It took me a few chapters to really get into The Healing Spell, but once I did, it wove its magic around me! This book unfolds like a sweet, rich Louisiana afternoon. I was impressed by the wealth of pitch-perfect detail about life on the Bayou and Cajun culture; Kimberley Griffiths Little’s world seemed so real that sometimes it was hard to remember that I was reading a book on my couch in Utah and not poling along the bayou with Livie. I was pleasantly surprised not only by the richness of the setting and characters, but also by the power and heart of this little book; Livie’s evolution and growth throughout the book felt very authentic and true to life.
The Healing Spell is recommended for anyone who likes a good story with a fantastic setting, no matter their age, but would be best suited for adults and children 9+.
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 3 religious exclamations. 1 mild profanity.
Violence/Gore: A child pushes an adult; the adult slips on a wet floor and falls (no serious harm done). A child pushes another child into a river (no serious harm done). A child brags to another child that she could “put a shot between your eyes.” A child steals a gun and shoots it (no people are injured). A character is in a coma from an accident.
Sex/Nudity: Characters flirt (with one extended scene of flirtation/boy-girl interaction). One plotline deals with a wedding.
Mature Subject Matter:
Parent/child conflict, serious illness, keeping secrets.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
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