What do you think?
Rate this book
Chokecherry Girl
It’s 1958. Racial tension and class disparities have everyone on edge in a small Montana town. Despite their differences, three women of the community become the unlikeliest of friends.
BOBBI VERNON is a quirky teen, who will do whatever it takes to drive her teacher’s new Chevy convertible. Adding to the already volatile mix, she meets Pretty Weasel, an Indian basketball player, who calls her Chokecherry Girl. She dreams of dating him and wearing his class ring.
PATSY OLSON, after two failed marriages, is desperate to get her life back. After opening a beauty shop with a shaky bank loan, she watches Coach Vernon, Bobbi’s father, arriving for school each day. Attracted yet wary, she needs the business of the town ladies, including the Coach’s wife, Lois.
MARY AGNES LONE HILL, an alcoholic Crow Indian who was sent far away to a brutal Indian school as a child, now cleans houses for the town ladies and longs to end her estrangement with her son, Pretty Weasel.
These three women are drawn together through an illicit love affair, a stolen car, and a shooting that changes their lives forever.
BOBBI VERNON is a quirky teen, who will do whatever it takes to drive her teacher’s new Chevy convertible. Adding to the already volatile mix, she meets Pretty Weasel, an Indian basketball player, who calls her Chokecherry Girl. She dreams of dating him and wearing his class ring.
PATSY OLSON, after two failed marriages, is desperate to get her life back. After opening a beauty shop with a shaky bank loan, she watches Coach Vernon, Bobbi’s father, arriving for school each day. Attracted yet wary, she needs the business of the town ladies, including the Coach’s wife, Lois.
MARY AGNES LONE HILL, an alcoholic Crow Indian who was sent far away to a brutal Indian school as a child, now cleans houses for the town ladies and longs to end her estrangement with her son, Pretty Weasel.
These three women are drawn together through an illicit love affair, a stolen car, and a shooting that changes their lives forever.
236 pages, Paperback
Published February 16, 2021
3 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 26, 2022
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Chokecherry Girl
Author: Barbara Meyer Link
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: /910
Content: 9/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 16 readers:
16 would read another book by this author.
16 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
16 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
16 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“Simply as a slice of life in Montana in the 1950s, this is an engrossing story. The author did a wonderful job of bringing the historical setting to life.” Male reader. Aged 42
“I enjoyed so many aspects of this historical novel, particularly the female characters. I felt the author worked hard to develop her characters and to help the reader to understand them. She´s a solid writer who knows how to deliver dialogue in a convincing and crisp way.” Female reader, aged 56
“A nostalgic, family drama with plenty happening to the central characters. The author looks at the splits in the American community at that time, alcoholism, and a very cool Chevy car. Readers who enjoy character-led novels will find this a compelling read.” Female reader, aged 60
To Sum It Up:
‘A powerful, character-led, historical novel. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Chokecherry Girl
Author: Barbara Meyer Link
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: /910
Content: 9/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 16 readers:
16 would read another book by this author.
16 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
16 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
16 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“Simply as a slice of life in Montana in the 1950s, this is an engrossing story. The author did a wonderful job of bringing the historical setting to life.” Male reader. Aged 42
“I enjoyed so many aspects of this historical novel, particularly the female characters. I felt the author worked hard to develop her characters and to help the reader to understand them. She´s a solid writer who knows how to deliver dialogue in a convincing and crisp way.” Female reader, aged 56
“A nostalgic, family drama with plenty happening to the central characters. The author looks at the splits in the American community at that time, alcoholism, and a very cool Chevy car. Readers who enjoy character-led novels will find this a compelling read.” Female reader, aged 60
To Sum It Up:
‘A powerful, character-led, historical novel. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
April 10, 2021
Sorry to read the final page.
I hated to come to the end of Chokecherry Girl. Barbara Meyer Link has a remarkable memory of the way things were back in the 1950s and an educator 's thirst to research every detail of the storyline. Her character development leaves you feeling you know the people whom she is writing about. Even Barbara's descriptions of the settings and circumstances put you right in the middle of the action. Having grown up in the same small Montana town as Barbara was an additional bonus, as I recognized many landmarks of our hometown. Chokecherry Girl is an adventure, stirring many emotions in the reader. Another well-written book by this gifted author.
I hated to come to the end of Chokecherry Girl. Barbara Meyer Link has a remarkable memory of the way things were back in the 1950s and an educator 's thirst to research every detail of the storyline. Her character development leaves you feeling you know the people whom she is writing about. Even Barbara's descriptions of the settings and circumstances put you right in the middle of the action. Having grown up in the same small Montana town as Barbara was an additional bonus, as I recognized many landmarks of our hometown. Chokecherry Girl is an adventure, stirring many emotions in the reader. Another well-written book by this gifted author.
March 19, 2021
Chokecherry Girl is a fast-paced, engrossing story of three women, each facing a crisis in her life. Living in Montana in the '50s, fourteen-year-old Bobbi flirts with danger to deal with her parent's infidelity; Patsy fights small-town politics to keep her beauty shop going; and Mary Agnes Lonehill takes the first step to re-establish a relationship with her estranged son. They deal with racism and intolerance, drawing on reserves of courage. Author Barbara Link's spot-on setting and dialog put the reader right in the midst of the cold winter, wide-open spaces, and daily life of the rural west. Don't miss this one!
March 2, 2021
This novel was very well written and had a great story line. I liked that it wasn’t a typical Young Adult novel, it was definitley coming of age and can be read by many age groups. It also had other elements to it as well. I felt as though I could be reading a TRUE story.
I loved the theme of this novel. How everything unfolded and how surprising some of the revelations were. A great connections between the characters and their lives. A family book that really highlights each person.
Barbara Meyer Link has a beautiful and smooth writing style. It was very easy to follow.
I loved the theme of this novel. How everything unfolded and how surprising some of the revelations were. A great connections between the characters and their lives. A family book that really highlights each person.
Barbara Meyer Link has a beautiful and smooth writing style. It was very easy to follow.
March 6, 2021
Three very different women, each with a history the reader can empathize with. In these believable characters, I recognized bits of myself or others I had known, as I was drawn into the story of how the lives of these characters came to be interwoven. Barbara Meyer Link’s descriptions of life in rural Montana add a depth of understanding to the characters. Good story and enjoyable read from start to conclusion.
Read
February 12, 2021A must read! It's riveting and well written!!
April 20, 2021
YA or teen novel about fitting in with the crowd and the difficulties of maintaining your self-respect and doing the same. Though set in 1958, this tale speaks true even today. This extra-special tale, featuring First Americans, high school, and basketball is interesting tale and meaningful. I can recommend it to friends and family, and gift it to a friend who will appreciate it. I did especially appreciate going back to those days for a few hours.
Reviewed on April 11, 2021, at Goodreads. Reviewed on April 20, 2021, at AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
Reviewed on April 11, 2021, at Goodreads. Reviewed on April 20, 2021, at AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews