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Christine's Odyssey #1
Raised in a hotbed of arguments and fights, eleven-year-old Christine Simms is the victim of her mother's temper and cruelty. A domestic dispute ends in tragedy, sending the family into a tailspin.
A shocking discovery sends Christine on a quest to find the stranger who left her behind in Jamaica. Determined to unravel the mystery of her birth, Christine uses every tool at her disposal and treads with courage where no child should.
A shocking discovery sends Christine on a quest to find the stranger who left her behind in Jamaica. Determined to unravel the mystery of her birth, Christine uses every tool at her disposal and treads with courage where no child should.
ebook
First published March 27, 2013
3 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Campbell
109 books309 followersJ.L. Campbell is fascinated with Jamaican flora and has hundreds of photos in her collection. She writes contemporary and sweet romance, romantic suspense, women's fiction, as well as new and young adult novels.
Campbell, who features Jamaican culture in her stories, has written over forty books. She is also a certified editor.
Feel free to join her mailing list for news and updates https://sendfox.com/lp/1rk5gx or connect with her on social media.
Campbell, who features Jamaican culture in her stories, has written over forty books. She is also a certified editor.
Feel free to join her mailing list for news and updates https://sendfox.com/lp/1rk5gx or connect with her on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 28, 2015
I'm writing this review for Diverse Book Tours (Woohoo!), and received a copy of Christine's Odyssey in exchange for my honest review. So, here it is…
First, I should say that I originally thought this was a mid-grade book, and when I started reading it I thought the designation was crazy because it is DEFINITELY NOT a mid-grade book. The heroine of the story is eleven years old, but that doesn't make the content appropriate for middle-schoolers. There are some fairly gory, violent moments, but I'll get to that later.
The story is set in Jamaica and written by a Jamaican woman, so it's probably pretty authentic in description of customs, language, and setting. Not a lot of time is devoted to describing things, but the feeling of the place comes up naturally as the story progresses. I enjoyed spending time in a warmer part of the world, especially since it's so freezing cold here right now.
I liked how gritty and realistic the story stayed as I followed Christine's thoughts and actions (even though I can't say that was actually enjoyable. It wasn't supposed to be), and how the voice changed when the story was told through the eyes of adults. This would be a good book for people who want to understand adopted and foster kids better. Obviously, not all kids go through the same crazy things Christine did, but they go through other crazy things and many of them just as bad. There were times when the girl's thoughts seemed a little too heavy-handed, along the lines of "If my mom doesn't love me, how could anyone else love me?" which I think a lot of people feel, but probably eleven-year-olds don't articulate it. But it didn't happen often and it wasn't unforgivable.
The mood of the book is fairly dark, not surprising considering the content, and doesn't start to lighten until near the end. Because of this, I probably wouldn’t have read it if I hadn't signed up for the book tour, but I'm glad I did. I'll have to read a couple fun, lighthearted books before I go on to the next in the series because I don't do dark very well, but I'll eventually read book 2.
There were few editing issues and the story flowed well, with the exception of some formatting problems. At times I had difficulty following conversations because the paragraphs were broken up in odd places and I had to re-read to figure out who was talking. It seemed like the hard return had been placed instead of spaces, or something. Similarly, there were several times when a section was ended by the scene-end marker, but the scene hadn't actually ended and the point of view had not changed. I didn't get that at all and it annoyed me a little, but not enough to get me ranting or anything. Also, once or twice the scene actually did change without warning. One minute Christine was sitting under the tree and the next someone was hugging her in the living room. I re-read a couple times to figure out what was going on.
I got frustrated with the adults in the book quite a few times, but I was supposed to so that's not a downside. It's infuriating that people can be so selfish and weak. Not saying I'm never that person, but a few times in the book, adults (even adults we're supposed to like) made choices that were just wrong for the sake of their own convenience. Rather than seeing this as a weakness in the book, I see it as a call to see our own weakness and consider inconveniencing ourselves for the sake of others. I'm further encouraged to consider adopting older children when my own (adopted) child is older.
