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Walking Mary
Named after the attack that launched her country into war, Pearl Harbor Keenan has become accustomed to occasional encounters with the mysterious woman her town calls Walking Mary. No one in Framburg, Illinois, seems to know why Walking Mary meets every train that runs through their sleepy town, morning, noon, and night, as she has for forty years. Only Pearl thinks to question why, to reach out -- and to discover that what she might receive from this unlikely friendship far surpasses anything she ever could think to give. And only Pearl's younger brother can see, all too clearly, that Pearl's friendship with Walking Mary threatens not only the fragile peace within their family, but also those around them -- their friends, and even the town itself. James VanOosting's quietly powerful story examines the coming of age of one sister and brother within the larger structures of family and community.
- GenresMiddle Grade
144 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 1, 2017
I’d recommend this for children ages 13 and up due to its nature content (details are posted in the second paragraph because there are some spoilers.)
It is basically about a teenager stalking an African American woman in the 1950’s. I thought this book was about a ghost but was disappointed when I found out it wasn’t. Then I thought it was about a witch because it is implied that Walking Mary cured her bad eyesight, but after that little bit in the beginning, it is never mentioned again. The entire time I was hoping that I would get some real background information about Walking Mary and not just speculation but that’s all you get. I was also hoping that Walking Mary would speak sometime in the book, even if it was just one profound line. But that doesn’t happen, either. It was kind of a cute story until the end. It was like “by the way, this has been happening and now I am going to kill myself.” I felt the ending, or even the entire book, could have been stretched out to make more sense and better (it had a lot of potential). So it was a big let down. But if you want a quick and easy read, this is a good book to pass the time. (Which was exactly why I picked it up in the first place so I am not too upset. I was not expecting this book to be mind-blowing since it is only 130 pages).
Mature content: racism, violence (a few times someone got beat up and many more threats of getting beat up-especially by the boy to his dad with a baseball bat), abuse-verbal, sexual, and possibly physical or emotional. The sexual abuse is brought up very briefly towards the end (which is part of the reason why Pearl tries to kill herself).
I originally gave it 3 stars but after realizing I wrote a similar story (about a girl being drawn to someone she shouldn’t) and the similar writing style (mine is a little dryer and concise), I had to give it four stars because of my bias.
It is basically about a teenager stalking an African American woman in the 1950’s. I thought this book was about a ghost but was disappointed when I found out it wasn’t. Then I thought it was about a witch because it is implied that Walking Mary cured her bad eyesight, but after that little bit in the beginning, it is never mentioned again. The entire time I was hoping that I would get some real background information about Walking Mary and not just speculation but that’s all you get. I was also hoping that Walking Mary would speak sometime in the book, even if it was just one profound line. But that doesn’t happen, either. It was kind of a cute story until the end. It was like “by the way, this has been happening and now I am going to kill myself.” I felt the ending, or even the entire book, could have been stretched out to make more sense and better (it had a lot of potential). So it was a big let down. But if you want a quick and easy read, this is a good book to pass the time. (Which was exactly why I picked it up in the first place so I am not too upset. I was not expecting this book to be mind-blowing since it is only 130 pages).
Mature content: racism, violence (a few times someone got beat up and many more threats of getting beat up-especially by the boy to his dad with a baseball bat), abuse-verbal, sexual, and possibly physical or emotional. The sexual abuse is brought up very briefly towards the end (which is part of the reason why Pearl tries to kill herself).
I originally gave it 3 stars but after realizing I wrote a similar story (about a girl being drawn to someone she shouldn’t) and the similar writing style (mine is a little dryer and concise), I had to give it four stars because of my bias.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2018
VanOosting, James Walking Mary, 130 p. HarperCollins, 2005.
As far as Pearl Keenan knows, Walking Mary, an old black woman, has been meeting every passenger train entering their town since World War I. Though Pearl has seen Walking Mary all her life, only now, when Pearl is 16, does mild interest become a passion, maybe even an obsession. Pearl's younger brother, Frankie, is worried about Pearl, but more for what he dimly suspects is happening to her inside their own home, then for his sister's preoccupation with Mary. When Frankie realizes that it is time to take action, it may just be too late for his sister.
I may be doing the youth of my school a disservice, but I wonder if the deeper action in this book is too subtle for them to actually catch. They may just think that Pearl is a freak and is ready to go off the deep end any way. A large, active library might find this book getting some circulation, but I don't see it making a huge splash.
MS, HS - OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library-Teacher.
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...
As far as Pearl Keenan knows, Walking Mary, an old black woman, has been meeting every passenger train entering their town since World War I. Though Pearl has seen Walking Mary all her life, only now, when Pearl is 16, does mild interest become a passion, maybe even an obsession. Pearl's younger brother, Frankie, is worried about Pearl, but more for what he dimly suspects is happening to her inside their own home, then for his sister's preoccupation with Mary. When Frankie realizes that it is time to take action, it may just be too late for his sister.
I may be doing the youth of my school a disservice, but I wonder if the deeper action in this book is too subtle for them to actually catch. They may just think that Pearl is a freak and is ready to go off the deep end any way. A large, active library might find this book getting some circulation, but I don't see it making a huge splash.
MS, HS - OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library-Teacher.
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...
June 10, 2017
I saw this book in a small book store and curious about the cover so I bought it. I really really love this book! It makes me feel sad that Mary's still waiting for his son. Great story!
December 26, 2018
Wow, just wow! Great, great book!!!
September 2, 2011
I enjoyed the writing style. I also liked the brother in the story; he came across as the the most dynamic of the characters. One thing I wonder though is why make a point of naming the girl Pearl Harbor if it doesnt really have much to do with the story?
It could have gone alot further than 130 pages too.
It could have gone alot further than 130 pages too.
July 22, 2016
Interesting, and moving. Written in the style of a YA novel, yet the subject matter is so grave and the sentences so sparse that I'd hesitate to suggest it to anyone under 15 years old. Well written, regardless. (Found this book on the pavement in Queens.)
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews