New York Times Bestseller | Pulitzer Prize Finalist“Ms. Russell is one in a million. . . . A suspensfuly, deeply haunted book.”–The New York TimesThirteen-year-old Ava Bigtree has lived her entire life at Swamplandia!, her family’s island home and gator-wrestling theme park in the Florida Everglades. But when illness fells Ava’s mother, the park’s indomitable headliner, the family is plunged … indomitable headliner, the family is plunged into chaos; her father withdraws, her sister falls in love with a spooky character known as the Dredgeman, and her brilliant big brother, Kiwi, defects to a rival park called The World of Darkness.
As Ava sets out on a mission through the magical swamps to save them all, we are drawn into a lush and bravely imagined debut that takes us to the shimmering edge of reality.
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I was dazzled. It’s very rare, among the tonnage of manuscripts and galleys that land upon one’s desk, to come across a young novelist so inventive and versatile, yet so thoroughly in control. Also, I’m a sucker for any plot line that features man-eating reptiles.
Swamplandia! is one of the most original books I’ve ever read. It’s packed with lovable characters and really beautiful prose. The one thing that kept me from connecting entirely was my uncertainty around how magical this world is intended to be (though I will say that central tension kept pulling me in, too). Would be interested to talk through …
This is a lavish, flamboyant, mysterious work that feels like a fever dream you never want to wake up from, even when the spectacle turns nightmarish. Our protagonist is Ava Bigtree: a 12-year-old alligator wrestler who, along with her larger-than-life father, Chief Bigtree, daredevil mother, Hilola, and siblings, helps run an amusement park, the …
You will want to join this family, alligators and all, but they won’t let you in. This is a world you have to earn.
I read this novel when it first hit the market in 2011, but even today the story resonates with me. A mixture of magical realism and coming of age, this novel will capture your attention and keep you reading long into the night.
A gorgeously written dive into the glades of south Florida, melding the coming-of-age turmoils of motherless siblings with the haunting pull of the swamp surrounding their alligator-themed amusement park. Russell is a master of her craft, turning phrases with the beauty and intricacy of a spider’s silk.
Florida is an odd place. Great characters and an unusual situation.
This is an excellent and a bit eccentric coming-of-age story involving an entire family. A family can be turned upside down by one single event and lose their way. This story takes that path in crazy way. The only reason I rated it 4 is because of one situation that many will find disturbing. Otherwise, this is a truly original story that will …
One of my favorite books. Tremendous story of a very unique family.
Great read!!
I think this book did not live up to its potential. Somewhere along the line it took a wrong turn. I can’t get into details without spoilers, but I wish the author had gone east when she went west. Oh well.
This book did a great job of portraying Florida in the everglades. The characters were sympathetic. The ending was a bit contrived but it tied up the loose ends.
Would give it a 3.5 if I could. Very well-written, original, full of lyrical prose. But the story takes a confusing turn near the end, suggesting that a child victim is somewhat complicit in her own rape. An unfortunate choice by the author.
Just dragged
A rambling mix of teen fantasy boyfriend, family death and resulting angst, pedophilia and pseudo religious amusement parks. Finished it because I hate starting and not finishing a book. Should have quit.