Swamplandia!

I had read a review of Karen Russell's Swamplandia! a while back and raced out to get it from the library, only to put it down before the end of the first chapter. I wasn't into it. Then a month ago at a used book sale I saw the novel in paperback and remembering the positive review, decided to grab it and immediately gobbled it up.

Swamplandia! tells the story of Ava, a young girl who lives in an alligator-wrestling theme park on a small island and her resolve to save the park and her family. She is the youngest of three children and her mother, the park's headliner performer, has died before the novel begins. The park is in despair and her brother Kiwi wants them all to move to the mainland and go to school. When their father disagrees, Kiwi takes off and their father follows shortly after. Ava and her sister Ossie are left behind, but Ossie is wrapped up in an atypical romance and soon Ava finds herself going on a journey to save them all. It is the kind of story that keeps you guessing, not only about what is going to happen, but what is real. It's a very well written, unique novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more of Russell's work.