Creepy at times. Inappropriate, yes. It kept my interest. Lu Ann keeps a box with dolls for all the babies her mother has lost. Her mother is way too involved in her life and controls every aspect of Lu Ann's life. Lu Ann's parents have a dysfunctional relationship and her brother and her mother bully her. She seemed to looking for affection where ever she could find it, since she was not getting it from her family. ( )

Another tough read about a family with difficult relationships. This story written in the form of a child’s diary has a deep feeling of authenticity, like it was written from the heart by child who doesn’t quite understand her mother or her father or her brother or anyone else really. A week of tragic tales. I tell you, if Rowling kills off Harry tomorrow, I’m foreswearing books. ( )

This was a quick, but enjoyable book to read. It is written in the form of a diary of a young girl whose parents are very dysfunctional. I did not care much for the ending. Considering everything else that happened in this book, it just wasn't very realistic that everything would end nicely. ( )

Lou Ann Campbell lives on a north Texas wheat farm with her dad, mom, and brother Will. The book is her diary of the summer of 1960. The 'box children" are 5 dolls Lou Ann keeps in a box to represent the five miscarriages her mother has had in the past. Her mother is pregnant again, and things aren't looking good for this baby either. The reader has a front-row seat to Lou Ann's growing up and becoming stronger and the family tragedy. Interesting look at family dynamics in 1960. ( )

This is a heart wrenching story of a young girl's life on a farm with a mentally unstable, abusive mother.

This tale is narrated by Lou Ann, a young girl who loves to write. Her narration is taken from her daily diary about life on the farm. In addition to her mother, she has her father and her brother, along with several farm hands who come to harvest the wheat for a few weeks in the summertime.

Lou Ann's mother has had several miscarriages over the years, and with each one, grows closer and closer to madness and alcoholism. The mother is pregnant again as the story begins. When Lou Ann's father begins to wander and seeks solace from other women, and Loretta (mother) finds out, all hell breaks loose. Loretta seems to take out much of her frustration and anger on Lou Ann, who bears the brunt of it all while maintaining a quiet and careful hope that things will eventually get better.

Lou Ann continues to write out her feelings in her diary, which she must keep hidden from her mother. She writes even about the new baby, whom Lou Ann begins to wonder about. She gathers several dolls together in a cardboard box, who she calls the Box Children....each one representing one of the miscarriages of her mother.

The book reads very quickly and smoothly. I found it hard to put down. The character, Lou Ann, captivated me completely, and I found myself turning pages of this book late into the night.

If you need a well written page-turner that reads fast and is under 200 pages, grab this one. It's excellent! ( )