Small Town Sinners

Apr 19, 2012 Haleema rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Not even the trolls

Shelves: brain-cells-went-bye-bye, snape-disapproves, bull-shawarma, just-begging-for-snark, author-y-u-no-destroyed, oh-not-again, book-coma

Okay.

Why I didn't read past chapter seven:

- Main character is a Mary Sue.
- Main character's boyfriend is also a Mary Sue. Gary.. Stu?
- They can't stop thinking about each other right after they've exchanged words for the first time... Romantic, right? No!
- He stalks her.
- She creeps up on him.
- They go out the second day they meet each other.
- This is just plain stupid.
- I hate my life.
- I hate my life even more after this.
- I want chocolate.

Gosh, I am so sick and tired of the main characters m...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: signed-arcs

lissa Walker, I have one word for you... WOW.

Normally Small Town Sinners is not the type of book I would go for. Had it not been Melissa Walker, an author that I absolutely adore, I'm not sure I would have picked this book up. And I would have been upset with myself later!

I'm not an overly religious person. I've struggled with my faith throughout my teen years and into my adulthood... it's still something that I struggle with now. I usually avoid reading books about it for that very reason. And...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Slavica rated it 3 of 5 stars

I read this novel in one day what means that I liked it. Not as much as Lovestruck Summer so it has to be one star down (since it can't be 3.5). I couldn't put it down until the last page because I was really anxious to find out the message. It was fun and light read and I liked the diversity of characters (Starla Joy and Ty being among my favorites!) though I was really annoyed by some other like Lacey's parents with all their rules and restrictions and kinda shallow explanations offering prett...more I read this novel in one day what means that I liked it. Not as much as Lovestruck Summer so it has to be one star down (since it can't be 3.5). I couldn't put it down until the last page because I was really anxious to find out the message. It was fun and light read and I liked the diversity of characters (Starla Joy and Ty being among my favorites!) though I was really annoyed by some other like Lacey's parents with all their rules and restrictions and kinda shallow explanations offering pretty bad portrayal of Christianity in general. I loved when she opposed her father and went questioning her faith intrigued by conversations with Ty.
I, myself, am a Christian (though not as good as Lacey thinks of herself, lol) so I can symphatize in certain measure with almost everyone in the book, but on the other hand I'm kinda bothered with distorted perspective of Christianity here. There are so many places with the accent on being a good Christian. I don't believe in good Christians; I believe in saved-by-the-mercy Christians, the one who take their cross and daily die to themselves, to their fallen nature, not because they are trying to earn(!) their way to Heaven (impossible!!) but because they got their hearts broken by the awareness of the love they've received so they can't not to love the One who loved them before (when they were still sinners). This novel left me with impression of self righteous Christianity, the kind of I really don't want to have nothing to do with it. I'm afraid people might draw the wrong message, though I do understand that there are (unfortunately many) people like that in the world, I am also acquainted with some of them; self righteous Christians who are trying to earn their way to Heaven with their good deeds, still claiming there is something good in them, when fact is that there isn't because God himself said that There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Romans 3:10-12.
There is a sentence in book that says (Satan speaking) That's right! Kill your baby. Sin and belong to me! and the thing is that we cannot sin any more than we already have, whether we abort, murder or lie. It's all the same to God. There are many people out there who think they're good because they haven't killed anyone or even got drunk or had sex before marriage or whatever. Whether you done it or not, you are still gulity of the crime for being self righteous and declining to admit that you're a sinner in a need of Savior (every day! not just once in your life when you recite that puny prayer of accepting Jesus).
I don't know how God does that, how he saves, but I do believe the blood of His son is enough to wash me clean of all of my sin and I'm sure there's nothing I can do to help Him in saving me; all I can do is carry my cross and love (by His strength and mercy) because He loved me first.(less)

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Sep 22, 2010 Faye rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary

Wow that was my life…well minus Hell House week, but pretty much. It is one of my favorite contemps of the year!

Walker creates re-latable characters that pretty much hit home for me. Growing up in a Christian family and having the same thoughts as Lacey. I saw myself in every character. I think at one point in everyone’s life they question things and that just makes a better person. Stepping outside of the box, Breaking the mold.

The strength and independence the characters portray really made me...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a very different book, but one that I really enjoyed. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading it, but once I got into it I realized that the situations in this book are probably much more prevalent in the world than most of us realize. I loved how Lacey tried to figure out what was best for her while still trying to balance all of the beliefs she had been brought up on. I think your teenage years are difficult in general because of the pressures you face both internall...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Cassie Gutman rated it 4 of 5 stars

lacey anne byer is a perennial good girl. but with her driver’s license in hand, lacey’s ready for a “movie moment” this year — something that will make her stand out. as a junior, she’s finally eligible to try out for a lead role in Hell House, her church’s annual haunted house of sin. but it turns out lacey doesn’t need to play a role to have her moment. what she needs is ty davis, the smart, cute, new guy in town. ty doesn’t know sweet, shy, good girl lacey anne. with ty, lacey could reinvent...more lacey anne byer is a perennial good girl. but with her driver’s license in hand, lacey’s ready for a “movie moment” this year — something that will make her stand out. as a junior, she’s finally eligible to try out for a lead role in Hell House, her church’s annual haunted house of sin. but it turns out lacey doesn’t need to play a role to have her moment. what she needs is ty davis, the smart, cute, new guy in town. ty doesn’t know sweet, shy, good girl lacey anne. with ty, lacey could reinvent herself and maybe get her first boyfriend. as lacey’s feelings for ty grow and conflicts surrounding Hell House intensify, lacey finds a reason to test her own boundaries — to question the faith she’s always known to be absolute.

