What do you think?
Rate this book
Parked
Can growing up without love stop someone from finding love?
On a freezing night in December 1975, in a trailer park on the outskirts of the small, southern town of Randolph, the life of six-year-old Teenie Outler is forever changed in a moment of blind rage. Left alone with Jubalee, her cold, resentful grandmother, Teenie takes what comfort she can from others, freely giving back what little she has to offer on her way to discover sometimes it’s not blood that makes us family—it’s love.
Parked is the griping, unforgettable story of a young girl whose path in life is lonely and heartbreaking but also strengthened with humor, hope, irreplaceable characters and tender moments of true happiness.
On a freezing night in December 1975, in a trailer park on the outskirts of the small, southern town of Randolph, the life of six-year-old Teenie Outler is forever changed in a moment of blind rage. Left alone with Jubalee, her cold, resentful grandmother, Teenie takes what comfort she can from others, freely giving back what little she has to offer on her way to discover sometimes it’s not blood that makes us family—it’s love.
Parked is the griping, unforgettable story of a young girl whose path in life is lonely and heartbreaking but also strengthened with humor, hope, irreplaceable characters and tender moments of true happiness.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2014
23 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Anna Land
5 books22 followersAnna Land lives in Memphis, Tennessee with her adorable husband, their six, blissfully free-spirited children and tragically illiterate dog. A graduate from the University of Memphis with a love for British Literature and Dorothy Parker, Anna is a former high school creative writing, poetry and literature teacher.
Parked, Anna's debut novel, has been downloaded over 17,000 times. While it has offended several little, old, church ladies, New Yorkers tend to love it.
PARKED begins on a freezing night in December 1975, in a trailer park on the outskirts of the small, southern town of Randolph, where the life of six-year-old Teenie Outler is forever changed by her father in a rage-fueled moment. Left alone with Jubalee, her cold, resentful grandmother, Teenie searches for love in this touching, funny and true-to-life Coming of Age novel. Set in the South in the 1970's and 1980's, Teenie's teenage trailer park world is brimming with young love, sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. While waiting to see if her mother will ever return, Teenie builds a shaky realtionship with Trigger, her father, aches for Free, the boy she loves but can't have, and learns with the help of uninhibited Rhonda to do whatever it takes to get what she needs. Determined to find happiness, Teenie tries desperately to replace the people who have abandoned her, whether it is with the much older Dell or the enticing Kitty. Taking what comfort she can from others while freely giving back what little she has to offer, Teenie discovers along the way the past can only define you if you let it, and sometimes it's not blood that makes us family- it's love.
Following Teenie Outler from age six to age seventeen, PARKED has elements of She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb, Summer Sisters by Judy Blume and White Oleander by Janet Fitch, but it is unique in its setting and tone. Although it is gritty, PARKED is not dark. Heartache and hopelessness are balanced by Teenie's resilience and ability to love and to forgive. Character driven, PARKED introduces Teenie Outler as an original, strong, yet-to-be-heard voice. Iconic songs and references to the novel's 1970's and 1980's time frame create a nostalgic feeling while at the same time the universal themes of family, friendship, betrayal and forgiveness make PARKED timeless and relevant. Sometimes heartbreaking, humor and hope carry the story along its journey and PARKED's strong, southern characters are vibrant and realistically flawed. Teenie Outler, like so many people who are born into stagnant, suffocating circumstances, has few opportunities to be anything different than what she was born. By trial and error, Teenie learns people can change their path in life- there is a way to break free and move on. PARKED is hope for anyone who feels alone and lost and is fighting to change their stars.
Coming Spring 2017!
AMEN
A Novel by Anna Land
Comments? Contact Anna at AnnaLandTheWriter@Outlook.com.
Join Anna! Follow Anna Land TheWriter on Facebook and on Twitter @AnnaLandWriter
Parked, Anna's debut novel, has been downloaded over 17,000 times. While it has offended several little, old, church ladies, New Yorkers tend to love it.
PARKED begins on a freezing night in December 1975, in a trailer park on the outskirts of the small, southern town of Randolph, where the life of six-year-old Teenie Outler is forever changed by her father in a rage-fueled moment. Left alone with Jubalee, her cold, resentful grandmother, Teenie searches for love in this touching, funny and true-to-life Coming of Age novel. Set in the South in the 1970's and 1980's, Teenie's teenage trailer park world is brimming with young love, sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. While waiting to see if her mother will ever return, Teenie builds a shaky realtionship with Trigger, her father, aches for Free, the boy she loves but can't have, and learns with the help of uninhibited Rhonda to do whatever it takes to get what she needs. Determined to find happiness, Teenie tries desperately to replace the people who have abandoned her, whether it is with the much older Dell or the enticing Kitty. Taking what comfort she can from others while freely giving back what little she has to offer, Teenie discovers along the way the past can only define you if you let it, and sometimes it's not blood that makes us family- it's love.
