My Abandonment

Reviewed by LadyJay for TeensReadToo.com

Caroline and her father live in a forest park just outside Portland, Oregon. Her father has taught Caroline how to survive without technology or man-made things. She does not go to school - instead she learns from reading an old set of encyclopedias. Caroline plants a garden, observes wildlife from the tops of tall trees, and accompanies her father into the city when they run low on supplies.

They are usually ignored, and are careful not to draw attention. It is almost inevitable that Caroline makes a mistake. Father and daughter are taken into police custody and given the opportunity to lead "normal" lives. This type of normalcy is not welcome, and the two flee in search of a simpler existence once again.

I will be honest; it was difficult for me to become attached to the story. The dialogue between Caroline and her father is choppy and sporadic at times. It was difficult for Caroline's father to express himself; therefore, he relied on the words of someone else, a famous author, like Thoreau, for instance.

At first, I felt nothing for Caroline, but that changed as I followed her on this strange journey. Caroline's father obviously loved her, but could not come to terms with his own inner demons. Caroline's story is beautiful, bizarre, and surreal.

MY ABANDONMENT will make you think, and perhaps be grateful for what you already have.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Frightening and fascinating

My Abandonment is a stark tale of what happens to people who live outside what is considered the norm. Caroline and her father live hidden away in a 5,400 acre park outside Portland, Oregon. They live by their own code, never stealing, respecting the world around them, and with Caroline being homeshcooled by her father. They are safe until a small slip allows the authorities to find them and force them to live in a way more acceptable to society.
This is a frightening yet fascinating look at the lives of people living on the edge. Caroline is forced to grow up fast and to be stronger and more resourceful then any person should ever have to be. My heart ached for her while I admired her at the same time.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A little bit disturbing but warrants discussion.

November's choice for my face to face book club. The story was inspired by newspaper story the author had seen. It discussed how a young girl was found living in the forest with her father. The author always wondered what became of her and used the inspiration to write his first novel. Although written in straightforward prose, it took me a while to get used to the author's style. The first time I started it I had to put it down after about 20 pages, it felt as if I was walking into the middle of a conversation and wasn't able to figure out what was going on. Picked it up again after about a week and was able to read on through.

I don't want to give too much away so my remarks will be cryptic and guarded. In the beginning of the book I wanted to give Father the benefit of the doubt about being individualistic in how he was raising his daughter (i.e. just because it isn't society's "norm" does it make it wrong?) but later it was clear I could not. The author walks the middle line on our perceptions of Father (for a while, at least) and he does an excellent job of depicting how children can be altered by lifestyles.

I predict an intense discussion with this one.

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