"Out of the Easy"

Easy to read and easy to get lost in. For being young adult historical fiction, this novel was charming and thrilling all in one.

Summary:

The Big Easy is home to Uptown glitz and glamor as well as the seedy and superstitious underbelly of the French Quarter - Josie finds herself caught in the middle. A literary and ambitious 17-year-old, Josie dreams of going to a prestigious college in Massachusetts. There's just one catch, Josie's mother is a known prostitute. Now her mother's life threatens to drag her down as a mysterious death of a stranger and a dangerous suitor are knocking at her door. Between the investigation and her efforts to leave, can Josie stay true to herself or will she get lost in the hustle?

Verdict: 8.5/10

I haven't read Ruta Sepetys before but will have to do much more after this novel. She perfectly captured the romanticism of the culture and city of New Orleans along with the dangers lurking in the alleys. Reading the afterword, it's fascinating to here all the research she did and the real history that she based this story on.

Her characters, whether prostitutes or cab drivers, are charming. I will say that they all play fairly standard roles of best friend, potential love interest, tough love mentor, etc., and can be a bit cliche sometimes (a heroine who doesn't know why all the boys are talking to ordinary her, like really? You don't know why they would bring you flowers?). But overall, they were far more than caricatures and were different enough to hook on to your emotions.

This book had a bit of everything: mystery, romance, humor, coming-of-age. All well-balanced and wrapped up into a fast-paced journey. While some of the storylines can be a bit predictable, it's a nice familiarity. There's enough intrigue to keep the reader going so they can find out if their guess is right.

It's not just the charm of the bookstore or the city or the time-period or the teenage romance. It's not just the thrill of the criminals or the chase or the murder. It's all of those put together that make this story wonderful.