Following Teenie Outler from age six to age seventeen, PARKED has elements of She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb, Summer Sisters by Judy Blume and White Oleander by Janet Fitch, but it is unique in its setting and tone. Although it is gritty, PARKED is not dark. Heartache and hopelessness are balanced by Teenie's resilience and ability to love and to forgive. Character driven, PARKED introduces Teenie Outler as an original, strong, yet-to-be-heard voice. Iconic songs and references to the novel's 1970's and 1980's time frame create a nostalgic feeling while at the same time the universal themes of family, friendship, betrayal and forgiveness make PARKED timeless and relevant. Sometimes heartbreaking, humor and hope carry the story along its journey and PARKED's strong, southern characters are vibrant and realistically flawed. Teenie Outler, like so many people who are born into stagnant, suffocating circumstances, has few opportunities to be anything different than what she was born. By trial and error, Teenie learns people can change their path in life- there is a way to break free and move on. PARKED is hope for anyone who feels alone and lost and is fighting to change their stars.
Coming Spring 2017!
AMEN
A Novel by Anna Land
Comments? Contact Anna at AnnaLandTheWriter@Outlook.com.
Join Anna! Follow Anna Land TheWriter on Facebook and on Twitter @AnnaLandWriter
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Read
November 5, 2014Recently I finished reading Parked by Anna Land. Land who lives Memphis, Tennessee with her husband, their six kids, and their three dogs was a former high school creative writing, poetry, and literature teacher. Parked is Lands first novel.
The main character in Speak, Teenie was raised by her grandmother because her mother left her after her dad shot her mom and grandmother. Teenie hasn’t heard from her mom in years and sees her dad occasionally. Teenies best friend moved away so Teenie is very lonesome because her grandmother doesn’t show her much love. She begins going downhill and many tragic events occur in Teenies hard lonely life.
In writing this book, Land was trying to show a perspective from a struggling teenager. Land is also trying to say that when tragic things are happening there’s always things to be happy about and always a way out.
This book caught my attention from the start. It was immediately interesting, Land did a great job engaging the reader. The main character has many relatable events and feelings and doesn’t ever say too much to give anything away too soon. The ending was the only thing I didn’t like because it was an open ending and I wanted to know what happened after. Overall, this book was an amazing book and I couldn’t put it down.
I would recommend this book to teenage girls because it is focused on a teenage girl’s life. Before they read Parked, they should know it contains some very graphic scenes and drug use. This book should only be read by people that can handle it.
The main character in Speak, Teenie was raised by her grandmother because her mother left her after her dad shot her mom and grandmother. Teenie hasn’t heard from her mom in years and sees her dad occasionally. Teenies best friend moved away so Teenie is very lonesome because her grandmother doesn’t show her much love. She begins going downhill and many tragic events occur in Teenies hard lonely life.
In writing this book, Land was trying to show a perspective from a struggling teenager. Land is also trying to say that when tragic things are happening there’s always things to be happy about and always a way out.
This book caught my attention from the start. It was immediately interesting, Land did a great job engaging the reader. The main character has many relatable events and feelings and doesn’t ever say too much to give anything away too soon. The ending was the only thing I didn’t like because it was an open ending and I wanted to know what happened after. Overall, this book was an amazing book and I couldn’t put it down.
I would recommend this book to teenage girls because it is focused on a teenage girl’s life. Before they read Parked, they should know it contains some very graphic scenes and drug use. This book should only be read by people that can handle it.
October 9, 2014
Wow this was a very intense coming of age book your heart breaks for this life. Teenie lives a rather tough life after her mom walks out of her life at age 7. Her grandma is not very giving of herself to Teenie, it seems like tough love is all she can offer. Teenie struggles with everything thrown at her growing up in this trailer park, being treated poorly by everyone and just looking for love. I hope Teenie and Free find each other someday, she is just so young.
October 11, 2014
I would give this a 3.5 but rounded up to four stars...I was so intrigued by Teenie's story, and I thought it was told very well. I didn't think introducing points of views of the other characters was really necessary as it didn't really add much to the story.
Definitely unique, definitely raw, definitely heart breaking and seemed very realistic...if you want to know what it would be like to grow up unloved in a white trash trailer park, then this story is for you.
Definitely unique, definitely raw, definitely heart breaking and seemed very realistic...if you want to know what it would be like to grow up unloved in a white trash trailer park, then this story is for you.
