Mina Smith, an African-American girl longing to be a ballerina, learns at ballet camp that she will never be a classical dancer and starts to c...
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reviews
Feb 02, 2010
Kirsten
rated it: 
This is a warm, contemplative, and moving novel. Like most of the other books in the "Tillerman series" (which starts with the excellent Homecoming, this book could stand on its own easily, but gains even more depth and emotional resonance when one has read the previous novels in the cycle.
This book centers on Mina Smiths, who readers of Dicey's Song will remember as the young black woman who decides she's going to be Dicey's friend, come hell or high water. It fleshes ou More...
This book centers on Mina Smiths, who readers of Dicey's Song will remember as the young black woman who decides she's going to be Dicey's friend, come hell or high water. It fleshes ou More...
Apr 18, 2009
Josiah
rated it: 
How Cynthia Voigt continues to write so profoundly about the Tillermans I do not know, but she kept up the level of quality very nicely in this book.
Through the first hundred pages or so, I actually thought that Come a Stranger had a real shot at being my favorite book in the entire Tillerman cycle. This was not the case ultimately, but the story stuck with me well, and the vivid phrases used by the author to depict the feeling that the quietly indifferent racism of the other dance studen More...
Through the first hundred pages or so, I actually thought that Come a Stranger had a real shot at being my favorite book in the entire Tillerman cycle. This was not the case ultimately, but the story stuck with me well, and the vivid phrases used by the author to depict the feeling that the quietly indifferent racism of the other dance studen More...
May 26, 2010
Laura
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I love the Tillerman books and this was a new one to me. I found it somewhere for free and I'm glad I own it. It's told from the perspective of Dicey's African American friend, Mina. It's a fascinating look at a biracial friendship back when that didn't really happen. I have thought a lot about some of the themes in this book since I read it - particularly about what it means/meant to be black on the Eastern Shore, both now and 30-40 years ago. And yes, it's set on the Eastern Shore (Bay sid
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Jun 11, 2011
Sarah
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I felt like the beginning of this book was very strong- I liked Mina a lot in Dicey's Song, and I was glad to see thing from her perspective. Voigt did excellent work in portraying Mina's awakening during her second summer at ballet camp, and how much the racism she was dealing with hurt her.
But the second half of the book didn't fit quite as well- Voigt glossed over some of the events that had previously come up in earlier books in a way that didn't help the narrative. The ending More...
But the second half of the book didn't fit quite as well- Voigt glossed over some of the events that had previously come up in earlier books in a way that didn't help the narrative. The ending More...
Dec 18, 2008
Alice
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Another in the Tillerman cycle, this time focusing on the lively black girl Mina. Sorry, Ms. Voigt, this time your story did not work quite as well as a stand-alone. Some of the key scenes (such as the scene where Mina faces down the unfriendly teacher who was humiliating Dicey) should have been included, with all dialog, in their entire form. Otherwise they make no sense.
The very best part was the start: little Mina's two very different summers at dance camp. During the second summe More...
The very best part was the start: little Mina's two very different summers at dance camp. During the second summe More...
Jun 14, 2010
Carmen
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Another book in the series, but not really profiling the Tillerman family. Instead it is profiling another character in the series, Mina. Mina was Dicey's first friend, the one who stood up for her in the English class. The story also presents how it felt to be black in the 70's in school. I can't wait to read the next one in the series and find out if they complete the story of the Tillermans, or if they bring all the characters together.
Dec 17, 2009
joyce lynn
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oh my ... the location takes place in Maryland, for the most part. yet still ... could be here in Mississippi.
the time period is many years ago also, but ... could still be NOW here in Mississippi.
we've supposedly come SO far w/ our "progress", yet ... in SO many areas and arenas of life, i think we've barely moved at all.
and unfortunately, i also think that all of "progress" has NOT been a "good thang", but in fact, we are much More...
the time period is many years ago also, but ... could still be NOW here in Mississippi.
we've supposedly come SO far w/ our "progress", yet ... in SO many areas and arenas of life, i think we've barely moved at all.
and unfortunately, i also think that all of "progress" has NOT been a "good thang", but in fact, we are much More...
