Where the Heart Is

I recently read the book Where the Heart Is, by Billie Letts. This book is a story of a strong, independent teenage-mother named Novalee Nation. Novalee, pregnant at age 17, planned to move with her boyfriend to California. When he ditches her at a Wal-Mart, she decides that since she has nowhere else to go, she'd stay at the Wal-Mart. When her baby is born, Novalee and her baby girl, Americus, become famous, and a whole new life begins to unfold for them. They move in with Sister Thelma Husband, and Novalee becomes very close with the local librarian, Forney Hull. Even though Novalee considers herself blessed with her friends and daughter, she feels that she misses out on some aspects of life.

"Novalee watched them, their booots high-stepping, their batons sailing into the air while they posed, their bellies flat, their breasts high. They were girls with shiny hair and freckles, girls with dimpled wide smiles...their lips too red, their eyes too bright, their faces too young. They were girls who made brownies in home ec, who cut hearts out of red paper for Valentine's dances. Girls who had their pictures in annuals, who got crowned at homecoming. Girls who ate oatmeal for breakfast with little sisters, who borrowed their lipstick and sweaters. Girls who were Novalee's age...girls who would never be as old as she was" (page 57).

This is a great quote because it shows how Novalee had to grow up very quickly and become mature fast to deal with her situation. This book is a great story about love, friendship, and independence.