Billie Standish Was Here

Superbly set, written, and paced. Simultaneously real and delicate. A book readers can inhabit.

Amazing read.....This is one of the best young adult books that I have read in a very long time. The book will appeal to a multitude of readers. I hope this is the first in many to come from this talented new author.

Having grown up in a time and place not so far from Billie Standish, I can say with some authority that Crocker has captured an American voice with an authenticity that makes the 1960's smack you in the face all over again. My daughter loved it. I loved it. It's not just a coming-of-age novel. It's a book about finding your way through life and the constant struggle to love and be loved; themes that last a lifetime. It may be considered a young adult novel but it had one of the most cynical adults I know (me) by the throat, pulling me along every step of the way. Young people may see Billie's life through one prism. Adults may see it through another. It's the kind of child/adult read that could lead to "teachable moments", although I won't tell my daughter that.

This novel set in Missouri in the 1960's transports the reader to another time and place, where the problems faced by Billie Standish are just as real as those faced by teens today. Billie's parents wanted a boy, hence the first name of William, and spend the majority of their time ignoring her. When the river starts to rise and threatens to flood, Billie's family is one of the few to stay. She forms an unlikely friendship with an elderly woman, Miss Lydia, who begins to show her that there is more to life than her parent's disappointment and that she is capable of far more than she thought. When a horrible tragedy befalls Billie, Miss Lydia is the only one who can help. Crocker tells the gentle story of Billie Standish with grace and sensitivity, contrasting the innocence of a time when space travel was astonishing with the dark actions humans are always capable of. The novel follows Billie's life as she grows from the age of eleven to graduating from high school, and as her friendship with Miss Lydia and the secret they share shapes and transforms her life. **Disclaimer: This novel contains sensitive subject matter that is geared towards older, mature teens. Reviewed by: Dena Landon

Amazing first novel from Nancy Crocker! Just started reading this book yesterday and finished it today. The author has captured the voice of main character Billie Standish so well she seems like a real person, and you'll just have to keep reading to find out what happens to her.