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Fighting Kudzu
In 1972 on a hot, late spring day in Georgia, five-year-old Noble Thorvald plays contentedly, alone in her suburban backyard. Her only companions...an imaginary professional football team. As she plays in her world of wonder and adventure, Noble is unaware of the challenges life will hurl in her direction-challenges that will redefine her more than once. Fighting Kudzu is the lyrical saga that traces Noble's life as she emerges into adulthood and discovers herself. Author Author Mystic Thompson, a veteran educator, is a principal with Eckerd Youth Alternatives at Camp E-Ku-Sumee, a residential school in a wilderness setting. Fighting Kudzu is her first novel.
- GenresContemporary
264 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 20, 2013
Fighting Kudzu is like few other books I have read. Mystic Thompson writes in a rich yet spare prose reminiscent of a modern Carson McCullers. The brilliant and painful story of a Southern family, Fighting Kudzu transcends limiting genre definitions: not just Southern, not just coming of age, it is these and so much more. There is so much good in this book--from the depth of kindness and love, to the beautifully drawn pain. Nothing is overdone, everything is artfully balanced. The pace is right, the narrator is consistent, and the supporting characters are unique and original. No clichés here--expect to be surprised and delighted. The story moves quickly but believably through time and events while never losing its lovely voice and compelling imagery.
Like an unforgettable ballad, the melody of this story will echo in my mind for a long time to come.
I hope to see more from this writer and possibly even a sequel. I could see Noble filling at least another book! At minimum, it's a book I plan to re-read. Whether it's to revisit Mamateen, to whisper at Noble with her friends the magnolias, or to watch again the events unfold starting with a scared camper and a silver turtle that change the direction of Noble's life forever, this is a book so richly drawn, it will lovingly call me back to spend time in its company.
I highly recommend Fighting Kudzu and thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope to see much more from this talented author.
Like an unforgettable ballad, the melody of this story will echo in my mind for a long time to come.
I hope to see more from this writer and possibly even a sequel. I could see Noble filling at least another book! At minimum, it's a book I plan to re-read. Whether it's to revisit Mamateen, to whisper at Noble with her friends the magnolias, or to watch again the events unfold starting with a scared camper and a silver turtle that change the direction of Noble's life forever, this is a book so richly drawn, it will lovingly call me back to spend time in its company.
I highly recommend Fighting Kudzu and thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope to see much more from this talented author.
May 22, 2017
Several months ago, a student asked why we don't have any LGBT books that aren't just about life rather than the problems associated with being gay. I would say this is the perfect book for that. This is a tough story to read, with many highs and lows, but the lows are far more associated with family problems and the highs are more associated with romance and coming out. It's a book about a really strong young woman who works hard and enjoys her life despite many challenges. The first 30-40 pages were a bit slow. There was a certain point near the beginning that I skimmed over a bit of the early childhood experiences, but after that it was really great. I highly recommend picking up this book and sticking with it.
April 28, 2018
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Intense coming-of-age story. Lead has a distinct voice. Pre-teen chapters make a strong impact.
Cons: High school years are just touched over, if not for a single incident (then book proceeds on to college). Some too convenient occurrences and situations.
WARNING! A drunk parent and a death. A not-overly-graphic sex scene between two girls. And, if you're over-sensitive about animal dying in books, you might approach this one with caution - though it's only an off-screen occurrence.
Will appeal to: Those who like coming-of-age tales. Those who are interested in GLBTQ+ stories.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I received this novel from Musa Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
A quick note before I get to the juicy part: as the blurb itself states, this is a contemporary novel, only not set in the present. It starts in 1972 and proceeds on to the '80s - which doesn't mean an awful lot though, if you don't count some music references, the lack of cell phones and Internet, and the basic fact that homosexuality was more frowned upon back then. Having said so, the prejudice has not gone away in what we like to think of as our more enlightened era. This is a coming-of-age and coming-out story, and in that it is timeless enough. Also, the book follows Noble since when she's only five, and barely touches her high school experience, before it comes to a closure with her first year in college - which makes it a YA/NA hybrid at the very least (I don't use the MG label for obvious reasons).
