Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall
5 OUT OF 5 STARS.

“Sometimes laughin’ is all a body can do, child. It’s laugh or lose your mind.”

When I saw this book cover and book title, it really jumped out at me. The cover is so beautiful and the story is just as beautiful. I instantly fell in love with the book right from the start. It was a really sad story, but it had all the perfect happy moments too. I had tears in my eyes throughout the entire book. Tears from being sad for Starla and Eula and tears from being happy for them as well.

Basically how I felt throughout this entire book. It was so amazing, so so so amazing and I am so in love with it. So many amazing characters in this book. The things that Starla and Eula had to go through throughout the book was insane and them making it out in one piece and able to go on with their lives was pretty intense. I constantly just wanted to hug them throughout the book. I am so glad that they had each other to pick up the pieces. I don’t think they would have made it without each other.

It was such a sweet story and even though it was so sad a lot of the time, it was brilliant and a great read. It was interesting also to read about the history and segregation and how it played a part in the story, a big part. It was perfect in so many ways; I don’t really think I can say anything bad about it. You’ll be a big ball of emotions during and after reading. I think the audiobook version made it even better for me, because you can actually physically hear the emotion of each character and what they went through. I highly recommend this book. I have so much love for this book! ❤

“A body can’t run from what they done. They carry it with them inside. It fester and spread like poison if it’s buried. It gotta be out in the air where it can heal.”

Goodreads Description: The summer of 1963 begins like any other for nine-year-old Starla Claudelle. Born to teenage parents in Mississippi, Starla is being raised by a strict paternal grandmother, Mamie, whose worst fear is that Starla will turn out like her mother. Starla hasn’t seen her momma since she was three, but is convinced that her mother will keep her promise to take Starla and her daddy to Nashville, where her mother hopes to become a famous singer—and that one day her family will be whole and perfect.

When Starla is grounded on the Fourth of July, she sneaks out to see the parade. After getting caught, Starla’s fear that Mamie will make good on her threats and send her to reform school cause her to panic and run away from home. Once out in the country, Starla is offered a ride by a black woman, Eula, who is traveling with a white baby. She happily accepts a ride, with the ultimate goal of reaching her mother in Nashville. As the two unlikely companions make their long and sometimes dangerous journey, Starla’s eyes are opened to the harsh realities of 1963 southern segregation. Through talks with Eula, reconnecting with her parents, and encountering a series of surprising misadventures, Starla learns to let go of long-held dreams and realizes family is forged from those who will sacrifice all for you, no matter if bound by blood or by the heart.

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it?

I think I will leave you with a few recent posts that I have done in case you missed them and want to check them out. They are linked below! 🙂

WWW Wednesdays #13. – books I am currently reading, recently finished, and reading next.
Top Ten Tuesday. – ten books that last came into my possession.
Thoughts: My Sister Lives On The Mantelpiece. – my thoughts on the book My Sister Lives On The Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher.

Also, here is a picture of my alien kitty. 😛

I hope you all have an awesome day! Bye! ❤