Language: I remember one time when 'Jesus' was used as a profanity, and that's it.
Sexual Content: None.
Violence: Some beatings and surprisingly graphic violence near the beginning.
Over-all Message/Plot: This isn't plot-heavy fiction. I recommend to anyone who enjoys realistic drama and doesn't mind that most of the book is told from the point of view of an eleven-year-old.
First, I should say that I originally thought this was a mid-grade book, and when I started reading it I thought the designation was crazy because it is DEFINITELY NOT a mid-grade book. The heroine of the story is eleven years old, but that doesn't make the content appropriate for middle-schoolers. There are some fairly gory, violent moments, but I'll get to that later.
The story is set in Jamaica and written by a Jamaican woman, so it's probably pretty authentic in description of customs, language, and setting. Not a lot of time is devoted to describing things, but the feeling of the place comes up naturally as the story progresses. I enjoyed spending time in a warmer part of the world, especially since it's so freezing cold here right now.
I liked how gritty and realistic the story stayed as I followed Christine's thoughts and actions (even though I can't say that was actually enjoyable. It wasn't supposed to be), and how the voice changed when the story was told through the eyes of adults. This would be a good book for people who want to understand adopted and foster kids better. Obviously, not all kids go through the same crazy things Christine did, but they go through other crazy things and many of them just as bad. There were times when the girl's thoughts seemed a little too heavy-handed, along the lines of "If my mom doesn't love me, how could anyone else love me?" which I think a lot of people feel, but probably eleven-year-olds don't articulate it. But it didn't happen often and it wasn't unforgivable.
The mood of the book is fairly dark, not surprising considering the content, and doesn't start to lighten until near the end. Because of this, I probably wouldn’t have read it if I hadn't signed up for the book tour, but I'm glad I did. I'll have to read a couple fun, lighthearted books before I go on to the next in the series because I don't do dark very well, but I'll eventually read book 2.
There were few editing issues and the story flowed well, with the exception of some formatting problems. At times I had difficulty following conversations because the paragraphs were broken up in odd places and I had to re-read to figure out who was talking. It seemed like the hard return had been placed instead of spaces, or something. Similarly, there were several times when a section was ended by the scene-end marker, but the scene hadn't actually ended and the point of view had not changed. I didn't get that at all and it annoyed me a little, but not enough to get me ranting or anything. Also, once or twice the scene actually did change without warning. One minute Christine was sitting under the tree and the next someone was hugging her in the living room. I re-read a couple times to figure out what was going on.
I got frustrated with the adults in the book quite a few times, but I was supposed to so that's not a downside. It's infuriating that people can be so selfish and weak. Not saying I'm never that person, but a few times in the book, adults (even adults we're supposed to like) made choices that were just wrong for the sake of their own convenience. Rather than seeing this as a weakness in the book, I see it as a call to see our own weakness and consider inconveniencing ourselves for the sake of others. I'm further encouraged to consider adopting older children when my own (adopted) child is older.
Language: I remember one time when 'Jesus' was used as a profanity, and that's it.
Sexual Content: None.
Violence: Some beatings and surprisingly graphic violence near the beginning.
Over-all Message/Plot: This isn't plot-heavy fiction. I recommend to anyone who enjoys realistic drama and doesn't mind that most of the book is told from the point of view of an eleven-year-old.
May 31, 2013
Life is complicated. It throws curve balls at us. We are faced with constant challenges.
As an adult, I always wonder at the unfairness of life, and more often than not, there are no satisfying answers. So imagine trying to comprehend the unfairness of it all from an 11-year old POV? My heart went out to Christine, who displays a maturity beyond her years. It's the maturity of a young survivor, whose difficult circumstances have forced her to take on an adult role and help look after her younger siblings.
