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As a first novel about growing up poor, orphaned, and prone to fits in a small Appalachian town, Icy Sparks tells a fascinating story. By the time the epilogue rolls around, Icy has prevailed over her disorder and become a therapist: "Children silent as stone sing for me. Children who cannot speak create music for me." For readers familiar with this particular brand of coming-of-age novel--affliction fiction?--Icy's triumph should come as no great surprise. That's one problem. Another is Rubio's tendency to lapse into overheated prose: this is a novel in which the characters would sooner yell, pout, whine, moan, or sass a sentence than simply say it. But the real drawback to Icy Sparks is that some of the characters--especially the bad ones--are drawn with very broad strokes indeed, and the moral principles tend to be equally elementary: embrace your difference, none of us is alone, and so on. When Icy gets saved at a tent revival, even Jesus takes on the accents of a self-help guru: "You must love yourself!" With insights like these, this is one Southern novel that's more Wally Lamb than Harper Lee. --Mary Park
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Icy Sparks This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780670896684
Book Description Condition: Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. Seller Inventory # wbs8605087427
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780670896684
Book Description Condition: good. Befriedigend/Good: Durchschnittlich erhaltenes Buch bzw. Schutzumschlag mit Gebrauchsspuren, aber vollständigen Seiten. / Describes the average WORN book or dust jacket that has all the pages present. Seller Inventory # M00670896683-G
Book Description Condition: Near Fine. Rural Kentucky in the 1950's is not an easy place to grow up, and it's espe cially hard for ten-year-old Icy Sparks, an orphan who lives with her grand parents. Life becomes even more difficult for Icy when violent tics and unc ontrollable cursing begin - symptoms brought on by a troubling affliction t hat goes undiagnosed until her adulthood. Icy's adolescence is marred by th e humiliation of her illness, and its all-too-visible signs are the source of endless mystery and hilarity as everyone around her offers an opinion ab out what's troubling the girl. Eventually, Icy finds solace in the company of Miss Emily, an obese woman who knows what it's like to be an outcast in this tightly knit community. Narrated by a now-grown Icy, this novel shimme rs with warmth and humor as it recounts a young girl's painful and poignant journey to womanhood - and the many lives she touches and enriches along t he way. Seller Inventory # RWARE0000009534
Book Description Trade Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Trade Paperback. *** PUBLISHING DETAILS: Viking, Ringwood, VIC, Australia, 2001. *** CONDITION: This book is in very good condition. *** Quantity Available: 1. Category: Fiction; Drama & Sagas; ISBN: 0670896683. ISBN/EAN: 9780670896684. Inventory No: 10054228. The photo of this book is of the actual book for sale. Seller Inventory # 10054228
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Good. Reprint. 308 pages. Book is in general good condition. There is some light reading wear present, but still a presentable copy. A Funny, Sad And Transcendent Story Of A Young Girl's Growing Up In Appalachia That Introduces A Fresh, Quirky New Voice. Seller Inventory # 132894
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Good. Rural Kentucky in the 1950s is not an easy place to grow up in, and it's especially hard for ten-year-old Icy Sparks, an orphan who lives with her grandparents. Life becomes even more difficult for Icy when violent tics and uncontrollable cursing begin - symptoms brought on by a troubling affliction that goes undiagnosed until her adulthood. Icy's adolescence is marred by the humiliation of her illness, and its all-too-visible signs are the source of endless mystery and hilarity as everyone around her offers an opinion about what's troubling the girl. Eventually, Icy finds solace in the company of Miss Emily, an obese woman who knows what it's like to be an outcast in this tightly knit community. Narrated by a now-grown Icy, this novel shimmers with warmth and humour as it recounts a young girl's painful and poignant journey to womanhood - and the many lives she touches and enriches along the way. 308 pages. Seller Inventory # 1430722
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very good. Rural Kentucky in the 1950s is not an easy place to grow up in, and it's especially hard for ten-year-old Icy Sparks, an orphan who lives with her grandparents. Life becomes even more difficult for Icy when violent tics and uncontrollable cursing begin - symptoms brought on by a troubling affliction that goes undiagnosed until her adulthood. Icy's adolescence is marred by the humiliation of her illness, and its all-too-visible signs are the source of endless mystery and hilarity as everyone around her offers an opinion about what's troubling the girl. Eventually, Icy finds solace in the company of Miss Emily, an obese woman who knows what it's like to be an outcast in this tightly knit community. Narrated by a now-grown Icy, this novel shimmers with warmth and humour as it recounts a young girl's painful and poignant journey to womanhood - and the many lives she touches and enriches along the way. 308 pages. Seller Inventory # 1452115