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There are currently 19 member reviews
for Smothermoss
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Lauri Z. (Washington, DC)
Smothermoss
This book was one of the most intriguing books I have read in a long time. The story is woven with such sublime symbolic imagery that I had to slow down when I was reading it to take it all in. While the story is about two sisters living in Appalachia the author reveals many themes that I found relatable; among them are choices to be free from the ties that bind you, how the outside world creates narratives that can be woven into how one lives, if you listen closely enough, and how being different can be a blessing and a curse. The author did an extraordinary job with such subtlety of connecting me to the two sisters well beyond the end of the book, despite the fact that I live a very different life in a very different world.
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Christine T. (Alma, WI)
Deep Mountain Magic
What a delightful, imaginative surprise. I loved the thoughtful weaving of old Appalachian magic with the stories of these sisters. This story felt deep and emotive. Alicia Aerling's storytelling truly evokes a unique sense of place. I felt like I was in the mountain and was stirred by the connection between the people, land, and folklore. This is a great fantasy read for lovers of wilderness and wildness. Loved it!
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Carol F. (Lake Linden, MI)
Smothermoss
An intriguing story that captures you right from the first sentence. Two sisters who are at odds with each other until they discover that together they become stronger. Set in rural Appalachia the family is poor and the girls struggle to fit in at school.
The writing is so fluid that you want to keep reading to see how the narrative unfolds.
There is the otherworldly aspect to the story but I found it fit with the storyline and so had no difficulty accepting it. I would definitely read another book by Alisa Alering!
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Tracy B. (Pittsboro, NC)
Adolescent minds and magical
I remembered some of the adolescent fears that I had of the Russians and war. Magical thinking was a way that Angie was able to deal with the world. Sheila had the "rope" holding onto her.
The characters were vivid and very much alive to me. Outcasts, murder mystery, struggle to survive, often not knowing what is real or imagined. At first I struggled with the book then I was pulled into the life of this family. When it ended I wanted more. A cleverly written book.
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Judy G. (Carmel, IN)
The Mountain
Beautifully written story of two sisters who grow closer as they mature in their mountain home. A brutal murder compels the younger sister to action who proves to be a good detective. The mountain maintains a strong tie on the older sister and the odd drawings of the younger sister provide guidance in the strangest ways and places. Mystery and spirituality help the author weave a tale of natural beauty that communes with nature into a great read!
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Evonne B. (Bellevue, WA)
Surprising story about mountains, magic, and the power of sisterhood
This is a fantastical story of two sisters and the power of the mountain they live on. At first the plot seems straightforward - two hikers are murdered near the trail on the mountain and the young sisters are caught up in the community's search for the suspect. But they are chasing other demons - some which are visible and some which are not. This isn't my usual genre, but I was quickly wrapped up in Sheila and Angie's story and grew to love and admire both these very different girls. I didn't really understand parts of what was going on (did it really happen or was it only in their imaginations?) but I was compelled to suspend belief and go with the story. Will definitely recommend to friends who like thrillers and fantasy!
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Peggy K. (San Marcos, CA)
Mountain Lore
This a tale of Appalachia and two quirky young girls growing up in a life that forces them to fight for everything they have. The oldest girl haunted by the past and trying hard to understand who she is in truth, must deal with the constant harassment at school and the hard work at home. The youngest girl survives mostly by using her imagination to create things in role playing. In a way she is a bit typical of every kid who makes up stories and plays them out daily. That hard life is fractured by the murder of two female hikers. The story is about the unknown killer out there but it is more about two young girls growing up unsure of who they will be when they are grown. They do not get along most of the time but the search for this killer and their belief in the power of their mountain will bring them together in the end. This is a rather unusual story and readers 15 and up will enjoy it because it is truly different. It also reveals what it is like for many to live in Appalachia.
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