Angels on the Roof

by Martha Moore

Determined to find out the family secrets that her mother refuses to discuss, Shelby is excited about their new move to Red Valley, yet once there, she begins to discover things that she quickly realized were better left unknown. Reprint.

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one I read in about 3 hours. I'd gotten it for free from our school library's discard shelf three or four years ago, this little 180-page book, and had forgotten about it until today. It was more interesting than I expected it to be, and for it being such a short book, the author managed to cram some good character development in there as well. I think making it a longer book would've made it a better read, because the plot wasn't as complex as I like.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd give this a 4.5.

Another one I read by Moore when I was younger. I am glad I revisited it. Moore does such a cool thing with her literary allusions -- the first part of the book, the set up mirrors Moby Dick . Zoe is Ahab, on the quest for Georgia O'Keffee's life while Shelby is the Ishmael, along for the ride. As the story evolves, and as the last paragraph of the book says, it turns into Janie's journey in Their Eyes Were Watching God . Moore never comes out and says that, alluding to it only by saying that Zoe wanted to take a fun educational course on Zora Neale Hurston, an author she'd recently discovered. A well-reader reader of this book would get it. This is, of course, the strength and the weakness of the book: the book is geared for teens who likely haven't read enough to get that reference or understand the two American narratives in a way to see how Moore weaves it together seamlessly.

As usual, the humor is great, and the characters are memorable. Moore can write a great narrator, full of wit, sass, and intelligence. The characters are a cast. I'm still a little blown away by the narrative techniques with the classical allusions, really, since it's something I certainly didn't understand when I read it the first time!

[Kierra/kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Angels on the Roof by Martha Moore.The book was like a big story about a girl who wandered past her boundaries and agitated with her family.But she manages to come thru the end.When her mom took her to a small city and she wanted to learn more about her father. during the time she was trying to get her mother to tell her about her father she meets her grandmother which is a wood carver and many people believe there were angels on her roof. Later on she finds out the truth about her father and she doesn't like it.I would recommend this book to people that like mysteries because it has a lot of mysteries.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book I read back in middle school. I picked it up and wanted it to read it because it had a pretty cover. I don't remember much about the book expect for the pocket size dog, but I read it at a time that I didn't read much, so the fact that I actually finished it at that time means it deserves at least three stars. I know I still have that book so maybe someday I'll back and reread it.

[Harneet · Rating 3 out of 5]

A girl become agitated with her family. Her mom takes her to a small city where she wanted to learn more about her dad because her mom has never sat her down to tell her. She finally finds out the truth about her father, and she is not happy. I personally did not like the book because during some parts it would become really boring and other parts would grab my attention fast.