i’m not going to lie — it was rough going at first. i was so taken aback at so many things, i cannot even begin to describe them. first, i had no idea Hell Houses were a thing, and i was SHOCKED. these are horrible, unrealistic depictions of life as a giant bowl of sin and terribleness. i disagree with so much that was in it. in addition, i HATED lacey anne at the beginning. she was irritating, arrogant, snobby, and she hated everything and everyone and judged people way too quickly. i was just so angry that she didn’t have her own opinions, but spit out everyone else’s.

it’s a wonder i finished the book actually, but i’m VERY glad i did. lacey morphs starting about halfway through, and once she and her friends began to see more sides of things than just the black and white, it began to get real, and it began to get good.

lacey began to bring up very real questions in her faith. ty began to discuss real-life situations, and how he dealt with things he’d done. each of the characters had their own battles, and i really began to enjoy reading about how they dealt with their personal situations in this small religious town.

i had a hard time believing the characters were realistic, but now i think it’s because this sort of belief system is so far from what i believe that i never thought anyone could possibly think these things. and i’m religious. but i’m a jesus-loves-anyone-and-everyone-even-raccoons sort of religious person. not a Hell House person. and i loved tessa, lacey’s best friend’s sister. there is a major event that takes place in her life, and she starts to change her beliefs, too. she struggled with thoughts that i, myself, have had, and decided she became anti-abortion, but pro-choice. which i was so glad happened. because so many people think there are only two sides to that argument, and i — though my life is VASTLY different, and you’ll see why — identified very well with tessa.

by the end, i was so astounded by what melissa walker has done. she has taken very real, pertinent subjects to our time period, arguments of our generation, and has actually talked about them. she didn’t skirt around the ideas so they were vaguely there. she made them the focus of the novel, and i loved this book for that. it wasn’t a wondrous read, but it was definitely worth my time, just to have faith that the world is changing, and that people, one day, might be able to accept that everyone is human, and no matter what, we all deserve to be respected and treated equally.

i hated everything at the beginning, but it’s supposed to be that way. turns out, it worked extremely well. so thank you, madame walker, for bringing these subjects much more in the spotlight in the world of YA books.
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Jul 31, 2012 Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book even though I was unsure if I should read it or not. I love how the main character, Lacey, is so in touch with her faith, and yes, she's one of the Mary Sue's but for once, I did not have a problem with that.

Lacey's a sweet, nice, good girl who admittedly, gets slightly confused about what's deemed right and wrong in the church's eyes. Although I wished Lacey didn't let people ( namely, her parents ) make character judgements for her because hello, she's old enough to kn...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

If there's one thing I learned from the comments section, it's that nothing turns IBWB readers off more than a mention of religious themes. Well, tough. SMALL TOWN SINNERS is chock-full of religion and it's a wonderful book.

Lacey Anne Byer is a sixteen-year-old girl, excited about performing in the Hell House put on by House of Enlightenment, her church. The Hell House is similar to a haunted house, but each room represents a sin. Lacey wants to be Abortion Girl, because that's the message she's...more If there's one thing I learned from the comments section, it's that nothing turns IBWB readers off more than a mention of religious themes. Well, tough. SMALL TOWN SINNERS is chock-full of religion and it's a wonderful book.

Lacey Anne Byer is a sixteen-year-old girl, excited about performing in the Hell House put on by House of Enlightenment, her church. The Hell House is similar to a haunted house, but each room represents a sin. Lacey wants to be Abortion Girl, because that's the message she's compelled to share. But several things begin to change her worldview. Her best friend Starla Joy Minter's older sister gets pregnant. Her other best friend, Dean Perkins, is being bullied and none of the adults will do anything to punish the bully. And Ty Davis comes to town, attractive and willing to talk with Lacey about her doubts.

You don't have to be raised in an evangelical Christian home to sympathize with Lacey. She's at the age where she can see that her parents and other adults are not infallible. They do the best they can based on what they believe is right and wrong. Lacey has to decide on her own values.

Lacey is an extremely likeable heroine. While she's not sure what she believes, she's got a good grasp on listening to and caring for others. Compassion is something that evangelical Christianity, sadly, can lose sight of. As for the romance between her and Ty? It never goes beyond kissing, but it's still hot. Melissa Walker writes with emotional authenticity and Lacey's feelings for Ty are scorching. But Walker doesn't give too much weight to the romance. It's balanced well with Lacey's friendships and questions.

I can't think of another recent teen book that does friendship as well as SMALL TOWN SINNERS. C'mon, high school relationships can be intense, but friends are the most important part. Lacey, Starla Joy, Dean, and Ty are comfortable with each other. (Which leads me to a side point: the outdoors scenes are brilliant. I love every single one. I love what Walker does with sunlight.)

Lacey's parents are also well done. Her father is the children's pastor, so she expects quite a bit of him. But Lacey feels like neither of her parents listen to her or trust her . . . so she starts sneaking out. (Oh, teen logic.) SMALL TOWN SINNERS is fair to the Byers. They can be intolerant and overly strict, but they're good parents who are there for their daughter and other children in the community.

