Search This Blog








2023 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas
- California (5)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (1)
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland (2)
- Massachusetts (2)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (4)
- North Carolina (3)
- North Dakota
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas (1)
- Utah
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia
- Washington (2)
- West Virginia (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (3)
- Canada (6)
- England (12)
- France (1)
- Ireland (2)
- Scotland (1)
- South Korea (1)
- The Netherlands (1)
-Vietnam (1)





2023 Build Your Library Reading Challenge







Monday, December 29, 2014
Another Spunky Kagen Narrator = Another Series to Love
1:40 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
With their daddy recently deceased, it's Tess and Birdie against the world. Or, at least against their mother. Beautiful, bitter Louise has never quite understood her daughters, whom the neighbors have labeled the "Finley ghouls." If she gets wind of Birdie's newest quirk—believing her father is not dead at all, just living it up in Boca Raton—Louise is sure to lock her younger, slower daughter up in the insane asylum for good. Which is why Tess has to convince Birdie of the truth. Their lighthearted, jokester of a dad is dead. No one knows that better than Tess; after all, she's the one who killed him.
Filled with grief and fear, young Tess must use all her (considerable) pluck and grit to save her aggravating, but beloved little sister. She believes she's on her own until help comes along in the most unlikely of forms ...
With her warm prose and spunky characters, Lesley Kagen has quickly written her way into my heart. I've loved all of the books I've read by her. So, really, it's no surprise that I adored The Undertaking of Tess as well. Although it's just a novella, the story overflows with bright, vivid life. Tess is my favorite kind of child narrator—not only is she funny, brave, and loyal (at least to her sister), but she is authentically so. Seen through her innocent eyes, her story rings ever more true, ever more heart-wrenching, ever more hopeful.
I missed the Finley sisters the minute I finished this novella. Thankfully, Kagen continues their story in her new novel, The Resurrection of Tess Blessing. I seriously can't wait to see what happens to Tess next!
(Readalikes: The Resurrection of Tess Blessing as well as Whistling in the Dark and Good Graces, all by Lesley Kagen)
Grade:
I missed the Finley sisters the minute I finished this novella. Thankfully, Kagen continues their story in her new novel, The Resurrection of Tess Blessing. I seriously can't wait to see what happens to Tess next!
(Readalikes: The Resurrection of Tess Blessing as well as Whistling in the Dark and Good Graces, all by Lesley Kagen)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs) and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I bought a finished copy of The Undertaking of Tess with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(Atom)




Reading
Zero Days by Ruth Ware

Listening
Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen



Followin' with Bloglovin'



-
Audiobook: Big Gay Wedding1 hour ago
-
-
-
Sunday Post 5078 hours ago
-
-
-
Spell the Month in Books ~ June15 hours ago
-
-
-
Friday Fives - June TBR17 hours ago
-
A Blind Eye by Marion Todd18 hours ago
-
Friday Favorites – OwnVoices LGBTQIA+ Books20 hours ago
-
Books read in May1 day ago
-
Reading Wrap-Up: May 20231 day ago
-
-
Randomness...1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
May Reflections2 days ago
-
-
-
The Ferryman by Justin Cronin3 days ago
-
-
How I Select Books to Read3 days ago
-
cleaning wins!4 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
5/20/20231 week ago
-
A Couple of Recipes!2 weeks ago
-
-
This feed has moved and will be deleted soon. Please update your subscription now.2 weeks ago
-
-
-
-
-
Dotty Beanie with Ears4 weeks ago
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?7 months ago
-
-
HEARTS OF BRIARWALL by Krista Jensen9 months ago
-
A Final Farewell (+ book recs!)10 months ago
-
-
-

Grab my Button!



Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ▼ 2014 (133)