Review of Lying in the Weeds

[Mayang Bature]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Lying in the Weeds" by Frank Shima.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The year was 1963. Even though Jimmie did not like farming, he was helping out at his uncle's farm just outside of New Prague. While working there, he came across a skull in one of the fields. Grandpa threw the skull away, but Jimmie started looking for it and ended up trapping himself in a cave. He was rescued by a new neighbor named Rachel, who later joined him in solving this mystery. They stumbled upon some items that belonged to a girl named Jezebel, went out of town looking for clues, and even found the journal of the former resident of the cave. Soon after, they began to get warning threats, which could only mean they were getting closer to the truth, right?

"Lying in the Weeds" was an interesting book full of teenage curiosity. I liked how committed Jimmie and Rachel were to solving their mysteries. They finished their chores early so they could follow leads out of town; they hitchhiked, trekked, and sometimes even got lost. The way their story illustrated their struggle—even in the face of obstacles like rude adults and cursing drivers—got me the most invested in them and made me want to root for them. It was even entertaining when they occasionally lied.

This story was mostly dialogue-driven as the curious teens unraveled their mysteries. Every character's personality was maintained, with the occasional humorous mix thrown in. Jimmie just did not want to be a farmer like the majority of his family, whereas Rachel was intelligent and aspired to be a doctor. They referenced and supported these buildups in their conversations. I appreciate how the author maintained character development while taking that into account.

In the journal they found in the cave, the owner, Vojta, had an interesting journey from Czechoslovakia to America. Jana, a woman he met, followed him everywhere. He would always try to brush her off, but she persisted, so it was really entertaining. The best part of this book was their journey because, as poor immigrants in America, they struggled hard to get by while experiencing happiness and sadness as their stories merged. Vojta’s expression of displeasure would be met with a smart response by Jana. It was never boring to hear these exchanges because they highlighted the value of friendship and unbridled will.

I thought this part was forced because Rachel's desire to become a doctor was frequently mocked. The males were crude and always acted shocked. Given the era, some of them ought to have at least understood, given how quickly development was accelerating. Scenes about this became predictable as a result, and the chance to make them more subtly and effectively was lost. In addition, even though Vojta's journal was just a retelling of his experiences, I thought it was extremely odd that it was written with verbatim dialogues. These things reduced my enjoyment of the book.

"Lying in the Weeds" was fun to read, and I really enjoyed it; however, the aspects I didn't like above robbed it of its perfect rating, earning it a 4 out of 5. I only found one error, which shows the impeccable editing of the book. Teenagers who love adventure, mystery, and a bit of romance would enjoy this book. They could learn a thing or two about friendship from it.

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Lying in the Weeds
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[Alexander Victoria]

Lying in the Weeds" transported me back to a different era, and the young protagonists, Jimmie and Rachel, embarked on a gripping adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat. Their determination and curiosity were truly admirable, and it's refreshing to see teenagers so committed to solving a mystery. Their resourcefulness, from finishing chores early to hitchhiking and navigating through adversity, made me cheer them on throughout the story. The way they faced not only the challenges of uncovering secrets but also dealing with rude adults and cursing drivers showed their resilience. Their occasional lies added an intriguing layer to their characters, making them feel even more authentic. This book is a captivating blend of nostalgia, mystery, and the indomitable spirit of youth.

[Miracle Oge Adaeze]

"The males were crude and always acted shocked." It does not seem like the author developed the characters well. Well, thank you for the honest review.

[Cara Wilding]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Lying in the Weeds" by Frank Shima.]

The year was 1963. Even though Jimmie did not like farming, he was helping out at his uncle's farm just outside of New Prague. While working there, he came across a skull in one of the fields. Grandpa threw the skull away, but Jimmie started looking for it and ended up trapping himself in a cave. He was rescued by a new neighbor named Rachel, who later joined him in solving this mystery. They stumbled upon some items that belonged to a girl named Jezebel, went out of town looking for clues, and even found the journal of the former resident of the cave. Soon after, they began to get warning threats, which could only mean they were getting closer to the truth, right?

"Lying in the Weeds" was an interesting book full of teenage curiosity. I liked how committed Jimmie and Rachel were to solving their mysteries. They finished their chores early so they could follow leads out of town; they hitchhiked, trekked, and sometimes even got lost. The way their story illustrated their struggle—even in the face of obstacles like rude adults and cursing drivers—got me the most invested in them and made me want to root for them. It was even entertaining when they occasionally lied.

My first thought as I was reading this review was that these were days long gone. Days when kids could roam around in caves, hitchiking and out of town! It actually brought back good memories of my own childhood doing similiar things. Children are usually such bad liars, I bet this was entertaining. I enjoyed reading your review, thanks so much for sharing it! Until next time...