- Published: New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2011.
- Year Published: 2011
- Edition: 1st ed.
- Description: 315 p. ; 25 cm.
- Language: English
- Format: Book
ISBN/Standard Number
- 9780307263995
- 0307263991
Subjects
- Girls -- Fiction.
- Mothers -- Fiction. -- Death
- Motherless families -- Fiction.
- Amusement parks -- Fiction.
- Alligators -- Fiction.
- Everglades (Fla.) -- Fiction.
- Ten Thousand Islands (Fla.) -- Fiction.
- Fantasy fiction.
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Additional Details
Twelve year old Ava must travel into the Underworld part of the swamp in order to save her family's dynasty of Bigtree alligator wresting. This novel takes us to the swamps of the Florida Everglades, and introduces us to Ava Bigtree, an unforgettable young heroine. The Bigtree alligator wrestling dynasty is in decline, and Swamplandia!, their island home and gator wrestling theme park, formerly no. 1 in the region, is swiftly being encroached upon by a fearsome and sophisticated competitor called the World of Darkness. Ava's mother, the park's indomitable headliner, has just died; her sister, Ossie, has fallen in love with a spooky character known as the Dredgeman, who may or may not be an actual ghost; and her brilliant big brother, Kiwi, who dreams of becoming a scholar, has just defected to the World of Darkness in a last ditch effort to keep their family business from going under. Ava's father, affectionately known as Chief Bigtree, is AWOL; and that leaves Ava, a resourceful but terrified thirteen, to manage ninety eight gators as well as her own grief. Against a backdrop of hauntingly fecund plant life animated by ancient lizards and lawless hungers, the author has written a novel about a family's struggle to stay afloat in a world that is inexorably sinking.
Reviews & Summaries
Community Reviews
decent
Going into this, all I knew was that it was a Pulitzer contender that (obviously) received wonderful reviews. I wasn't prepared for how dark it was, and I don't mind that in general- But I have to agree with another reviewer here who said the ending was something of a disappointment. A great story doesn't always have to tie up everything perfectly in a nice little bow, but this just didn't quite do the characters justice, considering how strong they are depicted throughout the entire book.
But I will say that this is such an original story. You really sympathize with these characters, and you find yourself staying up way to late to read just one more chapter... and then another three.
But I will say that this is such an original story. You really sympathize with these characters, and you find yourself staying up way to late to read just one more chapter... and then another three.
Florida Gothic
Karen Russell conveys a vivid sense of place and personality despite going overboard with metaphors. Sometimes the writing drew me out of the narrative. And this is a maddening book to read as a parent. Although the children have true fortitude, they have been ill-prepared for life beyond their island.
Great Imagery
Beautiful imagery. I thought the ending was a let down and just didn't go anywhere. The end was sorta limp. I still enjoyed the book.
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