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READER PRAISE!
Reader Praise for Tomorrow River
"Tomorrow River could become a classic...it's that good!"
—Doris G.
"I just finished reading Tomorrow River and absolutely adored it."
—Anne S.
"If you like twists, you'll love this book. What an adventure!"
—Rochelle S.
"Cleverly wrought masterpiece."
—Catch22
"Tomorrow River is a fabulous read! I was enthralled from the first page to the last."
—LeAnn K.
"Lesley Kagen has surpassed herself! A great summer read!"
—Mary L.
"The twins in Tomorrow River were two of the best developed character I've ever read."
—Lyn A.
"A classic is born!"
—sevenmoonlight
"I am speechless (A rarity for me)."
—Lenore B.
"Tomorrow River is a page turning novel of suspense and intrigue that comes alive in your mind. You won't be able to put it down."
—Emily L.
"This novel has a number of unexpected twists, which makes turning each page a delight."
—Nancy L.
"Tomorrow River is a beautifully crafted memorable novel filled iwth a cast of endearing characters."
—Pandre S.
Reader Praise for Land Of A Hundred Wonders
"This book easily rates as my favorite of 2008. If I used ratings in my reviews, this one would get a 5/5 rating, which is saying something since the majority of the books I read top out at 4/5. Gibby McGraw is the most incredibly endearing character I've met in a long time. And she's funny—so funny."
—Shana Schmadeke
"If you're looking for a novel to curl up with on a quiet night, look no further! Land of a Hundred Wonders is one of my all time favorites. The story is deeply compelling, with a perfect mix of mystery and Southern charm.""
—H.S. Havlik
"To transport the reader to another place and another time is Lesley Kagen's special talent. Her characters are quirky, some are charming and some you love to hate. This is a delightful read that is not to be missed!"
—Marsha Dale
"Lesley Kagen's most recent novel, Land of a Hundred Wonders is a nifty fast-paced read with so many twists and turns you'll not want to leave your reading perch. Once again, Lesley has done an amazing job with authentic characters and a thrilling plot!"
—S. Schroeder
"Gibby McGraw may not be QR, but Lesley Kagen sure is. What an extraordinary novel! Kagan's writing is superb, her plot is perfectly woven. This book is a keeper and deserves a place beside A Tale of Two Cities, Little Women, and Grapes of Wrath."
—M. Bess
"Last summer's great read was Lesley Kagen's Whistling in the Dark. If you enjoyed that book, you will love her new book Land of a Hundred Wonders. I loved the characters and their colorful language and cadence to their conversations, and I was inspired by a central theme to the story: good hearts are more important than good smarts."
—John Bobek
"The book club just had Land of a Hundred Wonders as our last selection.
We all enjoyed it and had a very lively discussion once again. Both your books appear at first to be tales of adventure, but as we discuss them we find more depth than first meets the eye. This one led to discussions of racism, and what it means to be NQR."
—Margaret O'Connor
"This book is a terrific follow up to the delightful first book of Lesley Kagan's, Whistling in the Dark. Told in the first person voice of young Gibby, who is NQR (Not Quite Right), the book takes the reader on a tour of Cray Ridge, KY and introduces a wide range of quirky characters. There is a mystery, some action and just a whole heap of loving. A truly satisfying read."
—Margaret O'Brian
"I read it on vacation, and LOVED it! You have a wonderful way of capturing the innocence and beauty of childhood, while weaving an intruiging storyline. Like your other book, this one is being gifted to several friends."
—Lisa Kenny
"Your newest book is another winner, with such vivid and quirky characters in a brand new setting that's so easy to visualize because of your colorful writing skills! I loved this book as much as Whistling in the Dark and, just as with your first, I hated this one to end. I'm partial to happy endings and this was a show-stopper. You are so adept at tangling things all up and then slowly untwisting them, sometimes in a poignant way and sometimes hilariously. There were times when I could barely stand the suspense, and then your sense of humor kicked in and helped me through those tough spots."