Noble's story opens in a suburban garden in Atlanta. The prologue immediately draw me in: a 5 y.o. female who chooses a whole football team - the Dolphins - as her imaginary friends is not something you see everyday ;). Their made-up interaction is very touching, inasmuch as not only Noble envisions herself as the first female player in the NFL, but also relies on her imaginary fellows for support and advice. Despite her two older siblings Rachel and Chad being a bit rude - or at best nonchalant - about her, Noble's family sounds like a safe nest...at least she does have two parents living together (Dave and Mel)...but there's more under the apparently uncomplicated surface. The dad is nice to Noble, but doesn't really seem affected by what happens around him; the mom's behaviour is slightly unsettling from the start. She often treats Noble as if she were an adult, all while worrying about her having to grow up and lose her innocence. At a very early age, Mel introduces Noble to the two concept that will leave a mark on her for years: replacement (if you fail to do what needs to be done in the lives of the people you love, you risk to get discarded and replaced) and heartbreak. On the other hand, we get the sense of Mel's love for her own daughter, and some of their moments together will also stay with Noble for all the years to come, even when the hell has already broken loose. Because, the fact is, Mel will turn into an alcohol addict soon, ultimately breaking up the family (though, well, don't let me start on Dave - I can't spoil the whole book for you, can I?), and scarring Noble - the only one who refuses to give up on her - in more than a (crude) way. [...]
Whole review here.
Pros: Intense coming-of-age story. Lead has a distinct voice. Pre-teen chapters make a strong impact.
Cons: High school years are just touched over, if not for a single incident (then book proceeds on to college). Some too convenient occurrences and situations.
WARNING! A drunk parent and a death. A not-overly-graphic sex scene between two girls. And, if you're over-sensitive about animal dying in books, you might approach this one with caution - though it's only an off-screen occurrence.
Will appeal to: Those who like coming-of-age tales. Those who are interested in GLBTQ+ stories.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I received this novel from Musa Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
A quick note before I get to the juicy part: as the blurb itself states, this is a contemporary novel, only not set in the present. It starts in 1972 and proceeds on to the '80s - which doesn't mean an awful lot though, if you don't count some music references, the lack of cell phones and Internet, and the basic fact that homosexuality was more frowned upon back then. Having said so, the prejudice has not gone away in what we like to think of as our more enlightened era. This is a coming-of-age and coming-out story, and in that it is timeless enough. Also, the book follows Noble since when she's only five, and barely touches her high school experience, before it comes to a closure with her first year in college - which makes it a YA/NA hybrid at the very least (I don't use the MG label for obvious reasons).
Noble's story opens in a suburban garden in Atlanta. The prologue immediately draw me in: a 5 y.o. female who chooses a whole football team - the Dolphins - as her imaginary friends is not something you see everyday ;). Their made-up interaction is very touching, inasmuch as not only Noble envisions herself as the first female player in the NFL, but also relies on her imaginary fellows for support and advice. Despite her two older siblings Rachel and Chad being a bit rude - or at best nonchalant - about her, Noble's family sounds like a safe nest...at least she does have two parents living together (Dave and Mel)...but there's more under the apparently uncomplicated surface. The dad is nice to Noble, but doesn't really seem affected by what happens around him; the mom's behaviour is slightly unsettling from the start. She often treats Noble as if she were an adult, all while worrying about her having to grow up and lose her innocence. At a very early age, Mel introduces Noble to the two concept that will leave a mark on her for years: replacement (if you fail to do what needs to be done in the lives of the people you love, you risk to get discarded and replaced) and heartbreak. On the other hand, we get the sense of Mel's love for her own daughter, and some of their moments together will also stay with Noble for all the years to come, even when the hell has already broken loose. Because, the fact is, Mel will turn into an alcohol addict soon, ultimately breaking up the family (though, well, don't let me start on Dave - I can't spoil the whole book for you, can I?), and scarring Noble - the only one who refuses to give up on her - in more than a (crude) way. [...]
Whole review here.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews