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Made in the U.S.A.

Billie Letts

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Pub.

Pub. Date: June 19 2008

ISBN-13: 9780446529013

368pp

www.hachettebookgroupusa.com

Book Room Review

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In Billie Letts’ latest novel Made in the U.S.A., fifteen year old Lutie McFee and her younger brother Fate are living with their father’s ex-girlfriend after he abandoned them there. One afternoon, while shopping at Wal-mart, the 300 pound woman keels over and dies at the checkout counter. Fearing social services, Lutie and Fate flee to Las Vegas to track down their father. Unfortunately, what they track down instead is a series of harsh realities and tragedies that pull at the reader’s heartstrings.

My first experience reading a story from Billie Letts was her famous novel, Where the Heart Is (Oprah's Book Club). Made in the U.S.A. offers a couple of similar themes including a young female protagonist and an incident at the local Wal-mart. They differ greatly in plot, however, because Made in the U.S.A. is a dark unflinching look at teenage runaway life. I like the fact that Billie Letts gave this novel a more realistic feel than Where the Heart Is, a book that was also made into a movie. True to form, there are also quirky wonderful characters that come into the story and give this story a happy ending. Made in the U.S.A. is recommended for the many Billie Letts’ fans.

Book Room Grade

C+

Review Posted: June 20, 2008

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