Book Chat-The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

Hello Dar (Peeking Between the Pages) and all!

As always thank you Miriam from Hachette.

So far I have read through chapter six of the book and the writing has a lyrical quality. I am still counting on this one to be one of my favorites of 2009. I am enjoying every chapter of the book.

Truly becomes more near and dear to my heart as she faces unfair circumstances in life that are far beyond her control. Just as in real life beauty is only skin deep and Truly has a gift inside of her and a little light that isn't being put out by the cruel and very unusual ways of Aberdeen County.

By the age of five she starts school and for the first time she hears herself referred to as a Giant. Truly is so young that she doesn't completely realize the implications of the wording and still holds out hope that it could be a unique quality or a gift.

A notable passage for me is a part in which Truly has a letter from her teacher that she has to take home to her father. She saves the letter for later and she begins to practice the letters by tracing the beautiful script handwriting of her teacher. She notes that she is trying to "master the linear vocabulary of elegance, determined to make one thing about me as beautiful as as possible." Oh! That caused pangs in my heart. The contents of the letter are very pointed and negative about Truly and yet she only wants to copy the beautiful handwriting, to see beauty in something, anything.

As Dar mentioned last night the narration of Truly telling the story is very unique in the sense that she has complete memory from birth.

By Chapter 6 Truly is already 12 years old. Her inner character is starting to be revealed. How Truly takes what life has offer her without a vindictive heart is amazing. She is able to face being taken away from her beautiful, "normal" older sister Serena Jane with the dull acceptance that in life beauty matters, and she is a beast. And yet she is not drowning is self pity.

Truly is starting to make an impact in a small way in a few in the County of Aberdeen as she becomes close and a trustworthy companion to Amelia her new "foster sister."

I didn't get as far as I had anticipated and I know this is a lot of gab for only 80 pages, but the book is very "talk" worthy. For anyone out there that has an ARC, I know you will enjoy this book. Join in the conversation and the fun.

Don't forget to check out what Dar has to say.

To see our posts from last night check it out here and here.

Nite Nite.