy is going to be a virtual orphan inside of a week, sent off from the only home he's ever known to live with an aunt that he's never even met. Ollie knows that the type of Christian her daddy raised her to be isn't one who walks away from a situation when help is needed most, but time is ticking and allies are few as the number of days allotted the Loves for their stay in town dwindles, and Jimmy's mother moves another few hours closer to being shipped off to prison. If Ollie can somehow get her father to agree to an extension of their stay, maybe there will still be hope that the family can work to exonerate Jimmy's mother before the deadline, but how are they supposed to find new evidence in the case when even the sheriff is set against them, and almost no one outside of their family believes that the wrong person is being punished? Maybe the answers have been in plain sight for Ollie the entire time, if she can figure out the right way to look at the situation and the logical motive for a killer that few would have guessed...
In the creation of With a Name Like Love, her first published novel, Tess Hilmo shows a lot of promise in the field of juvenile literature. There are some elements of this story that compare favorably with books that have won the Newbery Medal, such as the innate sense of thoughtfulness among the main characters, often expressed in their conversations, that marks many of the very best Newbery books. I look forward to more of what Tess Hilmo has to offer, and I certainly would rate With a Name Like Love as two and a half stars.
September 20, 2012
This is a truly lovely story, and yet another fine novel by a Utah author. What's impressive about Hilmo's novel is that it has a compelling story with distinct and interesting characters, and it's beautifully written. It's the story of Ollie Love, daughter to a traveling preacher, Everlasting Love, and their family who get waylaid on their journey in a soulless small Arkansas town. Their difficult experiences there change the townspeople and Ollie, both. This is a wonderful fell-good novel that's part mystery, part historical, and entirely memorable. When I finished the last page I was left hoping for more. My wife says it's one of those stories that stays with you long after the reading. I have to agree with her.
Read
July 20, 2011New to Binder, Arkansas, Ollie refuses to condemn a down and out family and with her preacher-father stands for truth in this atmospheric To Kill a Mockingbird for the middle-grade set.
March 29, 2012
A book full of so many messages for kids and adults. This book's storyline will stay with you for a long time. Ollie is a very memorable main character.
January 27, 2014
Ollie is almost too good to be true. I enjoyed the storyline and characters but this would be a hard sale in my library.
October 1, 2013
Tess Hilmo’s With a Name Like Love is a moving and well-written middle-grade contemporary with charming characters, a wonderfully crafted setting, and a story that is equal parts mystery, humor, and heart. In 1957, thirteen year old Ollie Love and her four sisters travel with their mother and father, Reverend Everlasting Love, across the country, preaching in small towns. A stop in Binder, Arkansas finds Ollie a friend in Jimmy Koppel. Jimmy’s momma is in jail for murdering his father, but Jimmy says she’s innocent. And Ollie and the Reverend believe him. So the Loves set out to prove her innocence and help poor Jimmy, but a town full of judgmental folks stand in their way.
It’s books like With a Name Like Love that make middle-grade contemporaries my favorite books to read! In this book, Tess Hilmo tells a captivating story that may be set in 1957, but resonates loudly in any time. Love, friendship, faith, kindness- these are all themes woven throughout the story and explored honestly, yet in age appropriate ways. Hilmo’s storytelling and world-building simply shine! She impressed me with her ability to craft such poignant and quietly beautiful scenes and messages. I’m not usually a fan of books that heavily incorporate religion, but even though Ollie’s father is a Reverend and their Christian faith is important, With a Name Like Love never feels preachy or exclusive. At its lovely core, this story is first and foremost about the kind of faith that simply comes from love. Binder, Arkansas makes for a complex and realistic southern setting that, even with its ugly elements, managed to surprise and enchant me.
Hilmo’s characters are what really make this book sparkle! Realistic, endearing, lovable, sassy, sweet, and utterly charming- this is a great way to describe Ollie, her family, and Jimmy. These characters all feel so real and alive with personality. I just wanted to hug each and every one of them!
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: The mystery elements are exciting, the humor is smart and amusing, the characters are delightful, the storytelling is highly entertaining, and the heart comes in heapfuls. With a Name Like Love is a great book that young and old readers alike will enjoy and appreciate. I look forward to reading more from Tess Hilmo!
It’s books like With a Name Like Love that make middle-grade contemporaries my favorite books to read! In this book, Tess Hilmo tells a captivating story that may be set in 1957, but resonates loudly in any time. Love, friendship, faith, kindness- these are all themes woven throughout the story and explored honestly, yet in age appropriate ways. Hilmo’s storytelling and world-building simply shine! She impressed me with her ability to craft such poignant and quietly beautiful scenes and messages. I’m not usually a fan of books that heavily incorporate religion, but even though Ollie’s father is a Reverend and their Christian faith is important, With a Name Like Love never feels preachy or exclusive. At its lovely core, this story is first and foremost about the kind of faith that simply comes from love. Binder, Arkansas makes for a complex and realistic southern setting that, even with its ugly elements, managed to surprise and enchant me.
Hilmo’s characters are what really make this book sparkle! Realistic, endearing, lovable, sassy, sweet, and utterly charming- this is a great way to describe Ollie, her family, and Jimmy. These characters all feel so real and alive with personality. I just wanted to hug each and every one of them!
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: The mystery elements are exciting, the humor is smart and amusing, the characters are delightful, the storytelling is highly entertaining, and the heart comes in heapfuls. With a Name Like Love is a great book that young and old readers alike will enjoy and appreciate. I look forward to reading more from Tess Hilmo!
September 25, 2011
Originally published at www.apatchworkofbooks.com
13 year old Ollie is used to living on the road. Her daddy, Reverend Everlasting Love, is a preacher, leading tent revivals all across the country for a living. Ollie, along with her parents and sisters, live in the travel trailer they pull along from town to town, being homeschooled and teaching the country about God.