The author has created an enchanting main character, a girl who is blessed with an enquiring mind and a positive spirit. Every time her little heart was shattered, she would pick herself up, find a way to bounce back from the ordeal and hang on to that little thread of hope...
Christine does well when it comes to processing and making sense of the various shocking and painful events that unfold during the course of the story.
I think that this story has a universal appeal, because it is a reality! We all know of, or have heard about a youngster trapped in a similar situation. There is a powerful message here that makes this a must-read for youngsters of Christine's age.
As an adult, I always wonder at the unfairness of life, and more often than not, there are no satisfying answers. So imagine trying to comprehend the unfairness of it all from an 11-year old POV? My heart went out to Christine, who displays a maturity beyond her years. It's the maturity of a young survivor, whose difficult circumstances have forced her to take on an adult role and help look after her younger siblings.
The author has created an enchanting main character, a girl who is blessed with an enquiring mind and a positive spirit. Every time her little heart was shattered, she would pick herself up, find a way to bounce back from the ordeal and hang on to that little thread of hope...
Christine does well when it comes to processing and making sense of the various shocking and painful events that unfold during the course of the story.
I think that this story has a universal appeal, because it is a reality! We all know of, or have heard about a youngster trapped in a similar situation. There is a powerful message here that makes this a must-read for youngsters of Christine's age.
January 12, 2014
After witnessing the murder of her father by her abusive mother, Christine suddenly finds herself taken in by an aunt her barely knows. The sorrow she feels at the loss of her loving father is compounded by the fact that she is separated from her four younger siblings. Now she is living in a stable and caring home and no longer has to worry about being beaten and, for the first time, has her own room. But her brothers and sisters are sent to a children's home. This causes her to feel guilty. Why, her? Why is life now treating her so well while her siblings languish in a place where she can only see them once every two weeks?
And Christine's questions don't stop there. She is a bright, curious girl. She wants to know why her mother singled her out for abuse. She wants to know why her father doted on her, yet didn't protect her from the abuse she received. But is she really prepared to learn the truth?
Ms. Campbell tells a real story about real people. By real I mean, these kinds of things can and do happen to all over the world. That her story is set in Jamaica only makes the setting unique. Anyone can identify with her characters.
And Christine's questions don't stop there. She is a bright, curious girl. She wants to know why her mother singled her out for abuse. She wants to know why her father doted on her, yet didn't protect her from the abuse she received. But is she really prepared to learn the truth?
Ms. Campbell tells a real story about real people. By real I mean, these kinds of things can and do happen to all over the world. That her story is set in Jamaica only makes the setting unique. Anyone can identify with her characters.
February 21, 2015
I truly liked this book. J.L. Campbell is obviously a very gifted writer because I was hooked from the very start. It was so heartbreaking at points, especially the tragedy that happened for such young children. it was awful but the author really portrayed it well. Ma'am was a horrible mother and wife but she was such a complicated character that I wanted to learn more about her frame of mind from the time she met Maxwell. It's easy to call her selfish but I still wanted to delve deeper into her character. Which is my same feeling for Maxwell, I wanted to know even more about him and what made him make the choices he made like staying with a woman who obviously disliked his daughter, and having even more children with her.
Even at the end though and Christine got everything she wanted to be happy, I was still so sad for the rest of the kids :( It was a great book thoughand I would highly recommend it!
Even at the end though and Christine got everything she wanted to be happy, I was still so sad for the rest of the kids :( It was a great book thoughand I would highly recommend it!
August 7, 2013
Christine's Odyssey deals with an all too common domestic problem, that of child abuse - in this case, violence.
Christine is a beautiful child (the cover of this novel is exquisite), forced to an emotional maturity beyond her years and caught in an dangerous domestic situation. Her stepmother's hatred and violence reach a crescendo when her father's emotional weakness results in catastrophe for the family.
Excellently written, there are moments of despair and of love. J.L Campbell draws a fine portrait of a child at the brink of recovery - or not - from her ordeal as past secrets are revealed. The characters, including that of Christine's siblings, are realistic, making it easy to invest concern in their welfare.
