Louisiana's Song Book

Livy Two is happy that Daddy is finally out of his coma, but the befuddled man who comes home is not the daddy the Weems family once knew. He forgets their names, he wanders off—he won't even touch his beloved banjo. Set in Appalachia in 1963, this heartwarming, and heart-wrenching, follow-up to Gentle's Holler is narrated by the irrepressible Livy Two, and traces the ups and downs of her large mountain family. Shy and awkward 11-year-old Louise (Louisiana) becomes the reluctant hero as she develops a talent for painting, takes care of Daddy, and shows a surprised Livy Two that sometimes the quietest sibling turns out to be the strongest.

VOYA

Louisiana's Song is a strong Southern tale of family ties. Louisiana, or Louise, is a resourceful girl who brings light into the hardships of the book. The book is foggy at times and also a little hard to get into. Although the book can get muddy, the real emotions behind the characters' motives fuel the story. The ending was weaker than expected, but it also left the reader wanting more.