When the family arrives in Binder, Arkansas, Ollie expects the three days to be like every other revival time. Passing out flyers, singing, collecting the offering, and packing up. However, she meets Jimmy Koppel, a troubled boy whose mother is in jail for murdering his father. Jimmy knows his mother didn't commit the crime and Ollie wholeheartedly believes him.
Convinced her family needs to help Jimmy, Ollie must prove to her father that they have to stay in Binder for longer than their usual three days, whether they're wanted in Binder or not.
This little book was such a heartwarming example of friendship and kindness that I smiled through almost the entire thing. Ollie has such a brave and strong persona, that even cruel townspeople are no match when she puts her mind to helping Jimmy, even when everyone else has simply cast him aside as a troublemaker.
A colorful cast of characters adds to the richness of the novel and the added bit of mystery will appeal to those that like more meat to their story.
Though Ollie and her family are driven to Binder by their faith and their are moments of quoted Scripture, I would definitely not be classifying the book as religious fiction. Simply a plot point and an added character trait in Ollie, I thought it was beautifully woven into the realistic fiction nature of the overall story. No need to be wary if you typically stray away from books mentioning God.
Ollie and her story carved a little place in my heart and I would love to get this in the hands of kids, as it has a great message of compassion. Though Ollie is 13, I would recommend this for the middle grade age range of 9-12ish. Nothing objectionable, easy to read, etc. Would make a nice family read too.
13 year old Ollie is used to living on the road. Her daddy, Reverend Everlasting Love, is a preacher, leading tent revivals all across the country for a living. Ollie, along with her parents and sisters, live in the travel trailer they pull along from town to town, being homeschooled and teaching the country about God.
When the family arrives in Binder, Arkansas, Ollie expects the three days to be like every other revival time. Passing out flyers, singing, collecting the offering, and packing up. However, she meets Jimmy Koppel, a troubled boy whose mother is in jail for murdering his father. Jimmy knows his mother didn't commit the crime and Ollie wholeheartedly believes him.
Convinced her family needs to help Jimmy, Ollie must prove to her father that they have to stay in Binder for longer than their usual three days, whether they're wanted in Binder or not.
This little book was such a heartwarming example of friendship and kindness that I smiled through almost the entire thing. Ollie has such a brave and strong persona, that even cruel townspeople are no match when she puts her mind to helping Jimmy, even when everyone else has simply cast him aside as a troublemaker.
A colorful cast of characters adds to the richness of the novel and the added bit of mystery will appeal to those that like more meat to their story.
Though Ollie and her family are driven to Binder by their faith and their are moments of quoted Scripture, I would definitely not be classifying the book as religious fiction. Simply a plot point and an added character trait in Ollie, I thought it was beautifully woven into the realistic fiction nature of the overall story. No need to be wary if you typically stray away from books mentioning God.
Ollie and her story carved a little place in my heart and I would love to get this in the hands of kids, as it has a great message of compassion. Though Ollie is 13, I would recommend this for the middle grade age range of 9-12ish. Nothing objectionable, easy to read, etc. Would make a nice family read too.
July 20, 2016
I'm a little conflicted by this book. I had read a review, and promptly put it on my list of requests at the library. I particularly like to read things by local authors - and I'm glad this one made it into hardback.
And I really did like the book. Some things just didn't feel quite right to me. Even though the book was essentially a mystery, and a story about loving others and doing what is right, some of the characters were just a little too perfect for me. Susanna and the Reverend weren't quite believable they were so good and always patient. Perhaps this is necessary for the target age of the book, but somehow it just didn't sit well with me.
I often read children's books, and share the good ones with my grandchildren and young friends. I should share this one with my 12 year old granddaughter and see what she thinks.
That said, I love Ms. Hilmo's use of words. I will likely look for her in the future and wish her well in her career.
I loved the micro-sermons placed here and there throughout the book, like this one:
"Even a broken life is better than no life at all. At least they get to see the sunrise and taste a cool drink in the afternoon heat. That's something."
And my favorite passage: "She could feel the warmth of his friendship pouring down from his heart, throu his arm, and right out of his fingertips. It was pur liquid. It was divine."
And I really did like the book. Some things just didn't feel quite right to me. Even though the book was essentially a mystery, and a story about loving others and doing what is right, some of the characters were just a little too perfect for me. Susanna and the Reverend weren't quite believable they were so good and always patient. Perhaps this is necessary for the target age of the book, but somehow it just didn't sit well with me.
I often read children's books, and share the good ones with my grandchildren and young friends. I should share this one with my 12 year old granddaughter and see what she thinks.
That said, I love Ms. Hilmo's use of words. I will likely look for her in the future and wish her well in her career.
I loved the micro-sermons placed here and there throughout the book, like this one:
"Even a broken life is better than no life at all. At least they get to see the sunrise and taste a cool drink in the afternoon heat. That's something."
And my favorite passage: "She could feel the warmth of his friendship pouring down from his heart, throu his arm, and right out of his fingertips. It was pur liquid. It was divine."
October 2, 2011
This book is so atmospheric and drenched in humanity. It is a story about a travelling preacher's daughter bent on helping a boy whose mother is jailed for a murder (his father)....but it is so much more than just a murder mystery. Yes, there is an element of faith in the book because it is a preacher's family but it is not at all about that and I found those references "Ollie wondered what God might think when he looked down on the shack Jimmy Koppel called home" are more about the southern culture and setting than any literal faith reference.
There is a darkeness to this book that helps offset the sincere goodness of the Love family. It really did remind me in feel and tone of a younger version of To Kill a Mockingbird (I had heard that elsewhere and that is why I picked up the novel). I just adored this story!
There is a darkeness to this book that helps offset the sincere goodness of the Love family. It really did remind me in feel and tone of a younger version of To Kill a Mockingbird (I had heard that elsewhere and that is why I picked up the novel). I just adored this story!
December 19, 2011
What I like about this book is that the characters are well developed and Tess Hilmo creates a beautiful picuture of the Arkansas landscape. I had a clear picture in my mind of Ollie, her family and the town of Binder. With a Name like Love is a nice mystery, that has enough twists and turns to keep you reading. The open ending also makes you want to know more about Ollie and her family.
Great quotes from the book
Some people are broken. Its like their hearts get going in the wrong direction early in life and they can't bring it back around to love.
You can't change a persons wondering spirit. Asking Daddy to stay was like aksing a stream to sit and visit for awhile. Nature won't allow it.
Great quotes from the book
Some people are broken. Its like their hearts get going in the wrong direction early in life and they can't bring it back around to love.
You can't change a persons wondering spirit. Asking Daddy to stay was like aksing a stream to sit and visit for awhile. Nature won't allow it.
May 20, 2013
I loved this book. I didn't want it to end. Hoping for a sequel.
This was a well-written, beautiful story about how doing the right thing takes courage, thought, and a lot of love. The 13-year-old protagonist is endearing, intelligent, and believable. I cared about her and her family. Even though Ollie is always trying to do the right thing, she still has a jealous younger sister and her own unhappiness with her family's unsettled way of life to face. When she finally makes a friend she finds that his trust will require all her faith and ingenuity to gain. In the process she and her family are able to solve a murder and help a whole town find healing.
This was a well-written, beautiful story about how doing the right thing takes courage, thought, and a lot of love. The 13-year-old protagonist is endearing, intelligent, and believable. I cared about her and her family. Even though Ollie is always trying to do the right thing, she still has a jealous younger sister and her own unhappiness with her family's unsettled way of life to face. When she finally makes a friend she finds that his trust will require all her faith and ingenuity to gain. In the process she and her family are able to solve a murder and help a whole town find healing.
January 12, 2018
This book had me pretty early. I knew from chapter 1 that the writing was some of the most beautiful I had read in a long, long time. The characters have incredible depth - I have never felt such love and affection for some, such vile feelings for others, and such confusion for a few more. The story had a great pace and was so unique. This is something I will read over and over, and purchase for many young people in my life.
(Just re-read this. Just as great the second time.)
((Just re-read a third time. <3 <3 <3 2018))
(Just re-read this. Just as great the second time.)
((Just re-read a third time. <3 <3 <3 2018))
February 20, 2018
This is a simple little book about a Preacher's daughter and her family. Nothing really amazing or ground-breaking, but it is cute and sweet. Some good comments on human nature, but most of the characters are flat. A little mystery that I feel could have been rounded out more, but I have to remind myself that this is a juvenile fiction. It would be interesting to know what the target audience feels about it and how it reaches them.
August 19, 2011
Bittersweet and dripping with nostalgia, Tess Hilmo's masterful middle-grade debut, With A Name Like Love, delivers a difficult theme (domestic violence), a rich setting (1957 Arkansas) and one tight little mystery. I was blown away by Ollie's voice and reminded of the "grotesques" of Flannery O'Connor.
December 17, 2011
Great book written by a member of my old (Utah) book club (nice work, Tess!) Story of Ollie Love and her family who travel around the south with their preacher father. Very well written. The characters are delightful and the story ends in a very satisfying way. A couple of parts were a little unrealistic, but I was okay with that. Good for 10 and up.
September 14, 2012
Written by a local Utah author, I was intrigued with the setting of the book. This was a "wholesome" read. I love the aspect of young children being the sensitive, forgiving characters who with tenacity uncover a murder mystery and set things right. There were some tender moments and some laugh out loud delight as well. I will be curious to see what my granddaughters think.
September 15, 2012
This was a beautiful book! It was so creative and original, the characters were deep and well-developed, the writing was extremely well-done and the moral very powerful. I love finding gems of books like this!
August 15, 2018
Despite the cover, this is NOT just a girl book! Hilmo's playful language beautifully paints this mystery of compassion and kindness that is absent in too many lives. Great fun middle-grade read.
May 14, 2021
3.5 Stars
This was a harder book to read than I expected. In many ways, it reminded me of Kate Dicamillo's beautiful book, Because of Winn-Dixie, but it was much darker and intended for readers a bit older. The protagonists of both books are daughters of preachers. Both books take place in the South and feel like they could be of a similar era, though the year is never specified in Winn-Dixie. And both books highlight friendship and feature a cast of memorable characters. But where Winn-Dixie is joyful, Love is bittersweet.
This book does not shy away from the sad fact that some people are so full of hatred and meanness, they can't see past it. That's a hard thing to read about, true as it is. I personally had trouble with the many instances of violence, cruelty, and animal abuse in this story. I'm particularly sensitive to that, so it affected my overall enjoyment of the book. But the story is ultimately about love, family, compassion for strangers, truth, and redemption. The messages are very good.
I also had some minor issues with certain aspects of the plot. There were times when I felt the story was building up to an important heart-to-heart moment, and then things just worked out without that conversation, which crushed the momentum. For example, half the book builds up to Ollie needing to talk to her parents about an important decision. Just as the big conversation is getting ready to take place, the decision is made without any discussion. There's another moment when Jimmy gets upset with Ollie. I was expecting that to take some time to sort out, but it was over in a paragraph or two. None of this is deal-breaking, but I think it prevents the book from reaching its full potential.
I will say there were several beautiful passages that really touched my heart. I won't repost my favorite scene here because I don't want to spoil it, and I'm not sure it would have the same effect out of context, but let me say that the birthday cake scene brought me close to tears. The moments of love and compassion like that were the best parts of the book, and they really shine. I can't personally rate the book higher because of the animal cruelty, but if you can get through the dark parts, you will be rewarded with light.
This was a harder book to read than I expected. In many ways, it reminded me of Kate Dicamillo's beautiful book, Because of Winn-Dixie, but it was much darker and intended for readers a bit older. The protagonists of both books are daughters of preachers. Both books take place in the South and feel like they could be of a similar era, though the year is never specified in Winn-Dixie. And both books highlight friendship and feature a cast of memorable characters. But where Winn-Dixie is joyful, Love is bittersweet.