December 3, 2014
This novel carefully details the life of a poor girl in the 1970's and 1980's. Beginning when she was just 6, she was raised by her 39 year old grandmother in a broken down trailer in the south. Fights with wins and losses include everything from education, sexual promiscuity, economic pitfalls and southern prejudices. The horrors of her youth magnify and become horrid in her late teens. This is a quick read that scares the reader.
August 14, 2015
I felt so sorry for this little girl, she had everything against her. She was left with a grandmother that had a types of issues. Growing up all she wanted was to be loved and accepted for who she was. Ms. Land really has a feel for what it's like growing up as young girl from the wrong side of the tracks. I really enjoyed this book.
November 2, 2014
ANNA LAND!!!!!
I absolutely love this book. I haven't read a good book like this.in a very long time. Already plan on reading it again. Is this your only book? Do you plan on a sequel? It would be nice to see the characters in the future.
I absolutely love this book. I haven't read a good book like this.in a very long time. Already plan on reading it again. Is this your only book? Do you plan on a sequel? It would be nice to see the characters in the future.
October 7, 2014
This was a really good book. I was impressed. :)
October 11, 2014
Loved!
This book kept me awake at night thinking about the main character. My heart broke for Teenie. I was sad that it ended!
This book kept me awake at night thinking about the main character. My heart broke for Teenie. I was sad that it ended!
October 15, 2014
Well written, and gripping in its' portrayal of a poor, 'white trash', child - neglected, abused, and ignored. My heart is broken and I am making a happy ending in my own mind!!
October 28, 2014
such a good read! I thought about Teeny long after I finished.
February 5, 2015
I thought this was a heartbreaking book, but I loved it. When I got to the end, I was wanting more! Will definitely recommend to friends.
December 14, 2016
This is such a sad book. Seems to be fiction but reads more like a biography. By the end, you just hate all these low life, heartless people in Teenie's life. I can't blame her leaving them all. I was so happy when she told off that terrible grandmother of hers. I, too, got a chance to tell a toxic person how I felt before they passed away. Poor Teenie, hopefully she'll find her own happiness and self worth. Heaven knows she deserves it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2019
I listened to the audible version & really enjoyed this coming of age book by Anna Land. She did a fabulous job developing the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the different voices that gave the story life in the audio version. The story is excellently written and sets the scene well giving the reader wonderful visuals. Yes parts are sad, but the story has grounded ‘real ness’ where so many other coming of age stories miss the mark. Great read or listen. Highly recommend.
March 16, 2017
Why
It was a good book . It's a shame how many teenager turn to drugs for a living as this girl did
It was a good book . It's a shame how many teenager turn to drugs for a living as this girl did
August 31, 2020
I found this book to be just OK for me. I was able to feel sorry for the main character and felt her loss of her mother and the lack of affection from her Grandmother. I do feel she had people who loved and supported her in her life, such as her aunt and eventually her father, and her stepfather.
While she had a difficult time and had to chores, she really did nothing to try to change herself or to better her circumstances. She just drifted along the path of least resistance, experimenting the drugs, alcohol, and sex, but never seemed to strive or even think about doing anything differently until the very end of the book. Teenie seems a shallow character with no real moral compass or imagination.
I was disappointed that there was no dialogue or closure when she sees her mother again, and I found the dialogue with her grandmother at the end of the book to be weak also.
While she had a difficult time and had to chores, she really did nothing to try to change herself or to better her circumstances. She just drifted along the path of least resistance, experimenting the drugs, alcohol, and sex, but never seemed to strive or even think about doing anything differently until the very end of the book. Teenie seems a shallow character with no real moral compass or imagination.
I was disappointed that there was no dialogue or closure when she sees her mother again, and I found the dialogue with her grandmother at the end of the book to be weak also.
March 23, 2015
For a coming of age book, Parked delivered. I found the characters believable. It did have quite a few spelling and grammatical errors which sometimes caused me to stumble and interrupted the flow. I also did not understand a couple of the chapters that were set from a different perspective. There was no real reason to deviate from Teenie's perspective. These two things were the reason I could not give 5 stars. Aside from that, the book left me in tears. I was able to relate to the main character and really found myself siding with her and cheering her on. Great read. Looking forward to a possible sequel.
February 7, 2016
I Knew a Teenie
Having spent a few months with my grandmother in her trailer park when I was a little girl, I knew a Teenie Outler. I guess for that reason, the story was somewhat sad to me. This is the story of a girl left by her mother, raised by her grandmother in a trailer park. Toward the end of the story, Juba (Teenie's grandma) tells Teenie that nobody ever wanted her. Her mother, her father, Juba, or her boyfriend. The sad truth affected me somehow. I know there are teenagers out there who are unwanted, and not just in trailer parks. The story made me want to adopt an unloved teenager.
Having spent a few months with my grandmother in her trailer park when I was a little girl, I knew a Teenie Outler. I guess for that reason, the story was somewhat sad to me. This is the story of a girl left by her mother, raised by her grandmother in a trailer park. Toward the end of the story, Juba (Teenie's grandma) tells Teenie that nobody ever wanted her. Her mother, her father, Juba, or her boyfriend. The sad truth affected me somehow. I know there are teenagers out there who are unwanted, and not just in trailer parks. The story made me want to adopt an unloved teenager.
April 2, 2019
Somebody hug this little girl with the big name! Tallulah Trixiebelle lives with her resentful grandmother, Jubalee since her mother skipped town on the eve of Teenie's seventh birthday. If it weren't for the occasional visits by her Aunt Ed, and her good friend Jelly, Teenie's childhood would have been bleak.
I was really disappointed in Teenie when she messed up the Senior Smash. She sets a good example of what can happen when you get involved with drugs, or people who use drugs. Fortunately, Teenie is a smart girl. She knows when to cut ties, sever relationships and when to move on. In fact, her timing in perfect! Great, fitting ending.
I was really disappointed in Teenie when she messed up the Senior Smash. She sets a good example of what can happen when you get involved with drugs, or people who use drugs. Fortunately, Teenie is a smart girl. She knows when to cut ties, sever relationships and when to move on. In fact, her timing in perfect! Great, fitting ending.
May 16, 2017
Wow! I can't believe how horrible this girls life is. Her mom leaves her with her grandmother who hates her and takes off for Vegas. Her best friend moves away, her friends mother being the only one to explain how to deal with her cycle and other things. Her father doesn't want her to move in with him even though he does love her. Her grandmothers boyfriend tries to be nice and buy her pet rabbits- and her evil grandmother serves them at the family reunion as the meal! It just goes on and on. I am so glad she decides to change her live in the end- and Dells money is just icing on the cake!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2015
Once getting over the massive amount of typos, I actually enjoyed this sad little depressing book. This story follow the life of Teenie from childhood to early adulthood. She is left with her grandmother after her dad shoots her mom in a fit of jealousy. Teenie grows up without love and encounters loss in every direction. The only bright side of this book was the ending!
The rabbit scene was a bit much, and it felt like this story was just getting started when it ended. Either way, I liked it.
The rabbit scene was a bit much, and it felt like this story was just getting started when it ended. Either way, I liked it.
February 13, 2015
The story line of Parked is good and was to be expected of a young girl growing up with out love. I was mostly disappointed by the time I wasted getting into the story. We really should be forewarned that there is graphic sex in a book so we can choose to say no before we get immersed in someone's life. Why do coming of age books always have such graphic explicit junk? Can't we read about the angst without the trash? I rooted for teenie but when she became one of those girls, it became harder to do.
November 4, 2015
Not reading anything about the book I had no idea what it would be about. And that's is what I liked about this book, that you didn't know what was going to happen to Teenie. Things aren't perfect ever, especially when it comes to family. The good thing is she got some answers in her life, but learnt some hard lessons as well.
March 19, 2015
poor white trailer trash if not abused than ignored. Some parts were grossly not needed-the rabbits (I wont give away but disgusting) and her coming of age sex. I really tried to like this book but it didn't work for me!
June 1, 2015
Another book that leaves a lot to be answered. My heart broke for Teenie. As a grandmother and a mother, I couldn't understand why she was so "abandoned" emotionally by her mother and grandmother. I would have liked there to have been more resolution to her life. It left me feeling a bit sad.
August 22, 2015
My review
Teenie endured so much as a child,I sure hope she finds life better than she's ever known. I did enjoy this book although I felt it ended very abruptly. Maybe we will read more of her in a new upcoming book?
Teenie endured so much as a child,I sure hope she finds life better than she's ever known. I did enjoy this book although I felt it ended very abruptly. Maybe we will read more of her in a new upcoming book?
January 3, 2016
An in your face tale of what it's like to grow up poor and unloved. This was very realistically written. I hope the author decides to revisit Teenie in the future.
*This book contains sexual situations and drug use
*This book contains sexual situations and drug use
Want to read
March 23, 2015Own on Kindle, Free
October 18, 2014
Good read
it is a quick easy read. I enjoyed reliving the music mentioned through out the book. I wish it would have ended with more detail.
it is a quick easy read. I enjoyed reliving the music mentioned through out the book. I wish it would have ended with more detail.
October 20, 2014
Don't bother.
After waiting and waiting for her story to fully unfurl, two words showed up...the end. Not worth the effort. Free.
After waiting and waiting for her story to fully unfurl, two words showed up...the end. Not worth the effort. Free.
October 23, 2014
Many errors in the e-version.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews