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With A Name Like Love (2011)

by Tess Hilmo(Favorite Author)

4.01 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0374384657 (ISBN13: 9780374384654)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Farrar Straus Giroux (BYR). Margaret Ferguson Books

review 1: When Ollie and her family pull into Binder, she thinks it will be just like all the other towns. They'll be there for three days and leave off to the next place.But what Ollie doesn't expect is to meet Jimmy, a boy whose mother is in jail for murder. Ollie believes Jimmy when he says his mother is innocent and she knows that she has to find a way to help Jimmy and his mother.This book is set in the 1950s and is about Ollie, along with her siblings and parents who travel so her father may preach. Ollie is 13 and the main character. I liked her and that she cared about everyone. She cared about Jimmy, who was a complete stranger. The book has a mystery feel to it since they are trying to find out who actually murdered Jimmy's father. It kept me guessing. But I just have to s... moreay I didn't like Ollie's sister, Martha, too much. I don't really think Ollie got everything she wanted like Martha believes. And it just seems to me throughout the book whenever Ollie did actually want something, like staying put instead of traveling all the time, Martha and even some things other characters said, made it seem if she were selfish. I didn't like that and the parts with Martha just annoyed me.Besides those things, I did enjoy the story and other characters. Overall, it was a nice book.
review 2: Tess Hilmo’s With a Name Like Love is a moving and well-written middle-grade contemporary with charming characters, a wonderfully crafted setting, and a story that is equal parts mystery, humor, and heart. In 1957, thirteen year old Ollie Love and her four sisters travel with their mother and father, Reverend Everlasting Love, across the country, preaching in small towns. A stop in Binder, Arkansas finds Ollie a friend in Jimmy Koppel. Jimmy’s momma is in jail for murdering his father, but Jimmy says she’s innocent. And Ollie and the Reverend believe him. So the Loves set out to prove her innocence and help poor Jimmy, but a town full of judgmental folks stand in their way.It’s books like With a Name Like Love that make middle-grade contemporaries my favorite books to read! In this book, Tess Hilmo tells a captivating story that may be set in 1957, but resonates loudly in any time. Love, friendship, faith, kindness- these are all themes woven throughout the story and explored honestly, yet in age appropriate ways. Hilmo’s storytelling and world-building simply shine! She impressed me with her ability to craft such poignant and quietly beautiful scenes and messages. I’m not usually a fan of books that heavily incorporate religion, but even though Ollie’s father is a Reverend and their Christian faith is important, With a Name Like Love never feels preachy or exclusive. At its lovely core, this story is first and foremost about the kind of faith that simply comes from love. Binder, Arkansas makes for a complex and realistic southern setting that, even with its ugly elements, managed to surprise and enchant me.Hilmo’s characters are what really make this book sparkle! Realistic, endearing, lovable, sassy, sweet, and utterly charming- this is a great way to describe Ollie, her family, and Jimmy. These characters all feel so real and alive with personality. I just wanted to hug each and every one of them!MY FINAL THOUGHTS: The mystery elements are exciting, the humor is smart and amusing, the characters are delightful, the storytelling is highly entertaining, and the heart comes in heapfuls. With a Name Like Love is a great book that young and old readers alike will enjoy and appreciate. I look forward to reading more from Tess Hilmo! less

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