Three grammatical errors in five pages. Couldn’t continue ( )

I enjoyed this story of 3 ,11 year old girls growing up in a small town in the 60's. I love reading books from a young persons perspective and Ms. Kagen does not dissapoint in her writing. Mental illness, class and racism are themes tounched upon in this story. Over all a very enjoyable read. ( )

A whirlwind of a story that was thoroughly enjoyable.

Relive your childhood, or the childhood you wish you had, with Biz, Frankie, and Viv – three 11-year-old girls not quite on the cusp of their teenage years (well, except for Viv who, to her besties’s increasing annoyance, has become super boy-crazy as of late). Come along with the “Tree Musketeers”, self-named after their tree house hideout, as they rollick and romp through the hot summer in the 1960’s small town of Summit, Wisconsin.

*A big thank you to Lesley Kagen, Alcove Press, and NetGalley for providing a free Advance Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.*

An ode to a good old-fashioned school break in an All-American town, the “Tree-o” while away their time trying to solve nonexistent mysteries, eating ice cream, decorating their bicycles, and hanging out in their tree fort. Although they’ve been warned off, they also can’t resist the allure of the local insane asylum with its patients who are periodically allowed to wander the asylum grounds and have become the girls’ friends. But no one could predict the dark happenings at the asylum and the danger to the whole town lurking undetected.

I’m rating this one as a four for a well-developed novel that kept my attention and certainly earned a score of “(I) really liked it”, if not quite up to my, admittedly very high, standards to earn a five-star “It was amazing” marks. All in all, a solid effort, and a truly nostalgic tale – a slice of the proverbial American pie served up in an entertaining read.

#EveryNowAndThen
#LesleyKagen
#AlcovePress
#NetGalley ( )

This is such a good book. It's a very cute quick read with a lot of intense things going on also. It starts out with Elizabeth Buchanan telling a story about her and her two best friends. The setting is the summer of 1960 and these three girls are eleven years old. Just old enough to be kids and be finding themselves. Their innocence is so sweet in this book. Some of the things they say made me laugh so hard. They are three different girls who are always there for each other no matter what. They call themselves the "tree musketeers." Not a mistype either.

Elizabeth/Biz, Francis/Frankie and Vivian/Viv, are three great young girls who enjoy this summer to the fullest. They love going to watch scary movies at the Rivoli Theatre. They are on the edge of growing up and experience so many things this crazy summer. Some not so great but most was. They started visiting outside a mental hospital because, well in my opinion, they were just nosey and wanted to see what was going on. But they quickly became friends with some of the not so ill patience. It was just part of what they did that summer. Until something happened and they had to stop.

This is a story that will definitely make you see how fast time flies also. These youngsters were the very best of friends and stayed so all their lives. Even after they graduated and went on to different colleges and became individuals. They had a bond that drew them all back together to grow old together. To look back on that summer and some other times. To just be there for each other.

This is a very lighthearted book with some intense parts that will keep you turning the pages. The characters are so well loved. From Aunt Jane May to Doc to the sheriff. There’s so so many characters you will love that I can't possibly begin to name them all. You will get to know then though and they will worm their way into your heart as they did mine. From the patience at the mental hospital to the relatives of these young girls. Each has a place that fits so well. This story will bring out a lot of emotions. From laughter, big belly laughs, too many tears. From realizing how fast time does fly by too enjoying the time you have now. Time.. It does go by so quickly. One day you are an innocent child, then you are looking back on your life talking about the things you use to get into. These three girls sure did.

The way the author made everything fall together in this book was great. It had no abrupt ending that left you wondering. Everything was cleared up. What happened to each person was there. I liked that so much. A lot of books leave me wondering. Not this one though. It was tied up without any doubts as to where each girl landed. Great job Ms Kagen. ( )

#FirstLine PROLOGUE: The girls didn't blame me at the time and all these years later they still don't, but I've never quite forgiven myself for instigating what happened during the summer the three of us were eleven.

Can I give this book 100 stars??? Because this book deserves that many and then some. Nobody is better at writing from a child's perspective than Lesley Kagen. She captures the wisdom, humor and straight talk you get from kids, as well as their curiosity and the shenanigans they get themselves into. She captures the way kids navigate the world around them with sheer perfection. This book was a real page turner. You cannot stop reading. There is mystery, suspense and a richly written story with such depth it seeps into your bones. The dialogue is spot on and the pacing of the story is flawless. You are right there with the characters experiencing everything they are because Kagen is a master of place and time. You will not soon forget this book and will want to tell everyone you know to read it! She keeps getting better and better with every book she writes. Now, as a huge fan, I am left to sit and wait until she come out with her next masterpiece! ( )