Youngstown, Ohio, 1977. Between the closing of the city’s largest steel mill and the worst blizzard in more than 40 years, the table is set for remarkable change. Unemployed steel worker Bobby Wayland is trying hard to help his family and still pay for his wedding, but the only solution he can think of involves breaking the law. On the other side of town, a little girl named Hope is keeping a big … big secret, one she won’t even share with her Great Uncle Joe―she can make things move without touching them. Watching over both of them is the city herself, and she has something to say and something to do about all of this.
The Heebie-Jeebie Girl is the story of an era ending and the uncertainty that awakens. It’s the story of what happens when the unconscionable meets the improbable. It’s the story of dreams deferred, dreams devoured, and dreams dawning. It is likely to be the most distinctive novel you read this year, but it will startle you with its familiarity. Author Susan Petrone has created an unforgettable tale of family, redemption, and magic.
‘The simple, desperate act that opens The Heebie-Jeebie Girl quickly turns complicated and dangerous. Susan Petrone has penned an open-hearted love letter to a still-proud city whose mills and bars used to operate around the clock, where jobs are scarce and people dream of hitting the lottery. A novel of magic and miracles, contrition and forgiveness, it’s fitting that its hero, who can pick lucky numbers out of thin air, is named Hope. As Youngstown itself says: “Some cities will chew you up and spit you out. Not me.”’ – Stewart O’Nan, author of Snow Angels and Last Night at the Lobster
“A series of unfortunate events weave together the complex and beautifully-rendered lives of an old man, a young girl, and a reluctant villain in this heartfelt page-turner set in 1977 Ohio. Petrone deftly blends suspense, fantasy, and family turmoil to paint an unflinching portrait of America’s Rust Belt at its tipping point. If a city like Youngstown could talk, this is the story it might tell. I couldn’t put it down!” – D.M. Pulley, author of The Dead Key and No One’s Home
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My Review.
I started reading this book 2 Days ago. This book starts in 1977.
I was just a kid in this time error….
Hope is only 7.. She always gave her grandma Delores lottery ticket numbers.. However these numbers had to have double digits in them or her grandmother had no luck.. Hope and her grandmother also like to going to the convenience store to cash in her Grandma’s winnings.. Hope would often ask for cookies or candy…. Hope definitely loves her grandmother..
Uncle joe.. Hes hopes great Uncle.. Uncle Joe and hope spend some time together. Something happens to hope’s grandmother Dolores after she has all this good luck with the lottery..
Uncle Joe and hope decide to be detectives see if they can’t find out who did the bag thing to grandma Delores..
This was the 1st book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it it was a really good story I loved how the author did this book I would like to thank her..
So Thank you #susanpetrone
A fantastic read! Yes that’s correct! This book captured the 1970’s Ohio essence beautifully. Youngstown came to life for me! Petrone quickly captured me from the start and kept me hooked until I reached the last page. I didn’t want this story to end! It’s rich in history and deep in meaning!
Hope, Joe and even Bobby are wonderfully chiseled. Growing up with a steel mill working grandfather, I felt a strong connection to this story. This multi-voiced story was beautifully written! It is filled with somes ups, and plenty of downs, but most of all, these voices tell a tale of morals and redemption.
These characters, this story line, this novel, it’s all a magnificent combination that will quickly suck you in. Blending with the characters is the perfect amount of mystery and intrigue. The voices telling the story, they truly work their way into your heart to stay! This is a book that will resonate with me for years to come, and leave you wanting more from this author. I highly recommend this read to all!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Author/Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Do you enjoy books from multiple points of view? #theheebie-jeebiegirl was such a great read! Historical fiction with a twist. The story is told from multiple points of view. One of these view points was actually the Youngstown, Ohio! There is also a magical twist. “ genuine can’t-be-explained-by-logic-or-reason magic”
The Heebie Jeebie Girl is a thought provoking novel that I really enjoyed. There is a bit of everything in this novel including Historical Fiction . The story is set in 1977 in Youngstown, Ohio. There are multiple narrators with multiple timelines. The story is well written and easy to follow. The characters are complex , flawed, and complicated. There is a bit of magical realism in here too which I really enjoyed.
This novel was an excellent read, and I highly recommend it .
Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “The Heebie-Jeebie Girl” by Susan Petrone, Fiction Studio Books, April 2020, for Suzy Approved Book Tours
Susan Petrone, author of “The Heebie-Jeebie Girl” has written an intriguing, unique, suspenseful, and captivating novel. The Genres for this story are Fiction, Magical Realism, and Historical Fiction. The Historical Fiction in this book revolves around one of the worse blizzards in Ohio’s history and the closing of the largest steel mill. The timeline for this story is around 1977 and is set in Youngstown Ohio. The story goes to the past and future when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. The author describes her colorful and dramatic cast of characters as complex and complicated, possibly due to the difficult circumstances. One of my favorite characters is a young girl named Hope who is rather rambunctious and precocious and is very special.
The story is told by different narrators, and even “Youngstown, Ohio” seems to have something to say about what is happening. The themes in this book also revolve around family, forgiveness, love, hope, and change. During these desperate times, people are struggling to get by. Hope seems to have some luck in lottery numbers that help her Mom and Grandmother very happy. The question of the day is it really luck?
Some of Hope’s family seem to disregard Hope’s eccentric behavior. Hope does have a secret, but not everyone wants to believe. During these tragic times, some people have dreams for a better life, but unfortunately, to have those dreams come true, there will be a tragic and devastating loss.
I would highly recommend this thought-provoking and unique novel.
The story was set in Youngstown, Ohio, 1977. The book was divided into three sections each telling a story from a different point of view and an omniscient voice from Youngstown herself sprinkled throughout the story. There was the young gifted child named Hope, an old man Joe who was Hope’s Great Uncle, and a reluctant villain named Bobby, whose lives intersect in an unfortunate event.
The story’s backdrop is the struggling town, where the largest steel mill is closing and thousands of people are put out of work, and life becomes full of uncertainty. The story was about these people’s simple lives as it gets disrupted by an unconscionable decision. Petrone’s writing beautifully and impeccably captured the characters’ desperation and guilt. I recommend this book for a gut wrenching but also a heartwarming read.