The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

narrated by Anne Heche

ISBN: 0-671-04585-7 Order from: Amazon.com

This atmospheric book of a girl lost in the woods is intense and poignant at times, but despite its short length is sometimes repetitive, lacks a good conflict, and superficial, ambiguous spirituality.

Reviewed by David on November 15, 2000

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: This is an unabridged recording of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.

Nine-year-old Trisha McFarland is not particularly happy to be on an easy hiking trip with her mother and older brother. When she steps away fro the trail, her slightly boring trip turns into a threatening one.

Full Review: Trisha is a sympathetic and plausible protagonist. Intelligent, persistent, she is also childish, panicked and short-sighted at times.

The woods of Maine turn as threatening as primeval forests of fairy tales, and amid the dangers and distress of the wild, occasional glimpses of comfort and beauty become intense. So do the fears. As a city girl walks on the edge of survival, her emotions, and perhaps hallucinations become all-important.

While intense at times, and very skillfully written, the novel suffers from several problems. The narrative becomes repetitive at times, diluting the wonder and fear of the girl's journey. The fact that Trisha's travails are largely self-imposed, while perfectly plausible, robs the plot of some of its strength of indignation. Finally, the one external conflict that's hinted by the book is washed away in ambiguity—not an uncommon but still annoying element of mainstream fiction.

Overall, this short book is a satisfying, but not truly memorable, struggle of a sympathetic character for survival.

Overall: 5.5; Plot: 4; Characters: 6.5; Style: 6; World-building: 5; Originality: 6;

ISBN: 0-671-04585-7 Order from: Amazon.com