Thursday, August 22, 2013

Review: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys



Title: Out of the Easy
Author: Ruta Sepetys | Website
Available: Now
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Historical

Source: LibraryThing









 Synopsis via Goodreads:

 It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer.

She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.


My thoughts:

Josie is the daughter of a prostitute and hasn't had the most traditional upbringing, but she is determined to make something of herself. She works at a book store and also cleans the brothel where her mother works each morning to help build a meager savings. She has hopes of going to college far from New Orleans where she won't be known as the hooker's daughter. Of course if things went smoothly for dear Josie the author wouldn't have a story to tell us. Toss in a sinister bad guy, a dead rich guy, and a little romance and you have a story you won't want to put down.

Out of the Easy is set in one of my most favorite places, New Orleans. I loved experiencing 1950's NOLA through the eyes of protag, Josie. I admit I squealed a little when I discovered this is historical fiction and YA. Yippee!

Out of the Easy contained fascinating, well-developed characters paired with an amazing setting. It is a keep you flipping the pages into the wee hours of the night mystery. I'm hard-pressed to find anything I didn't enjoy about this novel.

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