Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
53rd out of 196 books
—
291 voters
Into the Free
by
Julie Cantrell (Goodreads Author)
Just a girl. The only one strong enough to break the cycle.
In Depression-era Mississippi, Millie Reynolds longs to escape the madness that marks her world. With an abusive father and a “nothing mama,” she struggles to find a place where she really belongs.
For answers, Millie turns to the Gypsies who caravan through town each spring. The travelers lead Millie to a key whi
...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
February 1st 2012
by David C. Cook
(first published January 1st 2012)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
Into the Free was an intense story, but I loved it and was pulled into the story and the characters' lives. The portrayal of their hardship was very realistic in that many abused children feel exactly the same way that Millie did. I appreciated that because so often people don't understand that abused children get a bit freaked out by loving families.
Having worked with foster children for almost two decades, I saw this scenario often. Those same children are also very loyal to their own familie...more
Having worked with foster children for almost two decades, I saw this scenario often. Those same children are also very loyal to their own familie...more
Julie Cantrell is a very gifted writer. I was very engaged in the storyline and felt connected to the main character until the very end of the story. As I was reading the majority of the novel, I anticipated that I would be giving the novel five stars - it was really, really good and the author has quite a way with words. The ending caused me to drop it down to four stars for two reasons. First of all, the author put a lot of "extra" material at the end of the book so I thought I had a lot left...more
Millie Reynolds is nine when we first meet her watching her troubled world from the boughs of Sweetie, the gum tree that gives her comfort and escape. The place is Iti Taloa Mississippi, the year 1936. Author Julie Cantrell takes us through Millie’s growing-up years to the age of seventeen in this debut novel, Into the Free.
It’s a complex, coming-of-age story that explores heavy issues like spousal abuse, a kid’s relationship with dysfunctional parents, how someone who appears good on the outsid...more
It’s a complex, coming-of-age story that explores heavy issues like spousal abuse, a kid’s relationship with dysfunctional parents, how someone who appears good on the outsid...more
Possibly one of the best books ever written. I found myself comparing this book to "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou. This author, however, was able to deal with the grittiness of abuse and despair without slamming the reader with details so sordid that we feel the need to go wash our hands and minds afterwards.
The same hope is there, along with the lyrical quality of stringing words and phrases together that leave us yearning to become such writers ourselves.
All of the emotion...more
The same hope is there, along with the lyrical quality of stringing words and phrases together that leave us yearning to become such writers ourselves.
All of the emotion...more
I would actually rate Into the Free by Julie Cantrell 3.5 stars. It tells the story of a 16 year old girl, Millie, who has grown with a father who is abusive and a mother who has become addicted to morphine and uses that to cope with the harsh reality of her life. From the beginning of the novel when she has just turned 16 until the end of the novel when she is now 17, she goes through death of her father and her mother on the same day in totally different circumstances, falling from a tree and...more
Into the Free by Julie Cantrell was a fascinating reading journey. Set in Depression era Mississippi amongst the sharecroppers, gypsies and rodeo cowboys Julie spins a compelling tale. Half-bred Millie Reynolds has spent her life living in a tenant shack on the backside of a plantation. Watching this broken girl grow up with a drug addicted mother and a rodeo hero father whose past makes him a wretch of a husband and father moves the reader to cheer on our sad heroine. Millie’s love for her sick...more
Since the beginning of creation, God has desired daily interaction with His children. At the same time, His children have desired to interact with the world that He created rather than Him. That has left each of us, at times, feeling a void and deep pain. God has also desired to teach us His ways instead of the world's and yet we are continually held captive by the world and its many snares, oases, and traps. In Into the Free by Julie Cantrell, we are introduced to a cast of characters, each wit...more
Into the Free is a southern coming-of-age tale of pain and freedom. Julie Cantrell drew me into Millie Reynold's story from the very first page. The depth and symbolism woven into the pages give Into the Free a literary quality unmatched by more lighthearted books. Cantrell tackles many heavy subjects in her latest novel, including death, physical and emotional abuse, and addiction. Reading each event from Millie's perspective, makes her pain more tangible. I truly doubt that any reader will not...more
Into The Free by Julie Cantrell is an amazing read—WOW! I loved this historical fiction book set in Mississippi about faith, gypsies, death, grief, domestic violence, rodeos and romance. It is told from Millie’s perspective, a little girl searching for her identity, freedom and faith. The variety of characters in this book seem real and some I loved, some I didn’t. My favorite characters were Millie, Sloth, Bump, Mr. Tucker and Mabel. My least favorite person was Millie’s grandfather with her fa...more
2 likes
·
like
· see review
[May contain spoiler]
I received a copy of this book from a friend who works at the publisher. After finishing the book I didn't know quite what to think of it. Did I like it or not? I have recently been reading a lot of classic children's literature and Into the Free was quite a contrast to those somewhat benign, pollyanna stories. This book has a reality and messiness that reminds me of the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. The Rivers book was quite a contrast to other Christian fiction I...more
