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Kim Taylor Blakemore
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Cissy Funk Kindle Edition

by Kim Taylor Blakemore (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 154 ratings
WINNER of the WILLA Literary Award for Best Young Adult Fiction

“admirably evokes the dusty, gritty aura of Depression-era Colorado” – Publisher’s Weekly

“With subtlety and insight, Taylor introduces readers to complexities and truths about love and family” – American Library Association

“Taylor nails small-town agrarian Dust Bowl life in the ’30s.” – School Library Journal

On the Depression era Colorado plains, there's nothing but dust and empty farms. It's an unforgiving background to the violence in Cissy Funk's life. She's alone on a scrap of a farm with her mother and brother, and her mother hasn't recovered from the death of Cissy's baby sister. She's turned cold, and mean, and she's turned against Cissy, singling her out, leaving bruises and a breaking heart.

When Cissy's Aunt Vera turns up, with her warm hugs and pretty clothes, it looks like there just might be hope on the horizon after all. Vera is determined to make sure Cissy is safe and loved, despite her sister in law, despite the hard times, despite her own fears. But these hard times are more than failed crops and no work. There's a trouble in Cissy's family that no one is willing to tell her about, and it's threatening to bring her fragile happiness crashing down.

When there's nothing but dirt, dust, and the faintest glimpse of delight, Cissy has to find the strength to grab onto what she can. Her family might not be what she thought it was, but maybe it can be exactly what she needs.
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  1. Reading age
    12 - 18 years
  2. Print length
    191 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    April 20, 2015
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0990584339
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

First-time author Taylor admirably evokes the dusty, gritty aura of Depression-era Colorado, but strains with her soap opera-ish story of a dysfunctional family's struggles. The novel opens as 13-year-old Cissy hides from her abusive mother, fearing a beating for something she didn't even do. Cissy's baby sister, it eventually emerges, died in infancy, and grief has rendered their mother dangerously unstable. Cissy's father has moved away, and Cissy's older brother, Jonas, keeps vowing to leave, too. Then sophisticated, beloved Aunt Vera arrives on the scene. After Vera witnesses her sister-in-law brutally attack Cissy, she whisks Cissy off to Denver, where her father lives. But her father doesn't want her, and Vera, now penniless, is hesitant to raise a child on her own. Few of the characterizations go beyond the superficial, and when potentially shocking family secrets (about Vera's sexuality and Cissy's parentage) finally emerge, they have been so heavily foreshadowed and are so easily accepted by Cissy that they make little impact on readers. Ages 10-up.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Gr 7-9-Cissy doesn't understand why she can't do anything right. She only knows that her mother's mind has worked strangely since baby Violet's death, but wonders why she is always being punished and her older brother is not. Seeking refuge in the town movie hall when the threat of physical violence becomes too real, the 13-year-old loses herself in dreams of life the way the stars portray it. When Aunt Vera visits and sees her niece's horrible bruises, she decides that the two of them will live with her brother (Cissy's supposed father) in Denver. His blatant refusal to help is unfathomable to Cissy, and she is further devastated when Vera strangely wavers and allows her brother to return Cissy to her bleak and dangerous former life. Once again, she must battle to reestablish trust in other humans in order to survive. In the end, it is revealed that Vera had become pregnant with Cissy when she was a teenager and that her domineering brother insisted that she give the baby to him and his wife to raise. Finally, Vera stands up to him and takes Cissy away from her abusive situation to live with her and her lover, Maxine. Taylor nails small-town agrarian Dust Bowl life in the `30s. Everything from grape NEHIs to the music to the town socials complete with busybodies neatly fits. While the denouement seems rushed when compared to the richly detailed beginning, this is a minor flaw in an otherwise well-plotted novel.-Cindy Darling Codell, Clark Middle School, Winchester, KY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00VOF4CDG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kingfisher Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 20, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 691 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 191 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0990584339
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 18 years
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 154 ratings

About the author

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Kim Taylor Blakemore

Kim Taylor Blakemore

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Kim Taylor Blakemore is an author, developmental editor and founder of the Novelitics Writers Collective. She writes historical novels that feature fierce, audacious, and often dangerous women. She writes about the thieves and servants, murderesses and mediums, grifters and frauds - the women with darker stories, tangled lies and hidden motives.

