Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All
Written by Laura Ruby
Narrated by Lisa Flanagan
4/5
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About this audiobook
National Book Award 2019 Finalist!
From the author of Printz Medal winner Bone Gap comes the unforgettable story of two young women—one living, one dead—dealing with loss, desire, and the fragility of the American dream during WWII.
When Frankie’s mother died and her father left her and her siblings at an orphanage in Chicago, it was supposed to be only temporary—just long enough for him to get back on his feet and be able to provide for them once again. That’s why Frankie's not prepared for the day that he arrives for his weekend visit with a new woman on his arm and out-of-state train tickets in his pocket.
Now Frankie and her sister, Toni, are abandoned alongside so many other orphans—two young, unwanted women doing everything they can to survive.
And as the embers of the Great Depression are kindled into the fires of World War II, and the shadows of injustice, poverty, and death walk the streets in broad daylight, it will be up to Frankie to find something worth holding on to in the ruins of this shattered America—every minute of every day spent wondering if the life she's able to carve out will be enough.
I will admit I do not know the answer. But I will be watching, waiting to find out.
That’s what ghosts do.
Laura Ruby
Laura Ruby is the Michael L. Printz Award–winning author of many books for adults, teens, and children, including Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All and Bone Gap, both National Book Award finalists; the ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection York: The Shadow Cipher and its sequels; the Edgar Award nominee Lily’s Ghosts; and the Book Sense Pick Good Girls. She is on the faculty of Hamline University’s MFA in writing for children and young adults program and lives in the Chicago area. You can visit her online at lauraruby.com.
More audiobooks from Laura Ruby
Bone Gap Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5York: The Clockwork Ghost Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wall and the Wing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Chaos King Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All
70 ratings7 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is absolutely incredible and devastatingly underhyped! Perfect if you loved The Book Thief. One of my all time favorites, read this!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I don't know what to say about this book without giving too much away. For me, part of why I loved it so much was unraveling the narrator's story and how it wove in with the story of Frankie and her sister Toni. Vivid storytelling.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is about stories. Ghost stories. Stories we tell about ourselves and stories we are told. The stories we think we know, the ones we hide from ourselves because they are too painful, the half truths, and the stories we re write for ourselves. The stories that anchor us, and the ones that set us free. The stories in this book will stick with you for a while and have you thinking about the lives of girls and young women in the early part of the last century in America.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5When Frankie's mother died and her father left her and her siblings at an orphanage in Chicago, it was supposed to be only temporary, just long enough for him to get back on his feet and be able to provide for them once again. That's why she is not prepared for the day when he arrives for his weekend visit with a new woman on his arm and out-of-state train tickets in his pocket. Now Frankie and her sister, Toni, are abandoned to the orphanage, two young, unwanted women doing everything they can to survive. And as the embers of the Great Depression are kindled into the fires of World War II, and as the shadows of injustice, poverty, and death walk the streets in broad daylight, Frankie must find something worth holding on to in the ruins of this shattered America, every minute of every day spent wondering if the life she is able to carve out will be enough.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Frankie and her sister are left in an orphanage in Chicago after their mother dies while their dad and their brother move West where he starts a new family with a woman and her children. Dad says they don't have enough money to afford the girls too. The novel takes place during World War Two and that will have repercussions as the plot develops. The girls must overcome many obstacles as they grow into adulthood. A well written book that can be enjoyed by both adults and teens.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Two fascinating story-lines weaving in and out. One living, the other watching; fading in and out of the background. Ghosts don't have much power or control, but they do have excellent powers of observation and Pearl is endlessly fascinated watching young Frankie grow up in a Chicago orphanage. Frankie isn't alone in there; she can't sense the ghost watching her, but she has her younger sister and older brother to keep her company. Her father visits twice a month but those visits are getting harder and harder as he starts seeing a new woman. Times are tough in the orphanage so Frankie has to learn how to weather through it. The nuns are strict, the food is scarce, and the rules are multiplying; but as the years progress Frankie realizes that an orphanage isn't just a place to escape from; there is a safety net in its walls and the friends she's made. Beautifully set at the advent of World War II, Frankie and Pearl's tale are heartfelt and inspiring. Unique and captivating; they don't make young adult fiction like this anymore!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Frankie and her brother and sister have been at the Catholic orphanage in Chicago since her mother died and her father couldn't keep them. This is Frankie's story of growing up a half-orphan in the 1930s and 40s, narrated by a ghost to watches her and has her own family secrets from earlier in the century.I brought this book for my holiday traveling this week, and it was all I could do not to devour it so I'd still have enough to read on the plane ride today. I feel like I'm not doing it any justice by attempting to summarize the story, which is based in part on the author's mother-in-law. This book is nothing like what I was expecting. It is so good. So. Good. I loved Frankie's story, and the ghost's perspective, and the way in which their stories were slowly revealed until I just could not wait to find out what would happen. This will be one that stays with me a long time.