This book does not shy away from the sad fact that some people are so full of hatred and meanness, they can't see past it. That's a hard thing to read about, true as it is. I personally had trouble with the many instances of violence, cruelty, and animal abuse in this story. I'm particularly sensitive to that, so it affected my overall enjoyment of the book. But the story is ultimately about love, family, compassion for strangers, truth, and redemption. The messages are very good.
I also had some minor issues with certain aspects of the plot. There were times when I felt the story was building up to an important heart-to-heart moment, and then things just worked out without that conversation, which crushed the momentum. For example, half the book builds up to Ollie needing to talk to her parents about an important decision. Just as the big conversation is getting ready to take place, the decision is made without any discussion. There's another moment when Jimmy gets upset with Ollie. I was expecting that to take some time to sort out, but it was over in a paragraph or two. None of this is deal-breaking, but I think it prevents the book from reaching its full potential.
I will say there were several beautiful passages that really touched my heart. I won't repost my favorite scene here because I don't want to spoil it, and I'm not sure it would have the same effect out of context, but let me say that the birthday cake scene brought me close to tears. The moments of love and compassion like that were the best parts of the book, and they really shine. I can't personally rate the book higher because of the animal cruelty, but if you can get through the dark parts, you will be rewarded with light.
February 10, 2017
About this book:
“When Ollie's daddy, the Reverend Everlasting Love, pulls their travel trailer into Binder to lead a three-day revival, Ollie knows that this town will be like all the others they visit— it is exactly the kind of nothing Ollie has come to expect. But on their first day in town, Ollie meets Jimmy Koppel, whose mother is in jail for murdering his father. Jimmy insists that his mother is innocent, and Ollie believes him. Still, even if Ollie convinces her daddy to stay in town, how can two kids free a grown woman who has signed a confession? Ollie's longing for a friend and her daddy's penchant for searching out lost souls prove to be a formidable force in this tiny town where everyone seems bent on judging and jailing without a trial.”
Series: As of now, no.
Spiritual Content- Prayers; A few Scriptures are read & mentioned; Singing hymns/songs & Revival/Church going; Set prior & during a revival; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Ollie’s dad is a reverend & they set up revivals (which are described as “preaching, singing & the occasional healing”); Many mentions of preaching, churches, revivals, a congregation, worship, hymns/songs & sermons; Mentions of God; Mentions of Bibles, reading & verses; Mentions of blessings & miracles; Mentions of tithing & an offering basket; A few mentions of those & events in the Bible; A few mentions of gifts; A few mentions of salvation & saving souls; A few mentions of Gwen wanting to be a preacher when she grows up (mix reactions on her idea since she’s a girl); A few mentions of denominations; A couple mentions of having Christian character; A mention of Heaven & angels; A mention of sin;
*Note: A mention of a place being “hotter than Hades”; A mention of screaming holy murder; Mentions of superstitious people & ghosts.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘cripe’s sake’, a ‘dagum it’, a ‘dumb’, a ‘dang’, a ‘heck��, a ‘Holy Moses’, a form of ‘hush it’, two forms of ‘give a rat’s tail’, two ‘shut up’s, three ‘stupid’s; “Lordy, Lordy” and “Gracious Lord” in a certain tone is said to be swearing (Ollie disagrees); A fire (up to semi-detailed); A bit of sibling bicker; Many mentions of jail, a murder, a murderer & how it happened and after details (semi-detailed); Mentions of Jimmy’s dad to drank too much, was a mean drunk & nearly beat his wife to death (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of drinking & whiskey; Mentions of injured, abused & brutally murdered frogs and blood (semi-detailed); Mentions of making & eating frog stew & legs (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of card games, gambling, & debts; Mentions of thieves; Mentions of cigars, cigarettes & smoke; Mentions of tobacco; Mentions of hatred & wanting someone dead; Mentions of rumors & gossip; Mentions of lies; A few mentions of dead children & babies that didn’t live long (no details); A few mentions of swigging punches & hitting; A couple mentions of dead baby birds (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of a story of a girl who fried her brain it was so hot; A couple mentions of outhouses; A couple mentions of a waste bucket & the smell; A mention of almost wetting a pair of drawers.
Sexual Content- A tiny bit of noticing; A married couple kiss (no details); A few mentions of a date, boyfriends & being sweet on someone; A couple mentions of googly eyes; A teasing mention of sitting in a tree kissing; A mention of whispering sweet nothings; A mention that Jimmy’s dad had girlfriends;
*Note: A few mentions of unmentionables; A mention of a boy taking off his shirt (no details).
-Olivene “Ollie” Love, age 13
P.O.V. of Ollie
Set in 1957
249 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
This was a really different kind of book—I don’t think I’ve reviewed one like it before. The cover is very cute, I really like the artwork. Some parts of the story, however, about the murder, frogs & murdered frogs could be a bit much for younger girls. I can’t really recommend it to the ages around the main character’s because of those parts. It was more than a bit much on all that. Other than those parts, though, it was a cute story and a sequel would have been nice! ;)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“When Ollie's daddy, the Reverend Everlasting Love, pulls their travel trailer into Binder to lead a three-day revival, Ollie knows that this town will be like all the others they visit— it is exactly the kind of nothing Ollie has come to expect. But on their first day in town, Ollie meets Jimmy Koppel, whose mother is in jail for murdering his father. Jimmy insists that his mother is innocent, and Ollie believes him. Still, even if Ollie convinces her daddy to stay in town, how can two kids free a grown woman who has signed a confession? Ollie's longing for a friend and her daddy's penchant for searching out lost souls prove to be a formidable force in this tiny town where everyone seems bent on judging and jailing without a trial.”
Series: As of now, no.
Spiritual Content- Prayers; A few Scriptures are read & mentioned; Singing hymns/songs & Revival/Church going; Set prior & during a revival; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Ollie’s dad is a reverend & they set up revivals (which are described as “preaching, singing & the occasional healing”); Many mentions of preaching, churches, revivals, a congregation, worship, hymns/songs & sermons; Mentions of God; Mentions of Bibles, reading & verses; Mentions of blessings & miracles; Mentions of tithing & an offering basket; A few mentions of those & events in the Bible; A few mentions of gifts; A few mentions of salvation & saving souls; A few mentions of Gwen wanting to be a preacher when she grows up (mix reactions on her idea since she’s a girl); A few mentions of denominations; A couple mentions of having Christian character; A mention of Heaven & angels; A mention of sin;
*Note: A mention of a place being “hotter than Hades”; A mention of screaming holy murder; Mentions of superstitious people & ghosts.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘cripe’s sake’, a ‘dagum it’, a ‘dumb’, a ‘dang’, a ‘heck��, a ‘Holy Moses’, a form of ‘hush it’, two forms of ‘give a rat’s tail’, two ‘shut up’s, three ‘stupid’s; “Lordy, Lordy” and “Gracious Lord” in a certain tone is said to be swearing (Ollie disagrees); A fire (up to semi-detailed); A bit of sibling bicker; Many mentions of jail, a murder, a murderer & how it happened and after details (semi-detailed); Mentions of Jimmy’s dad to drank too much, was a mean drunk & nearly beat his wife to death (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of drinking & whiskey; Mentions of injured, abused & brutally murdered frogs and blood (semi-detailed); Mentions of making & eating frog stew & legs (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of card games, gambling, & debts; Mentions of thieves; Mentions of cigars, cigarettes & smoke; Mentions of tobacco; Mentions of hatred & wanting someone dead; Mentions of rumors & gossip; Mentions of lies; A few mentions of dead children & babies that didn’t live long (no details); A few mentions of swigging punches & hitting; A couple mentions of dead baby birds (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of a story of a girl who fried her brain it was so hot; A couple mentions of outhouses; A couple mentions of a waste bucket & the smell; A mention of almost wetting a pair of drawers.
Sexual Content- A tiny bit of noticing; A married couple kiss (no details); A few mentions of a date, boyfriends & being sweet on someone; A couple mentions of googly eyes; A teasing mention of sitting in a tree kissing; A mention of whispering sweet nothings; A mention that Jimmy’s dad had girlfriends;
*Note: A few mentions of unmentionables; A mention of a boy taking off his shirt (no details).
-Olivene “Ollie” Love, age 13
P.O.V. of Ollie
Set in 1957
249 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
This was a really different kind of book—I don’t think I’ve reviewed one like it before. The cover is very cute, I really like the artwork. Some parts of the story, however, about the murder, frogs & murdered frogs could be a bit much for younger girls. I can’t really recommend it to the ages around the main character’s because of those parts. It was more than a bit much on all that. Other than those parts, though, it was a cute story and a sequel would have been nice! ;)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
July 5, 2011
When Ollie’s daddy, the Reverend Everlasting Love, pulls their travel trailer into Binder to lead a three-day revival, Ollie knows that this town will be like all the others they visit— it is exactly the kind of nothing Ollie has come to expect.
From the first page of this book, I really felt like I was in Binder, Arkansas. "Fields of soft green barley laid themselves out across the earth in perfect rows--as if God had reached down and combed them just so." Hilmo's descriptive language is beautiful and helps the reader picture the scene. Although Binder is not a town that takes too kindly to visitors. They are not all friendly, especially the shopkeeper Mrs. Carter, who did everything she could to make them feel unwelcome in town. "Folks 'round here don't take kindly to strangers with too many questions."
Ollie meets Jimmy Koppel, a boy who could really use some love, and some help. His mother is in jail for murdering his no good father. Jimmy insists that his mother is innocent, and Ollie believes him. Still, even if she can convince her daddy to stay in town, how can two kids free a grown woman who has signed a confession? Ollie’s longing for a friend and her daddy’s penchant for searching out lost souls prove to be a formidable force in this tiny town where everyone seems bent on judging and jailing without a trial.
This story is a wonderful page turner. While I really wanted to find out what was going to happen, I was pulled in even more by the characters. There's the preacher, who was pretty much destined to go into the ministry with the name of Everlasting Love. And his lovely and caring wife Susannah, who somehow manages to support and assist her husband in his calling, even though it means constantly traveling and living on the road, without the wonderful "modern" conveniences of 1957 available to the townsfolk. In fact, when the family visits a new friend in town, the five year old sister exclaims, "She's got a flusher! And honest-to-goodness flusher!"
The five sisters have a wonderful sisterly relationship. Thirteen year old Ollie and her twelve year old sister Martha seemed to have an especially hard time getting along with each other. Just like my own three daughters do. But even among the bickering, these sisters try to take care of each other, and to help others as well.
Without giving away too much of the story, I have to say that Mrs. Mahoney was my favorite character. She becomes like a grandmother to the girls, one who is willing to share her life and her home with strangers she has just met. I would love to be more like Mrs. Mahoney in my own life.
Written for the middle grade audience, this story is sweet and simple, yet beautifully written. The imagery and language style are well crafted and wonderful. It's easy enough for a young person to understand, but interesting and compelling enough for adults to find it a wonderful book, too. Not an easy thing to do, especially on a debut novel. In a time when so many books geared for young people are all about the fantastic, the violent, or the vampires, this book is like a breath of fresh air. It's a well written and charming story that is clean and unoffensive. I could recommend it to both my daughters and my mother.
From the first page of this book, I really felt like I was in Binder, Arkansas. "Fields of soft green barley laid themselves out across the earth in perfect rows--as if God had reached down and combed them just so." Hilmo's descriptive language is beautiful and helps the reader picture the scene. Although Binder is not a town that takes too kindly to visitors. They are not all friendly, especially the shopkeeper Mrs. Carter, who did everything she could to make them feel unwelcome in town. "Folks 'round here don't take kindly to strangers with too many questions."
Ollie meets Jimmy Koppel, a boy who could really use some love, and some help. His mother is in jail for murdering his no good father. Jimmy insists that his mother is innocent, and Ollie believes him. Still, even if she can convince her daddy to stay in town, how can two kids free a grown woman who has signed a confession? Ollie’s longing for a friend and her daddy’s penchant for searching out lost souls prove to be a formidable force in this tiny town where everyone seems bent on judging and jailing without a trial.
This story is a wonderful page turner. While I really wanted to find out what was going to happen, I was pulled in even more by the characters. There's the preacher, who was pretty much destined to go into the ministry with the name of Everlasting Love. And his lovely and caring wife Susannah, who somehow manages to support and assist her husband in his calling, even though it means constantly traveling and living on the road, without the wonderful "modern" conveniences of 1957 available to the townsfolk. In fact, when the family visits a new friend in town, the five year old sister exclaims, "She's got a flusher! And honest-to-goodness flusher!"
The five sisters have a wonderful sisterly relationship. Thirteen year old Ollie and her twelve year old sister Martha seemed to have an especially hard time getting along with each other. Just like my own three daughters do. But even among the bickering, these sisters try to take care of each other, and to help others as well.
Without giving away too much of the story, I have to say that Mrs. Mahoney was my favorite character. She becomes like a grandmother to the girls, one who is willing to share her life and her home with strangers she has just met. I would love to be more like Mrs. Mahoney in my own life.
Written for the middle grade audience, this story is sweet and simple, yet beautifully written. The imagery and language style are well crafted and wonderful. It's easy enough for a young person to understand, but interesting and compelling enough for adults to find it a wonderful book, too. Not an easy thing to do, especially on a debut novel. In a time when so many books geared for young people are all about the fantastic, the violent, or the vampires, this book is like a breath of fresh air. It's a well written and charming story that is clean and unoffensive. I could recommend it to both my daughters and my mother.
November 28, 2011
Oh my goodness, if you want a heartfelt mystery with characters you want to reach into the book and hug, bad guys who are so mean they make you squirm, and a family you can't help but want to be part of, With a Name Like Love is your book. I loved this book!
The Love family is a family you won't soon forget. Each of the five Love daughters is a distinct character and each girl has her own voice, which is hard to pull off in a large cast. Even though Ollie is the main character and we get the story mostly from her point of view, we still get to know the rest of the family. The supporting cast is just as richly drawn. The mean townsfolk who hate the Koppel family, the sheriff who doesn't seem to care for the justice system, the kind Mrs. Mahoney who offers the Love family more than they could have imagined. Binder, Arkansas was a town I could picture in my head and hear the voices of the townsfolk as I read.
There is a mystery to this book, although there's so much more. This is a book about family, friendship, justice and love. It's one of those books that you just might tear up a little over in the best way. There is some heartbreak but there's also joy. There are good times and bad. But through the struggles the Love family face, they lean on each other. They are such a wonderful caring family without being an overly sappy family. (This is not Seventh Heaven) While Ollie's father is a traveling peacher, and the book does have an element of faith to it, that's more of a side story than a main part of the book, so don't let that deter you from reading if you think it's going to be more Christian fiction heavy (it's not). I'm also pleased with the way the mystery worked out. For a middle grade mystery to really work for me, it has to not be obvious and make you suspect a few characters, which Tess Hilmo successfully pulls off. The ending may wrap up a bit quick and be a bit simple, but overall, the mystery was engaging enough to keep me guessing.
With A Name Like Love takes place in 1957, but it never felt like it got bogged down in historical details. There were things here and there to remind me of the time period, but this is a book that could be set anytime. I think this would help with giving the book to readers who might shy away from historical fiction. There's a mystery, but again, I would hesitate to say it's just a mystery. Mostly it's a book about family and readers who want a bit of a mystery or a bit of history have an extra treat.
I would keep an eye out for this book. I'm thinking it may be a dark horse for award season and you might be hearing about the Love family come January. It's a book to read and cherish and fall in love with. I think what I like most is that it's a book that I think won't just appeal to teachers, librarians, and parents, but will also be loved by tweens. This is a wonderfully charming, memorable book that will steal your heart!
Book Pairings: The Penderwicks Series by Jeanne Birdsall, Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, The Casson Family Series by Hilary McKay, A Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm
The Love family is a family you won't soon forget. Each of the five Love daughters is a distinct character and each girl has her own voice, which is hard to pull off in a large cast. Even though Ollie is the main character and we get the story mostly from her point of view, we still get to know the rest of the family. The supporting cast is just as richly drawn. The mean townsfolk who hate the Koppel family, the sheriff who doesn't seem to care for the justice system, the kind Mrs. Mahoney who offers the Love family more than they could have imagined. Binder, Arkansas was a town I could picture in my head and hear the voices of the townsfolk as I read.
There is a mystery to this book, although there's so much more. This is a book about family, friendship, justice and love. It's one of those books that you just might tear up a little over in the best way. There is some heartbreak but there's also joy. There are good times and bad. But through the struggles the Love family face, they lean on each other. They are such a wonderful caring family without being an overly sappy family. (This is not Seventh Heaven) While Ollie's father is a traveling peacher, and the book does have an element of faith to it, that's more of a side story than a main part of the book, so don't let that deter you from reading if you think it's going to be more Christian fiction heavy (it's not). I'm also pleased with the way the mystery worked out. For a middle grade mystery to really work for me, it has to not be obvious and make you suspect a few characters, which Tess Hilmo successfully pulls off. The ending may wrap up a bit quick and be a bit simple, but overall, the mystery was engaging enough to keep me guessing.
With A Name Like Love takes place in 1957, but it never felt like it got bogged down in historical details. There were things here and there to remind me of the time period, but this is a book that could be set anytime. I think this would help with giving the book to readers who might shy away from historical fiction. There's a mystery, but again, I would hesitate to say it's just a mystery. Mostly it's a book about family and readers who want a bit of a mystery or a bit of history have an extra treat.
I would keep an eye out for this book. I'm thinking it may be a dark horse for award season and you might be hearing about the Love family come January. It's a book to read and cherish and fall in love with. I think what I like most is that it's a book that I think won't just appeal to teachers, librarians, and parents, but will also be loved by tweens. This is a wonderfully charming, memorable book that will steal your heart!
Book Pairings: The Penderwicks Series by Jeanne Birdsall, Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, The Casson Family Series by Hilary McKay, A Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm
July 15, 2012
"With a Name Like Love," Tess Hilmo's debut novel, received strong editorial reviews and appears on many "best" lists for the past year. This work of historical fiction has middle school appeal and will satisfy those looking for Christian fiction. The mystery elements will draw in another set of readers as well.
Hilmo begins by establishing time (Summer, 1957) and place (Binder, Arkansas). Interestingly enough, this is my one beef about "With a Name Like Love." While Hilmo tells us that the story takes place in 1957 in Arkansas, it felt more like 1930's Arkansas. I wish that she had done more to in terms of historical details to create the time and the place. I kept asking myself if there were really traveling revivalists during this time period. I could find little about it in doing some quick research. Did they really use the term "bloomers" in the late 1950s'? The time period just didn't feel right to me.
As the story begins, the family of tent revivalist Everlasting Love arrives in another small southern town to set up shop with the intention of moving on once three days are up. Twelve year old Ollie is at the age where she longs for friends and a place to call "home." When she meets Jimmy Koppel, a scraggly smelly boy her age, she and her family find reason to stay put - at least for awhile. Jimmy's abusive father has been murdered, and his mother is being held in the local jail for confessing to the crime. It soon becomes clear that something is not right in Binder. Ollie convinces her father that Jimmy is in need of friends who will get to the truth of his father's death. Though I would term this book a "quiet" book, the reader is compelled by believable characters and a fast moving plot. I did not see the climax coming, and it moved me to tears.
I am not generally one who enjoys books that preach Chrisitanity - and this book, naturally, does preach. However, the lessons here are more about humanity, and community, and family, and friendship - universal ideas that are particular to no one religion. As a result, I found the lessons here to be more than palatable. And the round, realistic characters - both the protagonists and the antagonists - made me believe in them and their messages. I found this book to be simple and moving. I cared what happened to the Love and Koppel families.
Highly recommended for lovers of books like "Moon over Manifest," "Out of the Dust," and "To Kill a Mockingbird."
Hilmo begins by establishing time (Summer, 1957) and place (Binder, Arkansas). Interestingly enough, this is my one beef about "With a Name Like Love." While Hilmo tells us that the story takes place in 1957 in Arkansas, it felt more like 1930's Arkansas. I wish that she had done more to in terms of historical details to create the time and the place. I kept asking myself if there were really traveling revivalists during this time period. I could find little about it in doing some quick research. Did they really use the term "bloomers" in the late 1950s'? The time period just didn't feel right to me.
As the story begins, the family of tent revivalist Everlasting Love arrives in another small southern town to set up shop with the intention of moving on once three days are up. Twelve year old Ollie is at the age where she longs for friends and a place to call "home." When she meets Jimmy Koppel, a scraggly smelly boy her age, she and her family find reason to stay put - at least for awhile. Jimmy's abusive father has been murdered, and his mother is being held in the local jail for confessing to the crime. It soon becomes clear that something is not right in Binder. Ollie convinces her father that Jimmy is in need of friends who will get to the truth of his father's death. Though I would term this book a "quiet" book, the reader is compelled by believable characters and a fast moving plot. I did not see the climax coming, and it moved me to tears.
I am not generally one who enjoys books that preach Chrisitanity - and this book, naturally, does preach. However, the lessons here are more about humanity, and community, and family, and friendship - universal ideas that are particular to no one religion. As a result, I found the lessons here to be more than palatable. And the round, realistic characters - both the protagonists and the antagonists - made me believe in them and their messages. I found this book to be simple and moving. I cared what happened to the Love and Koppel families.
Highly recommended for lovers of books like "Moon over Manifest," "Out of the Dust," and "To Kill a Mockingbird."
February 16, 2020
Wow. When I read the words 'reverend's daughter' in the summary, I was hesitant. With most of the books I've read that feature a religious personage, there is a tendency to make the person overly-strict or hypocritical and villain-like. I haven't seen many books that aren't on the Christian fiction list with decent and loving religious leaders. This book was a breath of fresh air. The Reverend was loving to his family, fair, and a true believer in his mission and his flock. He resisted being a caricature and didn't know every answer. He had a special power (in his daughter's eyes) to make people feel better when they were at their lowest.
His daughter followed his lead and tended to a flock of her own and it was nice that her parents allowed her the freedom to try to help others instead of holding her back to what they thought was possible. I fell in love with every character in the book. I only read this book because of its mention in my children's literature textbook. The textbook mentioned the lyrical language and lovely use of words to make a reader see and feel everything just as it was. I found this to be very much true and loved how the author painted a picture for me using every single one of my senses.
Jimmy was a heart-breaking character. He has had so many obstacles in his life that I began to wonder if he would ever be able to achieve anything close to a normal life. Ollie wondered about some of the poor frogs--if they would be better off dead. That parallels the poor broken Jimmy's life and makes the reader wonder the same. Jimmy answers us both, though:
And I have a new thing to say to people that try my nerves.
he he he
I read this book because it was mentioned in my children's literature textbook as an example of good writing that 'Draws a line in the sand' and then crosses it. The main character states upon entering the new town that it was going to be just like all the others and nothing new ever happens. Of course, that is not what happened.
The thought occurred to her that God made her daddy's shoulders broad and strong so he could hold up the burdens of others.
His daughter followed his lead and tended to a flock of her own and it was nice that her parents allowed her the freedom to try to help others instead of holding her back to what they thought was possible. I fell in love with every character in the book. I only read this book because of its mention in my children's literature textbook. The textbook mentioned the lyrical language and lovely use of words to make a reader see and feel everything just as it was. I found this to be very much true and loved how the author painted a picture for me using every single one of my senses.
Jimmy was a heart-breaking character. He has had so many obstacles in his life that I began to wonder if he would ever be able to achieve anything close to a normal life. Ollie wondered about some of the poor frogs--if they would be better off dead. That parallels the poor broken Jimmy's life and makes the reader wonder the same. Jimmy answers us both, though:
Even a broken life is better than no life at all. At least they get to see the sunrise and taste a cool drink in the afternoon heat.
And I have a new thing to say to people that try my nerves.
You are a trial and a tribulation, Olivene Love. A trial and a tribulation.
he he he
I read this book because it was mentioned in my children's literature textbook as an example of good writing that 'Draws a line in the sand' and then crosses it. The main character states upon entering the new town that it was going to be just like all the others and nothing new ever happens. Of course, that is not what happened.
March 5, 2013
It is 1957, and Reverend Everlasting Love is the last in a long line of traveling preachers. He, his wife Susannah, and their five daughters travel the country in an old Chevy pickup and a travel trailer, leading tent services in towns along the way. Since congregations and offerings tend to shrink as time goes by, the Loves move on every three days. Thirteen-year-old Olivine, Ollie to her family, is tired of their nomadic existence and longs for roots: a real house, real school, and real friends. The Loves arrive on the outskirts of Binder, Arkansas, on a hot summer day, and Ollie walks into town to distribute flyers inviting townsfolk to the services. She quickly realizes something is wrong in Binder, and not everyone welcomes her family's presence in the small town. Ollie meets and befriends Jimmy Koppel, a quiet, frog-loving boy whose mother is in the town jail awaiting transport to prison for murdering his father. Jimmy convinces Ollie that his mother is innocent despite the fact that she confessed to the crime. Local and state authorities are willing to accept her guilt without worrying about the discrepancies in her story. Ollie believes she and her family are meant to right this injustice before leaving town. But how can she convince her father that they have a calling in Binder, a calling that may mean they must stay in the area much longer than normal? And if Mrs. Koppel didn't kill her drunken, abusive husband, who did? If Ollie can persuade her father to help Jimmy and his mother, perhaps she can also find the stability she so desires.
Make no mistake. This is a book about a preacher's family, but it is far from preachy. The Loves don't talk love. They live it. Sibling rivalry, family relationships, friendship, faith, prejudice, sacrifice, mystery... they are all here and handled deftly by first-time novelist Hilmo. The mystery and strong characterization ensure that readers will care about this family. With a name like Love, how could they not?
Make no mistake. This is a book about a preacher's family, but it is far from preachy. The Loves don't talk love. They live it. Sibling rivalry, family relationships, friendship, faith, prejudice, sacrifice, mystery... they are all here and handled deftly by first-time novelist Hilmo. The mystery and strong characterization ensure that readers will care about this family. With a name like Love, how could they not?
November 10, 2011
The oldest daughter of a traveling preacher man, Olivene Love longs for a home of her own. When the family pulls into the small town of Binder, Arkansas in 1957, she gets involved in a murder mystery involving a boy named Jimmy Koppel who collects and befriends frogs. With his abusive and bullying father dead and his mother in jail for confessing to his murder, Jimmy is drawn to the Love family, and Ollie is drawn to help Jimmy. But the town's citizens have turned against the Koppels for reasons that aren't entirely clear, and once the Loves decide to stay awhile and help Jimmy, many of them turn against them. The book contains several wonderful passages that evoke the time and period of the story and several that help readers understand the characters on a deep level. I especially liked how the author avoids easy answers and shows that some of our assumptions about others are often completely wrong. When things end up working out for Jimmy in the end, and the Love family heads on its way, I was left pondering the depths of evil that are contained in some human beings. The description of the cruelty of Jimmy's father toward his mother and toward Jimmy are the stuff of a horror film. The man seemed to have no redeeming qualities, and I was glad that the author chose to describe him from afar. The scene in which the Loves enter their new church to find all those dead frogs was stunning and seemed unlikely to have been accomplished by a woman. Still, the characterization of these citizens and the way the Love children glory in the simple joys of ice and a toilet that flushes once they are taken in by Mrs. Mahoney are wonderful. This one will prompt a reread and much pondering about the choices we make along our journeys.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2012
Ollie Love and her 4 younger sisters are travelling missionaries for her father Everlasting Love who is a preacher. They travel from town to town, staying for a mere 3 days in each place to preach the gospel to those who haven’t heard. Ollie has gotten used to handing out flyers, setting up chairs, and singing hymns with her sister. Binder Arkansas brings much the same for Ollie until she meets a young boy named Jimmy. Everyone is telling her to stay away from him as his father murdered his mother. Jimmy doesn’t seem like a bad seed, but everyone seems against his family. Living alone and struggling on his own, Ollie tries to befriend him and get him to come to the preaching services. Feeling in her heart the need to stay and help prove Jimmy’s mother innocent, Ollie begs her father to consider not moving on after 3 days.
Such a passionate story of a large, preaching family. I loved the dynamics of the larger family on the move. With nowhere to call home other than the trailer they pull behind their truck, the family seems content on helping their father preach the gospel message. I love how Ollie takes that further and reaches out to Jimmy knowing he needs the care of and help of her family for a time being. I love the relationship between the girls and mother and father. Often these days authors have strife within the family, either they are divorced or struggling or one parent is deceased. Tess Hilmo has created a great family structure, intact!! I loved that!
The girls were each individual in their characteristics and it was sweet to read about each one of them. I enjoyed this story very much and I think middle school age girls will really love it as well.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Such a passionate story of a large, preaching family. I loved the dynamics of the larger family on the move. With nowhere to call home other than the trailer they pull behind their truck, the family seems content on helping their father preach the gospel message. I love how Ollie takes that further and reaches out to Jimmy knowing he needs the care of and help of her family for a time being. I love the relationship between the girls and mother and father. Often these days authors have strife within the family, either they are divorced or struggling or one parent is deceased. Tess Hilmo has created a great family structure, intact!! I loved that!
The girls were each individual in their characteristics and it was sweet to read about each one of them. I enjoyed this story very much and I think middle school age girls will really love it as well.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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