I received a copy of this book from a friend who works at the publisher. After finishing the book I didn't know quite what to think of it. Did I like it or not? I have recently been reading a lot of classic children's literature and Into the Free was quite a contrast to those somewhat benign, pollyanna stories. This book has a reality and messiness that reminds me of the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. The Rivers book was quite a contrast to other Christian fiction I...more
Into the Free: A Novel leaps into the life of Millicent Reynolds, a young Mississippi girl at the end of the Depression. Milli’s father, Jack, is a violent, alcoholic, rodeo man whose wife has turned to morphine to survive the abuse. Milli and her mother live in old slave quarters on a plantation, surviving on Jack’s winnings and the money they earn from doing laundry for the wealthy in town, Milli and her mother eek out an existence. Milli befriends a group of gypsies, intending to leave with t...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
There was a lot I really liked about this book and a few things I didn't care for. I really really liked the author's writing style. Reading it was a joy simply because of how Cantrell puts her words together. I liked the portrayal of the family dynamics of this poor unfortunate family, and how Millie feels responsible for her mother's happiness or lack of it, and for her father's abusive behavior. The first half of the novel was the best-- believable, true, strong narrative power, well-develope...more
A long black train scrapes across Mr. Sutton's fields. His horses don't bother lifting their heads. They aren't afraid of the metal wheels, the smoking engine. The trains come every day, in straight lines like the hems Mama stitches across rich people's pants. Ironing and sewing, washing and mending. That's what Mama does for cash. As for me, I sit in Mr. Sutton's trees, live in one of Mr. Sutton's cabins, sell Mr. Sutton's pecans, and dream about riding Mr. Sutton's horses, all in the shadow of...more
This is a book full of contrasts, of appearances that promise one thing but open up to reveal a totally different scene. Our heroine Millie's Mississippi in the 1930's and 40's is full of trees that sing, fascinating Gypsies, small farms, and enchanting forests. Look a bit further and you find drugs, gossip, abuse, and racism filling the beautiful land. Behind religious piety you find hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Within people on the fringe of accepted society you find honesty and compassio...more
This was the worst book in the world. I hated it and I probably need therapy now. Oh, the book started off good. The middle was wearing me out, but I had hope. But then the author screwed up with the last 50 or so pages. This book makes me so mad. The main character did something so out of character and you really didn't get her reactions. I am scarred for life and will probably have to rewrite a better ending in my head. The reason the character turned to God was unbelievably unreal. It broke m...more
1 like
·
like
· see review
Beautifully written, this author creates many memorable images. One of the reasons this book is so engaging is the wide variety of topics the author weaves into her story. She explores several cultures of the deep south, subcultures such as rodeo life and socioeconomic issues such as the depression, the effects of poverty, drugs, education as well as some philosophical and humanistic issues such as spirituality, religiosity, prejudice, violence and the behavior of men and women in society. I enj...more
Another one of my cheap-o acquisitions from Amazon.com! This book started out a little slow, but was well-written, so I kept reading, and I'm glad I did. The story centers around poor Millie, with a rodeo-cowboy father who beats her morphine-addicted mother, who ends up taking care of everyone by herself. In the beginning of the book, she loses the only friend and father figure she has, and I'll warn you - her prospects don't go up from there. Millie goes through a slew of personal hardships - I...more
The Reynolds, a family broken, struggling and alone, grasping for air and hoping for dreams.
Jack bullrider, dangerously controlling
Marie depressive, and very much a victim of circumstances
Daughter Millie young, searching for God and answers in the home and situations that she is a part of. Usually found nestled safely among the branches of her magnificient sweet gum tree, Sweetie, she escapes into her backyard watching from above the world that lies beneath.
Sloth best friend of Millie, each hel...more
Jack bullrider, dangerously controlling
Marie depressive, and very much a victim of circumstances
Daughter Millie young, searching for God and answers in the home and situations that she is a part of. Usually found nestled safely among the branches of her magnificient sweet gum tree, Sweetie, she escapes into her backyard watching from above the world that lies beneath.
Sloth best friend of Millie, each hel...more
Millie is almost ten. She confides in her friend "Sweetie" a big, big tree, her oldest friend "Sloth" the old man who lives next door. Millie tries to protect her mama when her daddy Jack is home from the rodeo, but she's only almost 10. Mama goes away a lot as well, down into her "valley" inside her mind. It's a hard life, sometimes a cruel life, but that's the life she has. She loves to watch the gypsies when they come into town, with their bright colors, sparkling coins and stories, about the...more
Childhood, poverty, depression, domestic abuse, rodeos, growing up, loving the land, admiring and simultaneously fearing the gypsies. Friendship, forgiveness and secrets. Just a few of the themes that permeate this story about a young girl working through the history of her family and fearing she will follow the same path of heartbreak and broken bones and mental illness. Of course, she learns, that these are her choices, in some respect, and the story progresses as life hands her hardship and l...more
Even in the United States, where “all men are created equal”, life isn’t always fair. What is fair about domestic violence and drug addiction? What is fair about the child who has to become an adult too soon because the adults in her life are adults in name only.
