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" I guess I've been on a Orson Scott Card kick...but enjoy his writing. I liked that this book was about a mormon family, but a family struggling with some serious issues. Read the book in a few days...the ending was a shocker! "
- Mrsjuliakelly, 2/20/2014
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" So good! Genuinely entertaining from beginning to end and a humorous, insightful look into LDS culture. Much better than a formulaic mystery but I was disappointed to have it figured out before the end. "
- Allisan, 2/19/2014
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" I think I would have been able to enjoy this book more if I didn't know what it was about ahead of time. I hate it when a synopsis on the back cover of a book is enough to ruin the experience for you! I spent each paragraph waiting for the other shoe to drop, instead of getting to enjoy the story coming to life in its own time. Which makes it hard to be able to judge it subjectively as a whole, looking back on it. I almost want to re-read it so I don't have the suspense hanging over my head the whole time. Anyway, it was a weird experience since what-the-back-cover-promised-the-book-was-about wasn't even mentioned until quite close to the end. The end was the best part, though-- it felt like everything they'd taught you about the main characters really got to shine through. I don't think I'd recommend this book to many people, but I did find it worthwhile. The thing about Orson Scott Card is that each of his books that I've read so far contains truth about real life, veiled as fiction. The main wife & husband act like a real couple, which is great to read. "
- Valerie, 2/11/2014
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" Very creepy. A mixture of the horror of missing children with a smattering of the supernatural. "
- Teresa, 2/4/2014
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" I really enjoyed this book. Talk about some amazing character development. You feel like you are a part of this family because you get to know them so well. You won't be prepared for the creepy ending though. This is unlike the other Orson Scott Card books I've read, but I am really liking him as an author. This shows another side of his storytelling ability. This book gives a pretty accurate glimpse into LDS culture and what an active Mormon family is trying to accomplish with all of their flaws if you've ever been curious. I can't get this book out of my head! "
- Dan, 2/3/2014
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" the ending of this book was kind of traumatic for me. It reminded me of 6th sense. it was a nice story about a mormon family who moves to north carolina for a job. i liked how he portrays the mormon family although the wife bugged me. she was anxious about everything. the prologue of the book is about a crazy/abused man/boy who likes to molest little boys. so there is that dark beginning but then it is contrasted with the sweet/nice life of the mormon family. I especially found the authors comments fascinating at the end. apparently card based the story on stephen king's Pet Cemetary but he didn't like how the dead animals came back evil. and then he said this story was very autobiographical in that he based a lot of the characters and setting on his family and life experiences. "
- Ruth, 2/2/2014
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" A devastating ending to a good, intriguing read. Although the end may have been telegraphed, I didn't see it coming at all. I learned a little about Mormonism, too. "
- Slone, 1/31/2014
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" I cried like a baby while driving my work truck when I got to the end of this story. A baby. "
- Vincent, 1/20/2014
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" I read this book before when it first came out and a few times since then. I fell in love with the family right away. The ending brakes my heart every time. "
- Deborah, 12/21/2013
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" Can you say creepy? But creepy in a good way! "
- Molly, 11/22/2013
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" Yes, I know, Ender's Game is his classic, for good reason. But this tale of missing children will leave you gasping. I'm not ashamed to say that I welled up. When an author can do that with fiction, you know it's powerful. I personally rank this as Card's best work. "
- Dom, 8/23/2013
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" I'm not sure if I would recommend or not. I really liked the ending and it made up for some of the things that kind of made me go "what?" Anyway, if you want to keep on guessing and don't mind a little bit of sadness in your book give this a read. "
- Tiffany, 8/15/2013
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" This was my first Orson Scott Card book. I listened to it on CD. I really enjoyed the reader and the book had my attention. I am looking forward to reading more of his books. "
- Jane, 6/28/2013
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" This kept me intrigued until the end, but it turned out to be quite disturbing. "
- Tonya, 4/26/2013
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" I'm glad I read this book, but I never want to read it again. "
- Aubrey, 4/18/2013
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" Absolutely not a science fiction book but certainly one of my favorite by Orson Scott Card. Its been a long time since I read this book but I remember being very moved by the ending and what the characters went through. "
- Dave, 4/18/2013
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" This is one of those novels that made me feel really cold inside at the end. Yet another book that has made me physically nauseous. "
- Rrrrrrruuuuuddddyyyy, 10/27/2012
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" Great semi-autobiographical work of horror by OSC. It was written after the death of one of his children and contains many parallels to his own life, his mormonism, and seems to have been influenced somewhat by the story of John Wayne Gacey Jr. "
- Nathan, 5/21/2012
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" this book seriously makes me cry every time I read it. "
- Krishna, 4/27/2012
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" the beginning of this book really disturbed me. "
- Lauren, 9/10/2011
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" I loved this book. I love almost all of Orson Scott Card's books. Ending took me by surprise.
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- Crystal, 5/22/2011
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" I didn't think I was going to like this book from the description I had received. I found it to be a haunting book. I really enjoyed reading it. It was very emotional and hit close to home.
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- Melissa, 5/17/2011
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" Made me cry and need my wife. Very good book, and a good ending; just heart-wrenching. The protagonist's marriage is very realistic and touching and understandable.
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- Zac, 5/14/2011
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" Don't read this book if you currently have a 9 year old boy. I was so saddened by this book and the ending brought no relief. I just can't read stuff like this, especially being a mother.
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- Andrea, 5/12/2011
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" I really liked this book- listened to it as an audiobook- easy to listen to, interesting
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- Suncat09, 4/21/2011
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" Good enough as an entertaining read, but not particularly thought-provoking or a page-turner
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- Tammy, 4/17/2011
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" Oh, what a surpise ending. Loved Junk Man and Fish Lady. Loving family.
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- Michelle, 3/23/2011
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" At first this book seemed like it was about a very normal Mormon family and I enjoyed reading the author's descriptions of what a ward is really like sometimes. However, there are some creepy characters and the ending made me cry...
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- Deb, 3/16/2011
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" I remember reading this at my in-laws up in Rexburg, reading it late into the night because I was sick throwing up Thanksgiving Turkey. Strangely a good memory--maybe because it took a thriller like this to keep me reading.
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- Ron, 3/7/2011
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" I've never read a book by Card before but my dad recommended this title to me. It was really suspensful. I got so wrapped up in the lives of this family. The characters are expertly developed and the ending was difficult to take.
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- Eealtmeyer, 3/4/2011
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" One of my favorite OSC books.
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- Jen, 2/14/2011
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