Tallgrass

Publisher's Summary

During World War II, a family's life is turned upside down when the government opens a Japanese internment camp in their small Colorado town. After a young girl is murdered, all eyes (and suspicions) turn to the newcomers, the "interlopers", the "strangers".

Rennie Stroud has never seen it before. She has just turned 13 and, until this time, life has pretty much been what her father told her it should be: predictable and fair. But now the winds of change are coming and, with them, a shift in her perspective. And Rennie will discover secrets that can destroy even the most sacred things.

Part thriller, part historical novel, Tallgrass is a riveting exploration of the darkest and best parts of the human heart.

©2007 Sandra Dallas (P)2007 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC

Critic Reviews

• Audie Award Winner, Fiction, 2008

"Poignant." (Booklist)
"Compelling....Dallas' terrific characters, unerring ear for regional dialects and ability to evoke the sights and sounds of the 1940s make this a special treat." (Publishers Weekly)

Little gem

The story enfolds from the perspective of a 13 year-old girl who lives next to a Japanese internment camp during WWII in Colorado. The small farming community reacts to racism, murder, abuse, rape and adultery and little Rennie is forced to grow up very quickly. It is interesting to see the main character’s own prejudices change as her eyes open to what is really going on in the town and as she sees the affects of war close to home. I would recommend this book, it seemed to capture this era perfectly in language and tone and the narrator was fantastic.

11 of 11 people found this review helpful

Wonderful Listen

It was so good to really get immersed in a good listen!! The time was simpler and the characters revealed that. What was good was good and what was bad was bad. The main family exemplified strong values. They stood up for what they believed in and acted out in appropriate ways for what was wrong. I loved the scene where a number of men at night were going to "raid" the camp. In simple honesty, the wife started greeting the men by name, asking about family and work and such. Very simple, but very powerful. She knew and stated that if they were called out by name, they would be ashamed of what they were trying to do and leave. And that was exactly what happened. Simple, honest, powerful.

For a story about how a Japanese internment camp changed a local village, there was not much about the "prisoners" in the story. There was enough to show how the main family tried to do what they could to provide a good example and interact with them as much as possible. But the Japanese families were just a side event, even though their existence was the basis of the story.

Narration was excellent. This is definitely worth the credit. I will purchase more by this author.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

A nice read

I really enjoyed listening to this book. In some ways, it reminded me of "To Kill a Mockingbird", in the sense that it is told from the viewpoint of a young girl on the verge of adulthood. The book was read in a very soothing tone that also added to the feel of a story set in the 1940's. Not a masterpiece, certainly, but a good story with a little bit of history thrown in.

15 of 18 people found this review helpful

Entertaining and heartfelt story

Although there are more and more books now being written about the Japanese internment camps, this is a different kind of story, as it is told by a young girl, who is not Japanese, outside of the camp. I thought the narrator did a good job on the voices, though the accent was hardly Coloradoan (more southern sounding at times).

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

History Lesson for a Younger Reader!

By younger, I mean someone between 14 and 18 . . . . and since I'm over 60, you'll understand that this simple, but well-presented story lacks the sophistication most adult readers require. It is set during WWII, and the story is told from the perspective of a rapidly maturing 13 year old. Tallgrass is a camp for Japanese Americans and the story revolves around a family whose morals create opportunities for them to befriend the relocated citizens; despite the opposition of most of their rural neighbors. It is definitely a "G" rated story -- with lots of little life lessons there for the taking. Despite the fact that I felt it was targeting a youthful audience, I listened to it all; mostly because the narration was quite good. The story line was predictable; the outcome expected. Sort of like "Little House in the Prairie."

7 of 9 people found this review helpful

wonderful--and enlightening

One of the earlier reviewers said it reminded her of To Kill A Mockingbird, and I strongly agree. Both books featured sharply intelligent young girls, kind parents who chose to do the right thing, even in the face of popular opposition, and a strong theme of social justice adroitly woven throughout a story full of humanity and compassion. Interesting that this came along at a time public skeptism and prejudice is directed toward Muslim and Arab Americans... Well worth the read, and narrator Loreli King did a wonderful job. Strongly recommended for the young adult reader.

8 of 11 people found this review helpful

Good Audio Book

Great book. Worth the buy. The reader was good. Her voice changes where not bad like another reader said.

5 of 8 people found this review helpful

Another Winner for Me

Its so good to find books without all the explicit sex murder etc.
This is all left to the reader. I love Sandra Dallas books and I also learn a lot about the history of America. I hadn't heard of the Camps before but she aways leaves me having to find out more. I loved the ending and the reading was excellent.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

A gentle tale; engrossing, absorbing and well read

Lovely story, well read and with a goodly amount of humour - well-researched too.

Lorelei King, as always, is an absolute champion - I just love her voice characterisations. Really lovely stuff :)

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Well Done

This is a well told story of family, farm life, conflict, war, abuse, fear, love, support, humor, saddness, and life. I enjoyed it and wish there were more Sandra Dallas novels available.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful