Official Review: For All the Carols Out There
Posted: 07 May 2017, 04:09
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "For All the Carols Out There" by Karyl Maier.]
4 out of 4 stars
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For All The Carols Out There is a poignant and memorable book about a girl named Carol written by Karyl Maier, M. Ed..
With a foreword by Cindy Locher, BCH, the book begins with the birth of Carol, an event not viewed enthusiastically by Carol’s father, Golden Boy, who is expecting a son to inherit the family business. Consequently, Carol suffers prejudice simply for being a girl in addition to neglect by her parents who are both busy making money.
Due to the physical, emotional and psychological abuse Carol has to endure especially from her father, she develops stuttering which makes her a target for bullies. She also develops very low self-esteem and finds it difficult to understand the lessons in school. Luckily for Carol, there are few people who believe in her and in what she can do. These few people, her twelve year old baby sitter, the wealthy woman who lived in a hotel and her sixth grade teacher, are enough to encourage Carol and make her believe she can be what she wants to be if she works hard enough.
Told in the third person perspective and in chronological order, except for back stories of characters in Carol’s life, the book is a touching tale of a woman who desperately wants to belong and to be loved. It depicts the painful truth about discrimination between male and female offspring and the unfair treatment of individuals who are viewed as different like left-handed people and people who stutter. Moreover, the book shows how the kindness and affection of a few people, relatives or not, can make a difference to a young person’s life. Finally, the story gives emphasis on determination as a key in achieving anything a person aspires for.
This is basically a memorable and touching book. The depiction of neglect, discrimination and prejudice suffered by Carol stirs the emotion and invokes the ire of readers toward neglectful and biased parents. The story is well written as it vividly describes not only the settings but also the emotions of characters. The author successfully creates admirable character in Carol, the brave protagonist who refuses to be discouraged but instead proves other people wrong including her father, the high school counselor and the president of the state college.
However, though I found Carol to be courageous and tough, I also found her too naïve. She was too trusting for my taste, which probably made her human and relatable to other readers. Moreover, I found the ending a little abrupt. Though the ending was somehow predictable, the manner of how the book ended was short and unelaborate, thus anticlimactic.
I, therefore, rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It is touching, inspiring and encouraging. It is well written as well as well-referenced as the author inserted the hyperlinks of articles she included in the book. I recommend it, especially, to parents and teachers and everyone who works with children, and to readers who enjoy stories about life, trials and adversity.
******
For All the Carols Out There
View: on Bookshelves | on Barnes and Noble
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
For All The Carols Out There is a poignant and memorable book about a girl named Carol written by Karyl Maier, M. Ed..
With a foreword by Cindy Locher, BCH, the book begins with the birth of Carol, an event not viewed enthusiastically by Carol’s father, Golden Boy, who is expecting a son to inherit the family business. Consequently, Carol suffers prejudice simply for being a girl in addition to neglect by her parents who are both busy making money.
Due to the physical, emotional and psychological abuse Carol has to endure especially from her father, she develops stuttering which makes her a target for bullies. She also develops very low self-esteem and finds it difficult to understand the lessons in school. Luckily for Carol, there are few people who believe in her and in what she can do. These few people, her twelve year old baby sitter, the wealthy woman who lived in a hotel and her sixth grade teacher, are enough to encourage Carol and make her believe she can be what she wants to be if she works hard enough.
Told in the third person perspective and in chronological order, except for back stories of characters in Carol’s life, the book is a touching tale of a woman who desperately wants to belong and to be loved. It depicts the painful truth about discrimination between male and female offspring and the unfair treatment of individuals who are viewed as different like left-handed people and people who stutter. Moreover, the book shows how the kindness and affection of a few people, relatives or not, can make a difference to a young person’s life. Finally, the story gives emphasis on determination as a key in achieving anything a person aspires for.
This is basically a memorable and touching book. The depiction of neglect, discrimination and prejudice suffered by Carol stirs the emotion and invokes the ire of readers toward neglectful and biased parents. The story is well written as it vividly describes not only the settings but also the emotions of characters. The author successfully creates admirable character in Carol, the brave protagonist who refuses to be discouraged but instead proves other people wrong including her father, the high school counselor and the president of the state college.
However, though I found Carol to be courageous and tough, I also found her too naïve. She was too trusting for my taste, which probably made her human and relatable to other readers. Moreover, I found the ending a little abrupt. Though the ending was somehow predictable, the manner of how the book ended was short and unelaborate, thus anticlimactic.
I, therefore, rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It is touching, inspiring and encouraging. It is well written as well as well-referenced as the author inserted the hyperlinks of articles she included in the book. I recommend it, especially, to parents and teachers and everyone who works with children, and to readers who enjoy stories about life, trials and adversity.
******
For All the Carols Out There
View: on Bookshelves | on Barnes and Noble
Like kimmyschemy06's review? Post a comment saying so!