Really, that's the strength of SMALL TOWN SINNERS. It lets people be complex. And yes, evangelical Christians are just as complex as everyone else.(less)

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May 18, 2012 Trish rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-realistic-ya, cover-crush, emotional, faith, who-am-i, favorites

Small Town Sinners is one of those books. It’s one that most are afraid to touch for fear that it could lead to some nasty discussions here in the book world. Let’s face it- when people touch the subject of faith things can get ugly. Fast.

Let’s take a moment to applaud Melissa Walkers courage. She has done a fantastic job of NOT judging. Sure, there are books that say they don’t judge, but this book actually walks the walk and talks the talk. Kudos to you, Melissa Walker. You get a gold star.

I’...more Small Town Sinners is one of those books. It’s one that most are afraid to touch for fear that it could lead to some nasty discussions here in the book world. Let’s face it- when people touch the subject of faith things can get ugly. Fast.

Let’s take a moment to applaud Melissa Walkers courage. She has done a fantastic job of NOT judging. Sure, there are books that say they don’t judge, but this book actually walks the walk and talks the talk. Kudos to you, Melissa Walker. You get a gold star.

I’ll admit that after having sunk into my cave without laptop, goodreads, or twitter that I’m reviewing Small Town Sinners waaaaay later than everyone else. I’ve also noticed that not too many people have read it even though it’s been released for a while. Huh, wonder why?

For me it was personal. Little Lacey Anne reminded me oh so much of a little Patricia Lynn (cringes. Yep, real freaking name people. Now imagine that being bellowed out from the front porch on a hot summers day by my momma in her Texan’ accent). I grew up in a very similar environment. The deeply religious, small town where everyone gets in everyone else’s business was my home. The Hell House was new but not the message it delivered. To this day I haven’t forgotten the paralyzing fear of going to Hell.

I think what I enjoyed most about this book, even though it touched on an incredibly sore subject for me was the fact that it explores the grey of religion. Melissa writes of abortion, gay marriage, sex before marriage, suicide and even cyber porn with such heart. There is only clarity and truth on the page. Not yours or my truth, and not even hers. But truth that we will see things differently and that there comes a time in our lives when we choose to take a step toward learning what we believe in and not what we are taught. She does all of this without extreme angst. Lacey Anne doesn’t end up getting kicked out of her house because of her doubting heart. Her parents don’t disown her. Instead they try to take tentative steps towards understanding one another. That understanding has not come in my own life and because of that I love this book dearly. It makes me believe that it’s possible.

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Mar 21, 2012 Chamera rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2012

Upon first glance, Small Town Sinners draws you in. The cover definitely does the book justice, and the name itself is provocative and intriguing. Many of us realize however, that it is not the cover or even the title that makes a book, it is the content inside. And in the case of Melissa Walker's novel, the content inside is definitely breathtaking. Small Town Sinners is the story of a sixteen year old girl in a very small town. In her town, where religion plays a major role, she is seen as the...more Upon first glance, Small Town Sinners draws you in. The cover definitely does the book justice, and the name itself is provocative and intriguing. Many of us realize however, that it is not the cover or even the title that makes a book, it is the content inside. And in the case of Melissa Walker's novel, the content inside is definitely breathtaking. Small Town Sinners is the story of a sixteen year old girl in a very small town. In her town, where religion plays a major role, she is seen as the ultimate good girl.

She obeys her parents, does well in school, and she lives well within the spectrum of her evangelical faith. She, however, craves more than being just the good girl. She wants the spotlight, at least once in her life, and with Hell House, the annual production held by her church, she finally has a chance at that spotlight. But with the arrival of Ty Davis, Lacey begins to question all she knows to be true.

What most compels me about this book is not certain quotes or chapters, but the meanings behind it. Walker manages to touch on the topics of religion, abortion, gay relationships, and a whole slew of other topics that most people tend to avoid with grace. While reading, I found myself combating with the ideals of Lacey Anne Byer, and with everything she has been taught. From the beginning, Walker makes it known that certain topics will come up. If you are uncomfortable with the topics, work through your grievances and finish the book. It is definitely worth it. Walker doesn't infuse the book with her own beliefs. This is one of the main reasons why I call this book refreshing. It is obvious that instead of saying, "This is what you should believe" or "This is the right path to go", she simply lets Lacey state her opinion, or the opinions given to her from childhood.

In the end, that is what this story is about. It isn't about the social stereotypes and taboos given to people of different beliefs. It is about having the right to choose what you believe, having the right to speculate about what is right and wrong in your eyes, and most important it is about having the right - and the courage- to stand up for what you believe. Small Town Sinners could really help many people look at the world with fresh eyes. It isn't about what you believe, it's about not letting people pressure you into their beliefs. Walker's fifth YA novel offers an exhilarating look into the life of young girl growing into herself, one that I belief everyone would enjoy. I would recommend this book to the fullest, to people of all genders and age ranges. This is one book that will linger with you, and the diverse personalities of the characters just make it all the more enjoyable.

5 out of 5 stars

(Review for Mera's YA Book List)(less)

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Feb 02, 2012 Reading Teen rated it 5 of 5 stars

After reading only a few pages of Small Town Sinners, I began to have an uneasy feeling. I quickly learn that Lacey Anne Byer is the only child of the Children's Pastor of The House of Enlightenment Church and his wife. They live in a small town somewhere in the midwest and the church is a major influence in their town. The fact that I am a Christian myself causes me to be sensitive to how God, Jesus, the Bible and the church are portrayed. As I read, I was concerned about the tone that the auth...more After reading only a few pages of Small Town Sinners, I began to have an uneasy feeling. I quickly learn that Lacey Anne Byer is the only child of the Children's Pastor of The House of Enlightenment Church and his wife. They live in a small town somewhere in the midwest and the church is a major influence in their town. The fact that I am a Christian myself causes me to be sensitive to how God, Jesus, the Bible and the church are portrayed. As I read, I was concerned about the tone that the author would take and how Christianity and religion would be portrayed. Many times the beliefs and rituals of some churches, especially those that are not of the mainstream denominations, are held up to be ridiculed. This was my concern and question and they weren't answered until I was deep into the story.

The backdrop of this story is the production of a Hell House scheduled to be presented on Halloween weekend. Hell House productions are done in contrast to Haunted Houses filled with ghosts and goblins. The Hell House was put on by the Youth Leaders of the House of Enlightenment as an outreach to the community and outlying areas. It was intended to show the eternal consequences of sinful choices that many people make and cause them to repent and give their lives to God. The scenes included things like abortion, drugs, gay marriage, suicide, domestic violence, cyberporn and drunk driving. Auditions were held for those who wanted to participate and lead roles were highly prized among the older teens. Even though Lacey Ann was only a junior, she greatly desired the lead role as Abortion Girl. Lacey has had a very sheltered and regimented upbringing by strict, loving parents. She has followed all the expected paths and has been happy doing so. She has a love for God and her parents and has a great desire to be the person that they all want her to be. It is only when a boy comes to town (of course!!) that Lacey begins to question the things that she has simply accepted as true for so long. As the preparation of Hell House continues, Lacey starts to look at things differently and acknowledge some doubts. This is where this book is different from so many others. Lacey does not become a crazy, rebellious girl who discards everything she's ever believed in to follow a wild, immoral guy into illegal activity. Instead, Ty Davis asks Lacey questions....questions that are difficult for Lacey to answer with her own voice. Trying to find these answers leads Lacey down a path of discovery of herself and the God she thought she knew so well.

The author, Melissa Walker, has done an excellent job of presenting a slice of life and then allowing the reader to come to their own conclusions. It would be so easy to make fun of these people who put so much time, effort and importance into this Hell House show. To Melissa Walker's credit, she does not do that. We are asked to take these people as they are...honest, sincere, God-fearing people who are doing their best to live godly lives. We are not directed to agree with everything they believe or to see them as foolish, misguided people. Like Lacey, we are asked to consider what we believe and why. My original uneasiness was replaced with admiration for the author's ability to balance more than one viewpoint and give them equal value. Thank you Melissa Walker for a great book! I would highly recommend this book for teens and adults.
Content:

Profanity: Moderate
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violence: Mild
Other Notables: Religious issues

Readingteen.net(less)

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Jan 04, 2012 Britney rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved SMALL TOWN SINNERS so much because I could really relate to Lacey. No, I didn't grow up in a devoutly religious home, or a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business, or even around Hell Houses. But I did grow up trying to please everyone but myself, and I still feel like I don't really know who "I" am. The "who am I" question is a question that everyone deals with at some point in their life, and I just adore the way Lacey begins to find herself. (The literary term for a "...more I loved SMALL TOWN SINNERS so much because I could really relate to Lacey. No, I didn't grow up in a devoutly religious home, or a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business, or even around Hell Houses. But I did grow up trying to please everyone but myself, and I still feel like I don't really know who "I" am. The "who am I" question is a question that everyone deals with at some point in their life, and I just adore the way Lacey begins to find herself. (The literary term for a "coming of age" story is bildungsroman in case you were curious. How's that for random literary knowledge?) SMALL TOWN SINNERS addresses bullying, drunk driving, teen pregnancy, and abuse all while placing it in a realistic context. By "realistic context" I mean that the situations are all happening in a realistic way and not the hard-to-believe way that sometimes happens in novels. These events do not all happen to one person; they do not all have the worst possible consequences. Each situation has a different layer of complexity. For example, the majority of drunk driving themes in today's novels result in death, and death is a very real consequence of drunk driving. However, there are less severe consequences that are just as damaging to a person. Dealing with the fact that you were the cause of someone else's injury, or the way people react toward you after the accident can be very traumatic as well. This is just one example of how Melissa Walker eloquently addresses serious teen issues.

I also really loved the treatment of the Hell House. I have actually attended one of these before, although it was a less severely named Judgement House, and I don't remember the scenes being as intense as they are in the book (although my memory seems to be failing lately). The Hell House in STS helps Lacey to understand that it's time she start questioning her beliefs, not because they are wrong, but because she needs to discover what SHE believes and not what she is told to believe. I liked the way Walker put it (and I'm paraphrasing here), "My parents already have their answers so there's no room for questions. I have questions and need to find the answers for myself." Like I said, that is not an exact quote, but it embodies the beautiful message of the novel.

This book does deal with religious views, and while I wouldn't call it a "religious novel" I would caution that some of the images created and beliefs represented in the Hell House may be extreme for some readers. Scenes include suicide, abortion, and the Devil. These issues and descriptions were no problem for me; however, they may be too graphic for younger readers. I suggestion parents read STS before allowing children under15 to do so.
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Dec 31, 2011 Pedmy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Lacey Anne is a difficult character. So are her parents. The book is really, really religious.You really shoud be open minded before you start this book. Also don't plan to read it in one sitting unless you're prepared to throw this book all over the place.

I was muttering ridiculousness at so many of the "facts" this book gives. Lacey Ann has next to know confidence in her own thoughts, even when she does begin to grow some it dashes away and comes back up out of no where. It's okay though becau...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Lacey's always known what her path in life is supposed to be, and she follows it like the good Christian girl she is. Right now she's hoping for a lead in the church's annual Hell House,so she can be on the front lines saving souls. Then Ty comes to town, and Lacey begins to question her beliefs for the first time. Just because you know something's right, does it mean it's right for everybody? What if faith's not something you're given, but something you have to earn for yourself?

This is a pow...more Lacey's always known what her path in life is supposed to be, and she follows it like the good Christian girl she is. Right now she's hoping for a lead in the church's annual Hell House,so she can be on the front lines saving souls. Then Ty comes to town, and Lacey begins to question her beliefs for the first time. Just because you know something's right, does it mean it's right for everybody? What if faith's not something you're given, but something you have to earn for yourself?

This is a powerful book with a strong voice. Lacey's evangelical Christian lifestyle is clearly presented without being preachy. There's a lot of focus on friendship and community, and the strength one derives from them. It's not about being Christian so much as it's about growing up, and learning that sometimes you have to walk away from something to find your way back.

Hell Houses are real, and the one portrayed here is a classic example. They're an extreme method of outreach, and a popular one. The teens in the novel are enthusiastic supporters, viewing it as their own personal battle in the war against evil. It's important to bear in mind that they are blindly following what they've been told all their lives, and have no personal experience with their subject matter.

It's when these "sins" enter their own lives that things start to change. Kissed for the first time, Lacey begins to see her friend's pregnancy in a new light. When her parents forbid her from seeing Ty, suddenly lying doesn't seem like that big a deal. This is a story about being raised in a clearly black-and-white world, and what happens when you find out there's infinite shades of gray.

This is an excellent read, thought-provoking and full of depth. The author never comes down on one side of an issue; the fact that there are as many sides as there are individuals is the whole point. The message here is as timeless as it is important - before you can believe in anything, you first have to believe in yourself. (less)

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Aug 20, 2011 Angel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Discovery: I’ve actually been looking for YA books that discuss religion, so when I heard about Small Town Sinners, I decided to avoid any reviews and read it for myself.

+ Focus on human struggles. I loved that the church itself wasn’t the focus of this novel. I find that it’s become very easy to accuse any religion of being wrong simply on the basis of human action and it was refreshing to see that Melissa Walker was fair in her portrayal of evangelical Christianity. In the hours since I read i...more Discovery: I’ve actually been looking for YA books that discuss religion, so when I heard about Small Town Sinners, I decided to avoid any reviews and read it for myself.

+ Focus on human struggles. I loved that the church itself wasn’t the focus of this novel. I find that it’s become very easy to accuse any religion of being wrong simply on the basis of human action and it was refreshing to see that Melissa Walker was fair in her portrayal of evangelical Christianity. In the hours since I read it, I’ve looked up reviews. A lot of them have lambasted the characters for being too goody-goody or as fandom would say, Mary-Sues. What many of them fail to realize is that these characters aren’t ever going to be total rebels. It’s not in their nature to do a 180-degree turn from being model children into little monsters. The novel’s focus is on the grey areas of morality and how each person reacts accordingly.

+ Writing style. I’m always a little nervous when I start books like this one, because without a deft hand guiding the narrative, it can fall into preachy territory. Thankfully, Melissa Walker is able to pull off a calm and believable voice in Lacey Anne Byer. I’d like to think that even people who feel strongly against evangelicals will find it easy to sympathize and understand Lacey. She isn’t completely brainwashed, as some may assume, but simply a girl who is trying to do the right thing. Following her journey to figure out what that means is satisfying.

- Pacing. This is just nitpicking because I think the book achieves what it set out to do, but there were scenes that I think could have been tightened during edits. I won’t name them specifically because most of them occur during the latter half of the novel. There were also scenes where I expected more introspection or commentary from Lacey and barely got any.

Recommendations: I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book to younger readers, but if they do find it, parental guidance (not dictatorship) would be appreciated. I can see how this book may offend some people, but I hope that any reader who picks it up will have the courage to keep an open mind.

Rating: Good.(less)

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Aug 20, 2011 Bibliojunkies rated it 3 of 5 stars

***

Synopsis taken from the author’s website:

Does falling in love mean falling out of faith?

“Lacey Anne Byer is a perennial good girl and lifelong member of the House of Enlightenment, the Evangelical church in her small town. With her driver's license in hand and the chance to try out for a lead role in Hell House, her church's annual haunted house of sin, Lacey's junior year is looking promising. But when a cute new stranger comes to town, something begins to stir inside her. Ty Davis doesn't...more

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Aug 20, 2011 Annie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-books

Small Town Sinners is the tale of Lacey Anne Byer who lives in the small town of West River. Lacey’s Christian upbringing and pastor father have cemented her as the good girl in town. Then she meets the new guy, Ty Davis. Ty is perfect boyfriend material in Lacey’s mind. The only thing standing in the way is Ty’s persistence of making Lacey think with her own words. Ty, and other events, are making Lacey question her faith. Suddenly Lacey has changed from seeing the world in black and white (rig...more Small Town Sinners is the tale of Lacey Anne Byer who lives in the small town of West River. Lacey’s Christian upbringing and pastor father have cemented her as the good girl in town. Then she meets the new guy, Ty Davis. Ty is perfect boyfriend material in Lacey’s mind. The only thing standing in the way is Ty’s persistence of making Lacey think with her own words. Ty, and other events, are making Lacey question her faith. Suddenly Lacey has changed from seeing the world in black and white (right and wrong) to varying shades of gray. What will this church girl do when forced to think about abortion, teen pregnancy, bullying and drunk driving without the input of faith?

I don’t know if I’m right but I keep coming back to the fact in my mind that I wasn’t raised in a faith driven house hold. I have no idea what Lacey is going through, I can’t relate. Therefore, I want to read about extremes. I want to be told that growing up Christian is worse than growing up like I did. I want to see the problems and I found the normalcy in Small Town Sinners tedious and boring. I wanted Lacey to fight back and rebel because I would have found it interesting, not because it would help her character grow. I don’t know if this is a hurtle I’ll ever be able to overcome but it definitely stopped me from enjoying Small Town Sinners.

Even with my own mental road block I still found Small Town Sinners okay. I loved the exploration of Hell Houses. Before I’d read this book I had no idea what a Hell House was. (A Hell House is like a haunted house but they scare you with grossly hyperbolized images the church believes are wrong. For example in Small Town Sinners one scene in the Hell House is a Gay Marriage where after getting married one of the husbands dies of AIDS and it is implied that only gay sex results in AIDS.) I found the whole idea of a Hell House shocking and at times unbelievable. I wish the topic and the rights and wrongs of it had been explored in more depth.

Overall, I found Small Town Sinners to be an okay read. I wish I could say it was fantastic and made me question my own morals but it really didn’t. If you’ve read Small Town Sinners and were left with a different opinion, let me know! I want to know what others thought about this book(less)

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Aug 05, 2011 Sarah BT rated it 5 of 5 stars

About the Book: Lacey Anne Byers has always been a good girl. She's grown up in the church, followed the rules, and she's never questioned anything. Lacey is excited to try out for a lead role in her church's Hell House production. When Ty Davis moves to town, Lacey befriends him. He's smart, funny, and Lacey likes him-a lot. Lacey can talk to Ty about her faith, something her friends have never discussed much. Ty asks questions that Lacey has never asked and she begins to doubt if everything is...more About the Book: Lacey Anne Byers has always been a good girl. She's grown up in the church, followed the rules, and she's never questioned anything. Lacey is excited to try out for a lead role in her church's Hell House production. When Ty Davis moves to town, Lacey befriends him. He's smart, funny, and Lacey likes him-a lot. Lacey can talk to Ty about her faith, something her friends have never discussed much. Ty asks questions that Lacey has never asked and she begins to doubt if everything is as black and white, right and wrong as she once believed.

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I have been a longtime fan of Melissa Walker's and I think that Small Town Sinners is Melissa's standout book. She writes a story about faith, first love, and searching in a wonderfully realistic way.

As a Christian myself, I'm often hesitant to read portrayals of faith and Christians in fiction. Christian fiction is too corny and unrealistic to me whereas secular fiction often portrays Christian's as crazy nut jobs. Small Town Sinners does neither. The story is non-judgmental and it's up to the readers to answer their own questions and decide what they think. While the adults aren't always the best and they do things that I didn't agree with, no one was over the top, and I found this to be more realistic.

Instead of taking one side or another, Small Town Sinners has a wonderful balance. Hell House's aren't shown in a way that's extreme good or extreme bad. I'm personally not a fan of the Hell House idea, but I liked the explanations that Lacey gave about the reason and how they can be effective. This worked for me and I didn't feel like the book was preaching to me one way or the other. There is scripture used, which so often I feel is corny in books, but for some reason I liked it here. Maybe because I knew this wasn't really labeled "Christian Fiction" so I didn't feel like I was supposed to be getting a message from the book. Instead of just being thrown in there just because it needed to be, I felt it fit Lacey's character as she struggled with her faith.

What I loved most about the novel is that Lacey is a relatable, real, character. She understands that her faith cannot just be what her parents believe, but it has to become her own. In order to make it her own, she must ask questions and discover what she believes-and that's not a bad thing. So often we're told, especially in Christian fiction, that doubt is a bad thing. But in Small Town Sinners, doubt is part of life and it's needed to better understand your faith. This is a message that very often gets lots and I think it added a wonderful depth to the story. There are never easy answers and Lacey isn't left knowing the answers to everything-and that's OK.

The supporting cast adds a layer to the story. This isn't just a story about faith, but it's a story of first love, teen pregnancy, searching for answers, friendship, loyalty, and forgiveness. It all wraps up into a fantastic package that I highly recommend to all readers.

Book Pairings: Sorta Like a Rockstar by Matthew Quick, The Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Frietas
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Aug 01, 2011 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nook

As someone fascinated by Hell Houses and Evangelical Christian (I watch/read everything I can get my hands on in regards to these topics), I was excited when I heard about the concept of this book. And once I found out it was released, I snapped it up on my Nook. Thank GOODNESS for instant gratification.

I liked that the question of one of the character's sexuality is never really answered because, in the eyes of the characters closest to this one, it doesn't matter. The cast of characters, as an...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Rachael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lacey Anne Byer has always been the good girl. She obeys her nine o’clock curfew, attends church regularly, and never argues with her parents. She’s never minded not being the center of attention, but this year, Lacey is definitely ready for a movie moment or at least something more than ordinary. This year, she’s determined to land a good role in Hell House, her church’s way of teaching about sin and drawing new people to their faith. She’s sure that’ll be her chance to shine. But then Ty Davis...more Lacey Anne Byer has always been the good girl. She obeys her nine o’clock curfew, attends church regularly, and never argues with her parents. She’s never minded not being the center of attention, but this year, Lacey is definitely ready for a movie moment or at least something more than ordinary. This year, she’s determined to land a good role in Hell House, her church’s way of teaching about sin and drawing new people to their faith. She’s sure that’ll be her chance to shine. But then Ty Davis moves to town, and suddenly, all Lacey can think about is shining in a different sort of way—a way that would get Ty to notice her. Ty is sweet, smart, and cute, and Lacey finds herself falling for him even though the fact that he doesn’t believe like she does confuses her. But as the number of shocks and conflicts connected to Hell House increase, Ty is the only person she can talk to as she starts to question the behavior of her church community. And as these conflicts grow closer to home, Lacey will have to decide whether she wants to be the girl shaped only by her church’s beliefs or the girl who’s defined by her own.

I’ve always found it a little difficult to read books that are so heavily connected to religion and faith, mostly because I have my own doubts and am just not a very religious person. Small Town Sinners, however, is thankfully in no way preachy; it neither endorses nor condemns the beliefs and practices of one religious sect but instead explores the gray areas between organized religion and personal faith. Walker has taken an interesting look at a girl from a very conservative evangelist family who is confronted by a series of events which cause her to doubt and question everything she was raised to believe. Lacey’s journey to self confidence and self definition is beautifully portrayed and realistically written because Walked has a true talent for crafting such complex and utterly believable characters. I’ll admit that it was still hard for me to get through certain sections of this book where the more negative side of organized religion and the more controlling part of conservatism came into play, especially because Lacey’s character often got trampled under all of this. I can’t deny, though, that Walker has done a wonderful job of showing the integral role that religion and faith can play is people’s lives, usually for the better.

Fans of the Violet trilogy by Melissa Walker will be interested in taking a look at her newest novel, Small Town Sinners, despite its rather different content. This novel will also appeal to fans of The Dark Divine by Bree Despain and Days of Little Texas by R.A. Nelson.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com (less)

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Jul 20, 2011 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Small Town Sinners follows Lacy a sixteen year old Evangelical Christian who has always seen the world as black and white. Now that she is a Junior Lacy is eligible to audition for a part in her churches hell house (a horror house that leads viewers through various sins) and Lacy wants to be the abortion girl. Through a series of events including an old friend returning to town and her sisters best friend's pregnancy Lacy starts to wonder if the world is as black and white as she has always beli...more

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Jul 15, 2011 Kelly Hager rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lacey Ann Byer is the kind of kid every parent would want. She's sweet, smart, respectful and active in church. (But it's genuine; she's not like Katherine in Cruel Intentions.) She's so committed to the Lord that she wants a lead role in her church's Hell House. But not just any role---she wants to be Abortion Girl, one of the most powerful scenes in the house. (Hell Houses are designed to get people saved by scaring the crap out of them.) And then things change. She meets this guy and things h...more

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Jul 10, 2011 Chelsea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lacey Byer has always been a good girl and perfect Christian. She also just turned sixteen, which not only means she gets her driver's license, but also makes her old enough to try out for a lead role in this year's Hell House. Lacey's father is the Children's Pastor at the local community church in her small town, so the Hell House production has always been a "movie moment" goal for her. And this year's show promises to be the best ever. But then things begin to happen in the lives of her best...more

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Sep 03, 2011 Tough Critic Book Reviews rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was Sarah Dessen meets Christian Fiction (and I don't mean that in a good way). The overall concept of the book had some real potential. Lacy Anne is a preacher's kid brought up in a "stereotypical" christian home. She has always adopted her parent's beliefs as her own without question. Now enters hot new love interest. Before long, he has Lacy Anne asking herself what does she believe; she's finally forced to think for herself. For the first time ever, her eyes are opened to the hypoc...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Briana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: on-my-shelf

Prior to reading this book, I've never heard of a "hell house". I knew that there were people in the world that were judgmental towards others (due to their beliefs,) but this takes it to a whole new level. For me, the fascination with this book was half because of the actual plot and half because of the hell house scenes.

I know that a lot of people tend to shy away from books about religion and I do understand why. I hate when people, books, movies, etc. push their beliefs on me. I don't feel l...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Katelyn rated it 2 of 5 stars

In a balance of form and craft over content, it's easy to tell what tipped the scale here. The concept is an interesting one: our main character, Lacey, is a preacher's kid and active in her church's youth group. The plot revolves around her involvement with a new boy in town with a questionable background and how their relationship conflicts with her zeal for her youth group's Hell House production, a radical outreach event in which Lacey plays a girl condemned to hell for getting an abortion....more

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Jul 25, 2011 Jen Bigheart (I Read Banned Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4.5 Stars

What a refreshing book! I honestly don't think I've read anything like this story. I know of a few recent YAs that have religious undertones, but this is the first (for me) where the overall theme is faith and sin. This story reminds me a lot of my own childhood. I grew up in a strict Christian home and I found myself wanting to rebel the second I turned 14. I was just like Lacey, I wanted to find my own way and start to make decisions based on what I believed, and not necessarily what...more 4.5 Stars

What a refreshing book! I honestly don't think I've read anything like this story. I know of a few recent YAs that have religious undertones, but this is the first (for me) where the overall theme is faith and sin. This story reminds me a lot of my own childhood. I grew up in a strict Christian home and I found myself wanting to rebel the second I turned 14. I was just like Lacey, I wanted to find my own way and start to make decisions based on what I believed, and not necessarily what was drilled into my head since the day I was born. I must say that Lacey has a great head on her shoulders. She knows when she reaches a crossroad and takes time to weigh out the choices. Me? I dove right in and thought of the consequences later. Lacey is much smarter than I was. When Ty, a boy who questions everything and has a secret past, comes along she starts to realize that maybe not everything is black and white, so cut and dry. There may be shades of gray and decisions need to be made based on the surrounding circumstances.

By the synopsis, you might think this book is all about Ty and Lacey and the temptations of sex. While that does come up a few times, the Hell House (a church production of sinful horrors that shows devastating consequences - read HERE for an example) setting explores a variety of "sins" that young adults face every day -pre-marital sex, alcohol, drugs, and porn. Some of these issues come close to home for Lacey and her friends, and while we aren't too surprised of which way the opinion meter goes here, Walker does balance things with the help of Ty and his ideas about faith. He doesn't exactly stand behind the church on every topic and we see Ty and Lacey have some really deep and meaningful conversations. It is during these times in the park where I love the characters most. They are vulnerable and open to each others differing thoughts and they have intelligent discussions on some pretty heavy stuff. Walker gives these characters depth and presented them as complex and bright individuals. The alone time in the dark could have easily turned into sexy time, but Walker stayed true to Lacey's character and kept her integrity in tact. It just made me love Ty even more...

We watch Lacey basically grow up in the year that we know her. She is the perfect obedient child at day one and disregards her own individual thoughts while being guided by her overprotective father. When we part with Lacey a year later, we watch her navigate her own way with the help of what she knows to be true and the welcome advice of her father.

4.5 Stars(less)

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Nov 28, 2011 Dolores rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a little difficult for me to review. On one level, I found it so difficult to relate to the characters in this book they might have well as been from outer space. When Lacey suggested that it was okay that the bully who was picking on one of her friends was getting off with no consequences because his performance in Hell House would save souls, it sort of blew my mind. Especially since the kid he was tormenting was okay with that too. But on the other hand, these kids seemed relatively n...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Ann Marie Perez rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was very different to me. I really enjoyed reading it. I believe that so many people can actually relate to this story and actually want to keep reading it. The main characters are: Lacey Anne, Tyson Davis, Starla Joy, and Dean. They were the best of friends and would always hang out together. This book has some action to it and has real life situations in it. Such as how Starla Joys' sister gets pregnant by her boyfriend Jeremy and has to go to Saint Angele's. I really love how this b...more

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Sep 12, 2011 Courtney added it

Shelves: 2011, ya-fiction

Melissa Walker's Lovestruck Summer is a feel-good favourite book of mine and I was curious to see how small town, good girl, Preacher's daughter Lacey Ann Byer would compare to Quinn, who I adored. Not necessarily fair of me but I was just curious. I loved and believed in Quinn's snarky cynicism and I knew Lacey was going to be pretty much the opposite of that, obviously, so I wondered if I would love her character and believe in her too. Did I? Short answer: yes!

Small Town Sinners is very comin...more Melissa Walker's Lovestruck Summer is a feel-good favourite book of mine and I was curious to see how small town, good girl, Preacher's daughter Lacey Ann Byer would compare to Quinn, who I adored. Not necessarily fair of me but I was just curious. I loved and believed in Quinn's snarky cynicism and I knew Lacey was going to be pretty much the opposite of that, obviously, so I wondered if I would love her character and believe in her too. Did I? Short answer: yes!

Small Town Sinners is very coming of age. It's about a girl who begins questioning her beliefs after getting one of the biggest roles (Abortion Girl) in her Evangelical church's Hell House--Lacey gets the role because the original Abortion Girl, Tessa, has gotten pregnant. At first she's happy (but of course devastated about Tessa) but as Hell House gets underway she is exposed to a lot of double standards (ie Tessa being talked about while the baby's father seems to walk around with an unscathed reputation) that give her pause. They make her see her father and her community in a whole new light. Add to that mix a new boy in town named Ty who gently challenges her belief system and before long, Lacey realizes the world and her faith is not so black and white as she thought it was and how scary that can be at first.

Melissa Walker writes with a sincerity that invades every single page. The most admirable thing about Small Town Sinners is that she got the execution completely RIGHT. This is the type of book where a lesser writer could make a lot of offensive missteps, but Melissa listens to and understands her characters--every single one of them--and has managed to write a beautiful and heartful story that touches on faith and politics WITHOUT agenda. I made a lot of snap judgments about certain characters and in the end and I have never been more delighted to be proved wrong about them, honestly. My absolute favourite thing about the book was that it wasn't about learning to open your mind to a certain way of thinking (again, it wasn't a book with that kind of agenda) it was a book about learning to open your mind. Reading about Lacey becoming comfortable with the very idea of just asking questions was a really touching thing to witness. There are no cliches here either--everyone is allowed to be human. Even the characters that really made me angry. It was just good, good, good.

As always, Melissa delivers the voice and romance. Lacey was believable and likeable. So was Ty. And their relationship was never predictable but always thought provoking. It was just so refreshing to see two people work hard to understand each other and how that understanding paved way to forgiveness and acceptance in their other relationships. At its core, this is basically a book about learning how to listen to each other and that makes me feel absolutely everyone should read it. Wonderful book.(less)

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