Elizabeth Fixmer

This was a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway, and I thought it was absolutely wonderful. Mary Clare is an 11 year old girl in 1967 whose family is going through a really rough time. To combat the problems she sees tearing her family apart, she decides that she needs to become a saint. To do so, she elicits the help of a Mother Superior who runs a nunnery that places the babies of unwed mothers with good, Catholic parents. It's a coming of age story on a different scope of some, like Judy Blume, in that Mary Clare has to reconcile what she has been taught in her Catholic school with what the world is like. She must contend with the "sins" of her own selfishness, the rise of feminism, the emotions of the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the theological debates that rage within her church that threaten to void all that she knows and holds dear. She comes to understand that the world of adults is full of interpretation, and her interpretation is both similar and different--and that that's OK.… (más)

3.5 stars.

Thoughts:

- Down from the Mountain felt weirdly familiar, even though I'm 98% sure I've never read it before. Then again, like the author, I devour books on cults, so.

- The writing skews young, which seems appropriate given Eva/Lily's age and general naiveté. Yet I felt like certain, more adult concepts were perhaps watered down or skirted around as well (e.g., like the systemic rape found in cults).

- No way would Eva be allowed to wear the burgundy top pictured on the cover.… (más)

Though I am not at all Catholic, I wanted to read this book about a young, conflicted Catholic girl because my husband is very much an adult, conflicted, Catholic male. The main character in "Saint Training" is a sixth grader who starts the book wanted to become a nun, goes to a Catholic school, and helps take care of her large family. It's a short book, filled with all the heartbreak any kid goes through. I read it in one sitting, and my heart aches for Mary Clare & what she goes through with her family, from her confusion with religion, to liking boys & struggling to help with family responsibilities while trying to be a kid. I think anyone who was raised a Catholic should read this book!… (más)

This is the story of Eva, a fourteen year old who has spent almost 10 years living within a religious cult. As she is allowed a little bit of interaction with the outside world she begins to question some of the rules and decisions their leader makes, ultimately leading Eva to a situation that requires her to face her doubts and make choices that could change all of their lives forever.

There were moments when the book seemed just a little bit slow, and other times where it seemed like the scenes were too rushed. There was a little bit of inconsistency in some of the minor details but it wasn't terrible enough to make me dislike the book. The only reason I didn't give this book a 5 is because of the ending. Which I knew ahead of time that I probably wasn't going to like because I skimmed the other reviews. It's not that the ending was bad, the final events were pretty much what I expected, it's just that I want to know more! It definitely ends too soon, even if the story is probably technically complete as it is. Maybe Ms. Fixmer will write a sequel or two...


I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley.… (más)