Writing as Kim Taylor Blakemore, her historical thrillers include The Deception, After Alice Fell (Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award, Best Historical), The Companion (Tucson Festival of Book Literary Award). She has also written two young adult historicals, Bowery Girl (New York Public Library Best Reads for Teens) and Cissy Funk (WILLA Award for Best Young Adult Fiction).

As K.T. Blakemore, the 2023 New Mexico-Arizona Book Award Finalist The Good Time Girls and the The Good Time Girls Get Famous are the first two adventures in the Wild-Willed Women of the West Series, featuring bold women who take no prisoners and succeed through sheer grit, determination, and a parcel of luck.

Her passion for storytelling and nurturing authors led her to establish Novelitics Writers Collective (come write with us!). She loves coaching and supporting novelists on their creative journeys. Her love of the written word extends to teaching editing and craft workshops to organizations like The History Quill, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, RWA's Kiss of Death, and more.

She lives with her family and passel of rescue cats and dogs in the Pacific Northwest. She loves the rain, is afraid of scary movies, and thinks the best meal consists of a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
154 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book readable and engaging. They appreciate the storyline, with one customer noting how the author deftly weaves together multiple narratives.

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ReadabilityStoryline
7 customers mention "Readability"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very good, with one describing it as an unexpected read and another noting it as a triumph.

"...journey toward adulthood is touching and funny, part heartbreak and part triumph...." Read more

"This book was very good. A bit different than what I originally expected. You could predict the ending, not as suspenseful as I would have liked...." Read more

"...Keep up the amazing work, I'm proud of you and you should definitely be proud of yourself as well.🥰🥰🥰..." Read more

"...Surprise ending aligns with Costs moral code. Good, quick read." Read more

3 customers mention "Storyline"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, with one customer noting how the author skillfully weaves together multiple narratives, while another describes it as a heartfelt coming-of-age tale.

"...The author deftly weaves together the storylines until the dramatic and inevitable conclusion. Loved it." Read more

"...Family secrets are revealed. Nice conclusion." Read more

"...She also has another book "Bowery Girl" that is such an interesting and unexpected read!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Jackie Vick
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Heartfelt Story of Growing Up
    Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    With wonderful characters and a setting that makes you feel you are there, Cissy Funk’s journey toward adulthood is touching and funny, part heartbreak and part triumph. The author deftly weaves together the storylines until the dramatic and inevitable conclusion. Loved it.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Jackie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Different
    Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book was very good. A bit different than what I originally expected. You could predict the ending, not as suspenseful as I would have liked. A good read though.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jennifer lincks
    3.0 out of 5 stars Sweet story
    Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    A story of a young girl. searching for for a better life during desperate times in the dust bowl circa 1930s. Family secrets are revealed. Nice conclusion.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Nathan Griffiths
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book because a former college professor of mine wrote it and you know what? I seriously had no idea what it was about, I bought it to show my former professor how much I truly believed in her and her writing.
    I haven't finished it yet, but what I have read, I've loved it!! Thanks Kim for the wonderful book. I can't wait to read your other books and buy them all up!! Keep up the amazing work, I'm proud of you and you should definitely be proud of yourself as well.🥰🥰🥰
    2 people found this helpful
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  • My Android
    5.0 out of 5 stars Becoming
    Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Cissy Funk is an easy read, with Cissy's letters summarizing her thoughts. Her moral code dealing with what's happening to and around her creates good tension. Although the reader guesses about motivators for the characters, one is surprised to be right. Surprise ending aligns with Costs moral code. Good, quick read.
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  • Theresa Boyd
    5.0 out of 5 stars Such detail
    Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I chose to give this book 5 stars as the writer made me feel like I was right there in the story. I experienced the smells, saw the sky light up at sundown and even sat on the roof with them. I felt Cissy's emotions as if they weré mine. A excellent read.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle DIANA
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Good read, what an innocent nieve teenage. I couldn't help but be a cheerleader for her. I will not give away the ending. I recommend this book.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mary
    3.0 out of 5 stars Predictable
    Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I felt bored while reading this book. Pretty predictable. I always try to finish a book that I've started so I did but it was time that I should have spent elsewhere.
    One person found this helpful
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