Jan 12, 2009
Margaret
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One of the things I love about Cynthia Voigt is that she can write varying views equally convincingly, so that you cannot tell where she herself stands on an issue. The characters in this books are deeply religious, while in other books, she writes characters are dismissive of the whole idea of religion. I love the way whatever views she may have herself never impose themselves on her characters.
Dec 06, 2009
Dawn
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I loved this book. It is mostly about a girl named Mina Smith who is the only black girl at a ballet camp. I love that there is racial differences discussed in the book. I love reading a book about things that could have actually happened. It saddens me that some people can be so racist. I was really moved by this book.
Jun 17, 2009
Jay
rated it:
Not nearly as scandalous as the blurb implied. Voigt has a good grasp on character, but her characters speak and act more like twenty-year-olds in the 1950s than twelve-year-olds in the 1990s. Too many side stories meant the story dragged along in some areas. The depth of the relationships would have gone straight over the target audiences heads.
Sep 28, 2010
Michelle
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I recommend reading Homecoming and Dicey's Song first if you've never read anything by this author as this book ties into Dicey's Song but can stand on its own too.
This is my favorite of the Tillerman Saga series because it's a well told story with an ending that leaves you wanting more.
This is my favorite of the Tillerman Saga series because it's a well told story with an ending that leaves you wanting more.
May 16, 2010
Megan
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So far, this one's probably the weakest in the Tillerman cycle. Somewhat interesting, but not nearly the caliber of the previous books. You do get a glimpse of a forward march in time at the end, as Mina's past catches up to the present (similar to A Solitary Blue), but I found it hard to identify with Mina's crush on a married man much older than her. Also, knowing her motivations for seeking Dicey out made her less interesting to me somehow. I would have preferred it if she had been mature eno
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Oct 12, 2009
Colin
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Aaaah! These books are sooo good! I love how each book adds more layers to the story and the family. I teared up at the end of this one. I just know when I get to the end of these, I'm going to wish there were more. I love it when I wish that characters I read about in books were real.
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Jan 12, 2009
Laura
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I loved this SO much. I was actually sad when I finished it because I wanted to keep reading. The main character is one of those people you wish were real so that you could be friends with them.
Mar 20, 2009
Jeannette
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Another one in the Tillerman series, but very disappointing. This one wasn't compelling enough on its own and Mina just didn't seem real enough. I lost interest early on but kept on reading because I was hoping things would pick up.
Mar 01, 2010
Dawn
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This book really is about a 3 1/2 star book for me, I have now read 3 books in Voigt's Tillerman series, I have enjoyed them all but I like Dicey's Song the best at this point.
Apr 03, 2009
Catherine
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I liked it and would recommend it, but I felt Voigt needed to include the dialog that happened when she stood up for Dicey.
I loved the scene with Sammy and Mina's mother.
I loved the scene with Sammy and Mina's mother.
Jul 07, 2009
Natajah
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i love this book this book is for people who loves to read about drama and the author cynthia voigt is a great writer i love her style of writing
Aug 14, 2011
MkB
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A little repetitive, but a perfectly fine entry into the Tillerman series.
Mar 29, 2010
Alison
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I didn't love this book as much as I have the others but it's still very well done. The main character is about 13 and finally realizes that the color of her skin does affect her life. She learns a lot, including how important it is to embrace your family.
Jun 15, 2010
Maddy
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I have to say, this wasn't a bad book. It's a good coming-of-age story for those teenagers who know they're t-rou-ble. Mina's love for Tamer Shipp is out of the ordinary, but it makes for a good plotline backbone - everything branches off from it. I read this not realizing the Tillermans had a series all to themselves (oops...), but was still able to enjoy it.
Sep 26, 2008
Jessica
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This is one of my favorite books by Cynthia Voigt, along with Izzy Willy Nilly. Mina was my favorite character and I loved how the Tillerman family intertwined with her coming of age story.
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Sep 19, 2008
Peter
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This book has a lot about race and what it means to be a minority. It also discuss what true love really is and how to act when life knocks you down.
Jul 30, 2008
Beth
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Read the whole series! I fell in love with these characters, I actually cried when I read the last book. No more Dicey!
Jul 06, 2011
Sarah
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I liked this, but again, not as much as the earlier Tillerman books. I got more into it towards the end.
Aug 18, 2008
Shauna
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It's a teen novel, but I have always really enjoyed Cynthia Voigt's thought-provoking work.
