Once Upon a River

It has been a rare book that has presented such a collection of characters so real, so alive and a story line to go with that leaves one wanting for more.
Bonnie Jo is the perfect surprise in a market filled with okay writers. Do hope she has another book coming out soon.

Go with the flow.

Bonnie Jo Campbell's writing is gorgeous. All of the characters, even the creepy ones, were interesting. As Margo encountered them, I wanted to see what would unfold. I wanted to protect her!

She gave everyone a unique voice. Her voice and accent are very soothing.

Margo, of course. For all her weaknesses, she's tough. She idolizes Annie Oakley, which I found to be a very sweet construct. Her morality develops through her own experience making it truly genuine.

For me this was a very believable and creative tale of a teenage girl left to fend for herself. I was fascinated by her challenge to figure out where she fit in with the struggles between family, society, and her personal urges.A great character has profound weaknesses. Her strengths are revealed to her as she grows. She steadily walks the fence between victim and plotter. And anyone who had difficulties socializing at fifteen can relate to at least some of her behavior. Such stupid things we did as teenagers!Like it or not, the type of people she encounters are really out there, all too ready to prey upon our many homeless and abused children.I found this beautifully written and narrated book suspenseful, memorable, and insightful.Highly recommended!

I was hanging in there and trying to like it until the heroine began killing deer like a freaking serial killer. Then the "accident" happened and I was just turned off by the whole thing and quit listening to it.

The reader was very good and provided most of the positive aspects of this book. but the story caused me to have to struggle to stick to it to the bitter end. The main character was obviously boreingly dysfunctional, and I consider the book a wasted audible credit.

Huckleberry Finn did not "sleep" his way down the river to get what he needed as does the main character in this book. After the author goes to a bit of trouble to paint Margo Crane as a fairly resourceful and independent character, she has her solve all her problems in survival by living with men using sex as payment. I got about half way through the book and finally gave up. Yes, she's only sixteen and perhaps we are supposed to believe her helplessness because of her age, but many a sixteen year old has taken care of themselves and even others through the ages with only as many resources as Margo has. Considering her supposed skills, she was not very smart or forward looking. Don't "dis" Huck Finn by comparing this girl to him!!