A Place Apart

by Paula Fox

Shortly after her father's death, Victoria and her mother move to a small village outside of Boston where she meets a wealthy teenage boy who teaches her a valuable but painful lesson about life.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Novels

183 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Paula Fox was an American author of novels for adults and children and two memoirs. Her novel The Slave Dancer (1973) received the Newbery Medal in 1974; and in 1978, she was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal. More recently, A Portrait of Ivan won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 2008.

A teenage marriage produced a daughter, Linda, in 1944. Given the tumultuous relationship with her own biological parents, she gave the child up for adoption. Linda Carroll, the daughter Fox gave up for adoption, is the mother of musician Courtney Love.

Fox then attended Columbia University, married the literary critic and translator Martin Greenberg, raised two sons, taught, and began to write.

Reviews

[Stefani · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is definitely aimed at a younger audience.

[Марија Андреева · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Very beautiful writing style, I loved the melancholy and also the way it portrays the feeling of a teenage girl, the sadness, the happiness, the naive and innocence look of the world, the first disappointments and excitements. The value of friendship and also what friendship is not. Good book.

[Suzy Lolley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not clear what the point was

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure

It was written beautifully and the characters were developed wonderfully. I was hooked and couldn’t help but want to come back to reading but I’m not sure whether or not I liked it. Sounds weird but it left me in wanting almost. Like it wasn’t finished or I had just wanted it to end another way. She is a great author and I plan on reading more of her work.

[Andee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good writing, and plot. But the tone and characters are so fatalistic, that I couldn't find any reason in the work. I've read other books with tragic characters or circumstances, but this feels like it was written just to frustrate readers.

[Beki Eikum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, the unhealthy relationship central to this book reminded me of Twilight. It had 80s, moody, fall vibes so I liked it but wouldn’t recommend it widely. I like how the main character grows throughout book. Lots of mundane details, which can be nice for a YA read.

[Linn Woodard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good writing, interesting characters, ending left me hanging though.

[Sandra Roed Norgaard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but then it got confusing, jumping around too much. I lost interest.

[Alexina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave this one 150 pages and I couldn't finish it. Too bored.

[Kidlitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a thoughtful examination of a young girl's growth to maturity and her attempts to reconcile the tension between a move with her mother to a small New England town after her father's death. How her relationship with her mother deepens, her adjustments to being the New Girl and meeting other young teens make life complicated, and her deepening awareness that these changes are changing her. Most of all she gets to know Hugh Todd, an older teen who confuses and inspires her but also causes her pain and disgust. Victoria despairs "Would I ever be able to hang onto a feeling for more than five minutes?" and Fox beautifully details how her heroine manages to grow up.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fox skillfully creates a haunting and unforgettable mood in this story of a thirteen-year-old girl dealing with her father's death. Victoria Finch and her mother must move to a new town and find her way in the world. This is an introspective, leisurely book that builds to its ending with small dramatic moments and the protagonist's gradual self-awareness.

[Masha · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Croatian translation: Skrovito mjesto.

[barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
It was okay. Nothing that remarkable.