An excellent read and highly recommended. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, Saving Sam.
Christine is a beautiful child (the cover of this novel is exquisite), forced to an emotional maturity beyond her years and caught in an dangerous domestic situation. Her stepmother's hatred and violence reach a crescendo when her father's emotional weakness results in catastrophe for the family.
Excellently written, there are moments of despair and of love. J.L Campbell draws a fine portrait of a child at the brink of recovery - or not - from her ordeal as past secrets are revealed. The characters, including that of Christine's siblings, are realistic, making it easy to invest concern in their welfare.
An excellent read and highly recommended. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, Saving Sam.
May 30, 2013
The novel begins with Christine, an eleven-year-old girl, being abused by her mother. When tragedy strikes, Christine loses the one person she's always been able to turn to. Along with her suspicions and what her aunt confirms, Christine uncovers a big secret about her origins and a past that the grownups around her have tried to conceal. Christine presses on, finding the truth about who she is and where she came from.
The abuse Christine goes through is torturous and reading those scenes stirred my emotions. With the focus on the turmoil and changes in her family life and her inner strength, this is a page turner. I also enjoyed the adult characters, particularly the ones who favored Christine and guided her in her odyssey.
The abuse Christine goes through is torturous and reading those scenes stirred my emotions. With the focus on the turmoil and changes in her family life and her inner strength, this is a page turner. I also enjoyed the adult characters, particularly the ones who favored Christine and guided her in her odyssey.
January 15, 2014
Christine, the oldest of five children, lives with an adoring father and an abusive mother. When tragedy strikes, the abuse ends and Christine's life changes, but she still has problems and dilemmas to deal with.
Christine is a strong, intelligent character portrayed most sympathetically. Author Campbell draws us in from the start and has us caring for what happens to Christine and her family. Finely drawn story and dialogs, beautiful cover and a great read. There is some violence described, but we also get to see love and warmth.
I would recommend this book for older children.
Disclaimer: I downloaded this book free from Story Cartel in exchange for an honest review.
Christine is a strong, intelligent character portrayed most sympathetically. Author Campbell draws us in from the start and has us caring for what happens to Christine and her family. Finely drawn story and dialogs, beautiful cover and a great read. There is some violence described, but we also get to see love and warmth.
I would recommend this book for older children.
Disclaimer: I downloaded this book free from Story Cartel in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2013
Great first line: A scream woke Christine.
You know it's going to be an interesting book.
This book is amazing. It's about the life of Christine and how she copes with loss and change. How she find happiness with those she never knew. I'm not sure if the book is meant for young adults because some of the themes and situations in the book are powerful. However, it's a story not easily forgotten.
You know it's going to be an interesting book.
This book is amazing. It's about the life of Christine and how she copes with loss and change. How she find happiness with those she never knew. I'm not sure if the book is meant for young adults because some of the themes and situations in the book are powerful. However, it's a story not easily forgotten.
May 25, 2013
The beginning of this book is pretty rough for young YA readers, but the story overall is an excellent tale of family dynamics, love, and support. Christine is abused by the woman she knows as mother, ignored by the one who is her mother, and mothered by one who isn't her mother. And yes, it all works out quite well for Christine. I can hardly wait to read the second book in the series, which follows one of Christine's brothers.
March 7, 2015
Very riveting story from JL Campbell. My heart went out to Christine and her siblings for the horrific life they had because of a selfish adult who only cared out her issues (and they were many complicated ones); and a father who refused to "man-up" for the sake of his daughter until it eventually cost his life. This story did give me an insight into the adoption process and the issues foster children and the hopeful parents face. Well done JL Campbell.
May 3, 2013
This book opens with a bang (or a scream). Christine is such an adorable character and must endure such a harsh journey. You can't help but like this little battler. Very well written.
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June 16, 2013A powerful read! Heartbreaking - and heart mending too. Great story.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews