I’m not sure how this book go on my to read list…because it is pretty old. Published in 2001 but I had never read it, or anything by this author. I am definitely glad I found it though. It was heartfelt and uplifting. Here is my book review Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio.

Rural Kentucky

It’s the 1950’s in rural Kentucky. A tight knit community but poor and misunderstood. We meet a little orphan girl named Icy. Icy lives with her grandparents – a loving and hard working couple whose only daughter was Icy’s mother.

There Is Something Different

But there is clearly something different about Icy. Not only does she feel shame about her being an orphan, but Icy suffers from an undiagnosed disorder that causes her to have “fits” – today we know this disorder as Tourette Syndrome.

But for little Icy her childhood and teenage years are a life of humiliation because of her illness which causes her to jerk, croak, tick and yell. Misunderstood and shunned, laughed at and chastised, Icy retreats into her small farmhouse and never goes anywhere.

Empathy

This character Icy really pulled at my heart strings as she navigates life with confusion and sadness. Her only friends, an obese woman named Miss Emily and her grandparents, a grown-up Icy narrates the story of her childhood pain with humor. I felt so much empathy for this dear young girl.

Eventually Icy will receive a diagnosis, an education and find her way to give back in a world where few have been kind to her, but she comes out shining on the other side. I enjoyed this sweet girl and this often laugh out loud story.

Thanks for reading my book review Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Miller

****Four stars for Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Miller

Read last week’s book review Skylight Confessions by Alice Hoffman.

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