Review of Ragamuffin

Jack Winnick · Post by **Alex Reeves** » 03 Feb 2023, 17:38

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Ragamuffin" by Murray Bishoff.]

4 out of 5 stars

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Working for people making a living out of child trafficking and marijuana sales can constitute a huge number of problems, and that was where Ellie Pichguss's father found himself. His employers, who used him and his family as farmhands on their marijuana plantation, felt he was stealing from them just to cause him trouble. One thing led to another, and the Pichgusses are on the run, escaping from bad people who threaten to kill them and traffic their little daughter, Ellie. To save his daughter from the bad men, Ellie is sent to live with a very distant relative in a small town who doesn't appreciate her presence. Aware that she is targeted by her father's employers, Ellie tries to keep a low profile while attending school and blends in with the neighborhood by getting familiar with her neighbors. She makes friends at the school she attends in the town and also gets acquainted with several of her kind neighbors and the police chief, to whom she tells her life story and asks to watch out for the bad men in case they came for her. Things start to get ugly when a scam artist who tries to rob an old family and some men who attack the daughter of a well-known banker are both linked to the men who are supposedly searching for Ellie. Will Ellie's new and trusted friends get her out of the mess she's in, or will these fraudulent, hostile men make cash out of her by successfully kidnapping and trafficking her for no offense on her part? Check out this remarkable read to find out.

Ragamuffin by Murray Bishoff was every bit an impressive and delightful novel, and I'd love to share some aspects of this book that thrilled me. Firstly, Ellie's strong determination and doggedness to survive despite being looked down upon created an unexpected bond between me and the character, as I found her strength endearing. I appreciate the way the characters were portrayed in this book; they were evenly divided into good and bad, with Ellie's neighbors, friends, and the police chief taking up the good camp and her would-be captors taking up the other camp. Although the pace was steady and not too fast, it still created a suspenseful atmosphere that made me continuously guess when the kidnappers were going to show up. Moreover, the storyline was the most impressive thing about this book, as it had a purpose and a meaning to its effect. Finally, the reading process was also quite smooth, as the book contains only a few errors.

Ragamuffin was an enjoyable read, but I was bothered by a certain aspect of the book. It is important to note that this book was narrated by a few characters. However, it initially started with only one narrator for a long time, Ellie herself, so at times I mistook the characters for one another even though it was indicated when the narrators
were switched. This was because I was used to Ellie being the sole narrator, and occasionally I mistook her for Chief Archie, the police chief of the town. This did not sit well with me, although it was only a minor bother. Apart from this, however, I was satisfied with the author's effort in putting this wonderful piece together.

There were only a few errors in this book, and I applaud the editors for a job well done, as the book was professionally edited. All said and done, I appropriately rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. From my standpoint, this book did not contain the full-blown action and fast pace I expected when I decided to read it. It does not strike me as a perfect book, but I'll certainly recommend it to my friends and loved ones.

In conclusion, I recommend this book to lovers of crime novels, particularly those that involve people on the run from those threatening to ruin their lives. More importantly, I recommend this book to you if you'd love to meet a young girl who strives despite all odds in a town she is unfamiliar with, propelled by the love and support from people she barely knew.

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Ragamuffin
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Amy Luman · Post by **Amy Luman** » 17 Feb 2023, 20:37

I really hope that Ellen can avoid the problems that seem to keep up with her.

18 Feb 2023, 04:45

What a sad life little Ellen had to endure. Imagine being separated from your parents for your safety to land into another potentially life-threatening situation.

Jack Winnick · Post by **Alex Reeves** » 18 Feb 2023, 10:58

Amy Luman wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 20:37 I really hope that Ellen can avoid the problems that seem to keep up with her.

It certainly was a tough journey for her, but one thing I admire about her was her resilience to survive. She was very very strong. Thanks for stopping by to comment on my review.

Jack Winnick · Post by **Alex Reeves** » 18 Feb 2023, 10:59

Favyugwu wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 16:52 What a review! Would eventually read this book. Thanks for this amazing review.

You're very welcome. Thanks for stopping by to comment.

Jack Winnick · Post by **Alex Reeves** » 18 Feb 2023, 11:01

Nqobile771 wrote: ↑18 Feb 2023, 04:45 What a sad life little Ellen had to endure. Imagine being separated from your parents for your safety to land into another potentially life-threatening situation.

It was pretty tough for her. Thanks for stopping by to comment. Do have a great day.