Glory

Glory #1

by Jodi Lynn

My name is Glory, and I come from a town called Dogwood, deep in the mountains of West Virginia. It was my home, the place where I belonged. But I don’t belong anywhere now. Not after what I did. In the eyes of the townsfolk—in the eyes of my family—I’m dead. And if my punishment works the way it’s supposed to, I really will be dead within a year.

But there’s something I need to do before I’m gone. If only I can do it in time.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Teen, Childrens, Young Adult

156 pages, Paperback

First published April 14, 2003

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. Even as an adult, I found this book to be captivating. We follow thirteen year old Glory Mason who lives in a small religious "town" called Dogwood. Its a very small religious community that the members don't ride in cars, don't listen to music, don't handle money, and keep a large distance from outsiders. Glory Mason has always been seen as a troublemaker to the townspeople, but many left it to childishness and impulsiveness. On Christmas,her and her friend Katie break into the shed that holds the towns supplies and get drunk on the communion wine that a terrible accident happens. Katie breaks through the ice on the pond and does not survive. With this recent tragedy ruled as Glorys fault, the townspeople decide that she must be exiled from the community into woods and can never return. Before she leaves, her father, the leader of the community, makes her drink the "Water of Judgement." Drinking what she is led to believe is poison, Glory prepares for a slow and painful death alone in exile. We get to follow Glory as she alone fights to survive in the woods and so makes the decision to follow her and Katies dream to go to the city. This book is heart wrenching in that it makes you wonder how parents could just abandon their child. It was an excellent read and I would recommend it to not only kids but adults as well. I will definitely be reading the three books that came after this one in the series.

[⋆˚࿔ abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure what to think. I think it's a bit dull and predictable. The only reason I even found out about this book is because my mom read it when she was around thirteen and loved it so she bought it for me to see how I like it. It was a very short read and has a very slow beginning and then just kind of abruptly ends. This book is about 100-150 pages and it is part of a series but I feel like you could have fit book 2 in book 1 easily.

I do like Glory though, I think she is a nice character. You can really see her regret throughout the story. She realizes how stupid she was and how she took everything for granted. Since I have only read book one of this series there's not much I can say about this book. (Sorry mom, love you)

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd read the second installment of this series around 10 years ago somehow, but never was able to acquire the first book of the series. Skip till two days ago and the story all of the sudden popped into my head.

After a few hours of googling I figured it out, and I'm glad that I finally got to read book #1!

[adamarrada · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's not the best book i've ever read but something about it is very special to me. i saw it on the shelf at DI my first week in Utah and I read it in about a day. it's my little treasure. it's so sad and so happy. it's glory by jodi lynn.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revisiting a book from my childhood.

[Sheila Cohen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd little book. It just ended abruptly but now I see it is part of a series.

[Tristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book intriguing the entire time, despite from the ending hanging off on a cliff hanger. Would recommend to anyone who doesn't have a favorite type of book

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it first came out. I just reread it and enjoyed it very much!

[Tara Jolley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Interested to see where Glory’s story continues to go.

[Madison Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I chose to read was called Glory, fiction-adventure by Jodi Lynn. This book is about a free spirited girl, Glory, who gets herself into some trouble with the town and is cast out to live on her own…with only one year to live.
The setting takes place in Dogwood, a small town in the Appalachian Mountains. Glory Bee Mason is the main character. She is 13 years old, small but strong, and she has a lot of energy that she has no idea what to do with. Glory doesn’t want to have to be a “lady” like her best friend Katy, she is wild and carefree, but that seems to be getting her in more trouble than she thinks. The book starts out with Glory wanting to help her father and ends up cast out and on her own.
My favorite aspect of the book is when Glory tries to throw a stale biscuit at her 15 year old brother and end up hitting the town’s reverend instead. I like this because the reverend is a bit of a sourpuss. I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for an easy read, but also a fun book to read as well.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glory and her best friend Katie live in Dogwood, a secluded “reservation area” where everyone lives like it’s the 1800s. (The kids even think it is!) When Glory convinces Katie to break some rules on Christmas, it leads to a fatal accident. Glory is forced to drink something that will make her die, slowly and painfully. Since she is not wanted anymore, she decides to run away into the modern real world and go to Boston, something she and Katie had always dreamed of doing.
This is the first book in a trilogy. I highly recommend it, especially to those who liked Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The community Glory lives in reminds me of the Order. They feel they are the few chosen ones - the ones with a path to God. They are restricted in their marriage choices because of the lack of variety of people in their community. They are not allowed to make choices, so they make poor choices because they are not taught how to choose. They are filled with fear about what the leaders consider "bad" things, so they don't have the truth in order to make the right choice.

Lynn did a good job showing the mental anguish a person feels when they leave a closed community and the fear they feel toward the outsiders.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fast read. I enjoyed it however I have to say I wondered in the end why she had not just gone on with the story...I see there are several more books. I feel it could have been one longer book

This book can make you think about what each action you take means in the big picture of life. As someone who likes to go against the gain in many ways like the main girl in the book, the results of her poor choices made me think of some of my actions...sure it may be new and different but in the long run what will it mean.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as a Christmas present. Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop. I had to know what happened to Glory. I liked it so much, in fact, I bought the other three books in the series used on amazon this morning. Can't wait to continue her story!
Think my students will enjoy it, too.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good short quick adventurous read.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Excruciatingly dull.

[Marya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how she had different ideas from the rest of the village, even though they were all raised to think the same.

[Maddy froehlich · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay not sure if I'll continue with the series didn't really connect very well but the book was very well written.

[Pj · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a disturbing book. A 13 year old girl being cast out of her family and town. She must survive on her own knowing she only has a year to survive. Can't wait to read the next book.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm rereading this series that I read as a kid. It a really interesting story!