Millie Reynolds lives with her mother in depression-era Mississippi. Her father is a traveling rodeo bull rider, and is rarely home. When he is home, he usually beats Millie’s mom severely, and ignores Millie. Millie hates him.
She loves...more
Millie Reynolds lives with her mother in depression-era Mississippi. Her father is a traveling rodeo bull rider, and is rarely home. When he is home, he usually beats Millie’s mom severely, and ignores Millie. Millie hates him.
She loves...more
I really liked this book. The characters were easily believable and the setting was one of my favorites- the South. I loved the author's writing style and even though I wanted Millie to run away with the Gypsy people and stay with River forever, I was glad, in the end that she didn't. River was just a puppy love, of sorts. She was longing for attention from her Mother and Father and since she obviously wasn't getting it at home anymore after Sloth died, she turned to the Gypsy boy, River. Even I...more
I love it when I pick up a book by a new author and I have no expectations about the book and then end up thoroughly enjoying it! I love it even more when I bought the book (especially a digital book) for less than $2. Into The Free was this type of book... I'd never heard of author Julie Cantrell but I thoroughly enjoyed her style of writing; it was poetic at times and there were several lines I stopped to read and enjoy again.
This story is set in 1930-40's Mississippi and the main character is...more
This story is set in 1930-40's Mississippi and the main character is...more
The story of Millie and her family set in the 30's and 40's is tragic indeed. Living in a shack with her mother who is addicted to morphine and a father who abuses Millie's mother and who is gone and not much of a father because of his rodeo job. As you read this story, you uncover secrets of that past and what made these characters to who they are. The story is told by Millie who witnesses evil and wants to be loved and accepted. Something we all can relate too. Millie's mother Marie is a survi...more
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. I snagged it when it was free for Kindle and it sat untouched for a few weeks before I started it on a whim. Julie Cantrell has a beautiful writing style that kept me turning pages for hours at a time. I grew up 20 miles from the city of Meridian, MS which is what Ita Taloa in the book is based on, so it was very interesting to read about a place I am so familiar with through the eyes of a character during the depression. I've heard stories of the Gyps...more
Into the Free is one of the most satisfying fictional books I've read in a long time. Set in Mississippi between 1920 and 1940, for its rich characterization and setting, it is reminiscent of a Mark Twain or an Charles Dickens. But with a huge difference. The story follows the coming of age of Millie and a series of tragic events. It reads like a tragedy...but woven through the story is the possibility of hope--if a kind God exists, not the kind of self-righteous, judgemental god portrayed by he...more
From the title to the cover to the opening pages, I was hooked by Julie Cantrell’s Into The Free. I loved the image of the train scraping across Mr. Sutton’s fields as Mama irons, sews, washes and mends. The train, along with Sloth’s response to Millie when she asks, “where you think it’s going?” “Into the free,” sets up a tale of longing and the thirst for freedom that permeates the novel. Millie was on a journey, which was richly developed through her poignant struggles through childhood to he...more
I had an attempt at writing once. A couple of friends read those fragments and told me it was good. I read it and thought it was crap, and I didn't try to write again; just because there's bad writing out there, doesn't mean I should add to it (or have to read it, for that matter).
No offence to all the people who read this book and gave it five stars, but have you ever read any worthy pieces of literature? I really think that some are rating it so highly because it's a Christian book. But come...more
No offence to all the people who read this book and gave it five stars, but have you ever read any worthy pieces of literature? I really think that some are rating it so highly because it's a Christian book. But come...more
How can you NOT love a book in which two of the characters have names like Bump and Sloth? This book is beautifully written and it does its job of weaving together a compelling story.
There is a strong thematic element of faith so to those who take offense of the mention of the Bible in any way, shape or form: this is not the book for you. But for those of you who might think it means that Christianity will be shoved down your throat, I would disagree.
The reader is taken on Millie’s journey and...more
There is a strong thematic element of faith so to those who take offense of the mention of the Bible in any way, shape or form: this is not the book for you. But for those of you who might think it means that Christianity will be shoved down your throat, I would disagree.
The reader is taken on Millie’s journey and...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Maybe God doesn't care if we get all dressed up and sit in the pew every Sunday, as Diana believes. Instead, maybe God comes to us through men like Sloth, watching over us as we make our own decisions. Maybe God has always been with me. Opening doors, leading me to opportunities, letting me choose my own path, and loving me even when I chose the wrong one. Never giving up on me. Knowing all along that I am on a journey. That I must find my own way to Him. Maybe River was rights. Maybe God does still believe in me.”
—
5 people liked it
“For years, I have searched and searched for this God. This feeling of complete love and acceptance. He was always out of reach. But here, where food is scare, money is tight, heat is heavy and tensions should run high, God is everywhere. Just as during the night around the gypsy fire, I am mesmerized by watching people who are truly happy. At peace. Kind. Grateful.”
—
5 people liked it
More quotes…
Apr 19, 2012 09:09am