—Sharon the Librarian
"Thank you for your creative writing in bringing me another fantastic novel to enjoy. I have come to the conclusion that we are NQR in some way or another. That phrase will stick with me for a long time, as will the delightful persona of Gibby and her family and friends you introduced me to."
—Lenore Buss
"I just finished reading Land of a Hundred Wonders and loved it every bit as much as I enjoyed Whistling in the Dark. I sincerely hope you're working on your third novel."
—Peg Cranny
"What a joy to read! This book is full of both blatant and subtle humor, such as phrases like "hope springs internal" because our girl, Gibby, is NQR (Not Quite Right) and she says things that sound almost right but not quite. I'd advise you to read this one a little more slowly than you might if you are a quick reader, because you'll want to catch every one of these phrases as they are hysterical! I was engaged in the story from the first page, and didn't want to put it down when it was past time to turn off the light and go to sleep. This book is set in the seventies, and Kagen captures that era very well. As much as I adored Whistling in the Dark, I found this very different book to be equally well written and fun to read. Kagen is an author to watch, and she is near the top of my short list of favorite authors!"
—A Reader
Reader Praise for WHISTLING IN THE DARK
"Ms. Kagan has the ability to make the reader experience belly laughter, jitters, tingling fear, and sentimental sadness. Descriptions and dialogue are colloquial, while the plot line turns the pages for you. Gift yourself to this summer treat...you won't regret it."
—Gayla Collins
"This book is right up there with To Kill A Mockingbird. It is destined, I'm sure, to be a classic. What a delight to be transported to that time and place with such colorful characters. It would make a fabulous movie."
—Judy Correlus
"Happily surprised to find such a treasure. Mystery, comedy, coming of age, tender, frightening. Beyond well-written. A new classic. A definite classroom choice. Bravo to the author. Very glad I found this gem."
—Debra Lamoreaux
"I loved, loved, loved this book so very much...the characters in the book were so real and dear to me that I wish I could go live with them and I also wish I had read slower so I could have spent more time with them. I recommend this novel to absolutely everyone!"
—Jace
"For anyone who enjoyed reading Water for Elephants than you need to check this book out. Whistling in the Dark is a fun, adventurous, light-hearted story. It mainly focuses on Troo and Sally, two sisters who get into trouble and seek to solve a mystery of a serial killer in their own neighborhood. I would have to say my favorite character was Troo. She may have been the youngest one but she didn't act like it. Troo acted more like a 40 year old french woman trapped in a seven year old's body. This book will bring back memories for anyone who enjoyed they childhood times and friends of the good old days. Check Whistling in the Dark out and you won't be sorry you did."
—Cheryl K.
"I read this book in two days. It wasn't suspenseful in a thriller novel kind of way, but it had the most engaging narrator in little Sally O'Malley, that you couldn't help but pick it up again for "just a few more chapters."
—C. Skarvce
"HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone. You will not be sorry you read it. ENJOY!!!!"
—Pamala A. Podanny
"Loved this book! From the uniqueness of its characters to the sense of days gone by to the emotion spilled in page after page as neighborhood kids grow up with and through each other, this is a great read."
—CoquiWriter
"You know a book is wonderful when it makes you wish there were going to be other books about these sisters. You really grow to care about each of them. The book is at times heartbreaking, suspenseful, funny and full of hope."
—GS Miller
"This book is one of the very few books that I was able to find all different types of emotion in. I laughed, I cried, I sat on the edge of my seat and I found my self constantly trying to figure out what the next step would be. While the ending was not a total surprise it was not the obvious either! I have a feeling it will be a while before I find another one like this!"
—Donna Worthy
"I love it when a writer totally keeps a secret until the end with clues to the revelation of that secret just right there. What I mean is that the reader does not even know there is a secret. Using a child narrator as the main character is such a clever way to unfold the story without revealing that there is a true truth. This is one of those books requiring a second read to catch all the things you unknowingly missed the first time."
—Judy K. Polhemus
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