Land of a Hundred Wonders

Table of Contents

 

 

"I've been a Lesley Kagen fan ever since I read her beautifully rendered debut,
Whistling in the Dark.
Here she adds to what is shaping up to be her greatest strength as a novelist: She creates a most unusual narrator whose quirky innocence and frankness reveal more story than she is aware she's telling; it's deftly done and endlessly sweet. Set against the volatile backdrop of the small-town south of the 1970s,
Land of a Hundred Wonders
is by turns sensitive and rowdy, peopled with larger-than-life characters who are sure to make their own tender path into your heart.”

—Joshilyn Jackson, author of
Gods in Alabama
and
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming

"Lesley Kagen has crafted a story that is poignant, compelling, hilarious, real, and absolutely lovely. Her characters are enchanting and will have you racing to the end of this terrific novel.”

—Kris Radish, author of
Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA

"A truly enjoyable read from cover to cover. . . . Miss Kagen's moving portrayal of a unique young woman finding her way in a time of change will touch your heart. And that, dear reader, is Quite Right indeed.” —Garth Stein, author of
The Art of Racing in the Rain

"Lesley Kagen's lucid, confident prose shines on every page of
Land of a Hundred Wonders
, giving a unique and unforgettable voice to her moving and heartfelt story. The humor and passion of Gibby and her compatriots will stay with you long after you reach the end.” —Tasha Alexander, author of
A Fatal Waltz

Written by today's freshest new talents and selected by New American Library, NAL Accent novels touch on subjects close to a woman's heart, from friendship to family to finding our place in the world. The Conversation Guides included in each book are intended to enrich the individual reading experience, as well as encourage us to explore these topics together—because books, and life, are meant for sharing.

Visit us online at
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“With all the charm of
Cold Sassy Tree
's Will Tweedy, Kagen has created an equally memorable, quirky character in Gibby McGraw. Gibby will make you laugh and touch your heart, proving that even someone who's Not Quite Right can still remedy the broken lives around her. For everyone who loved
Whistling in the Dark
, Lesley Kagen has worked her magic again in
Land of a Hundred Wonders.
”

—Renee Rosen, author of
Every Crooked Pot

More Praise for Lesley Kagen and
Whistling in the Dark
Chosen as a Hot Summer Read
by the
Chicago Tribune

A Great Lakes Book Award Nominee

“Bittersweet and beautifully rendered,
Whistling in the Dark
is the story of two young sisters and a summer jam-packed with disillusionment and discovery. With the unrelenting optimism that only children could bring to such a situation, these girls triumph. So does Kagen.
Whistling in the Dark
shines. Don't miss it.”

—Sara Gruen,
New York Times
bestselling author
of
Water for Elephants

"[A] sophisticated charmer of a first novel.... What makes the novel appealing ... is Kagen's literary style and her ability to see the world—and the truth—unfold gradually through the eyes of a ten-year-old. Sally's voice ... is innocently wise and ultimately captivating. Sally and Troo are both finely wrought characters, achingly alive amid a few other splendid characters, such as a girl with Down syndrome.” —
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"Every now and then, you come across a book with characters so endearing that you love them like family, and a plot so riveting that you can't read slowly enough to make the story last longer, no matter how hard you try.
Whistling in the Dark
is one such book. I absolutely loved this novel from the first page to the last!”

—Sandra Kring, author of
Carry Me Home
and
The Book of Bright Ideas

"The loss of innocence can be as dramatic as the loss of a parent or the discovery that what's perceived to be truth can actually be a big, fat lie, as shown in Kagen's compassionate debut.... Kagen sharply depicts the vulnerability of children of any era. Sally, 'a girl who wouldn't break a promise even if her life depended on it,' makes an enchanting protagonist.” —
Publishers Weekly

"We trust this gritty and smart, profane and poetic little girl to tell us the truth about her neighborhood and its mysteries. And best of all, we trust Sally to tell us what it was like to be ten years old in the summer of 1959.” —
Milwaukee Magazine

"Kagen's debut novel sparkles with charm thanks to ten-year-old narrator, Sally O'Malley, who draws readers into the story of her momentous summer in 1959. The author has an uncanny ability to visualize the world as seen by a precocious child in this unforgettable book.” —
Romantic Times
(4½ stars, top pick)

"Reading
Whistling in the Dark
is like time-traveling back to the hot summer days of your childhood. You can't spend time with the O'Malley sisters without reliving the heartbreak, the fear and the joy of growing up.” —Debrah Williamson, author of
Paper Hearts

"The plot is a humdinger ... a certifiable grade-A summer read.”

—
The Capital Times

Also by Lesley Kagen

NAL Accent
Published by New American Library, a division of
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New York, New York 10014, USA
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
First published by New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First Printing, August 2008

Copyright © Lesley Kagen, 2008

Conversation Guide copyright © Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2008

All rights reserved

REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:
Kagen, Lesley.
Land of a hundred wonders/Lesley Kagen.
p. cm.

eISBN : 978-0-451-22409-5

1. Women journalists—Fiction. 2. Women with disabilities—Fiction. 3. Kentucky—
Fiction. I. Title.
PS3611.A344L36 2008
813'.6—dc22 2008001062

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

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To my family

Acknowledgments

Heartfelt thanks to all
my
wonders:

Editor Ellen Edwards, who leaves no literary stone unturned, no matter what creepy thing may be hiding beneath. You are magnificent.

The amazing advertising, art, editorial, production, promotion, publicity, and sales teams at NAL and Penguin.

The inimitable Jeff Kleinman and the stellar crew of Folio Literary Management.

The readers, who have been nothing short of miraculous. Your lovely notes of encouragement have meant the world to me. Wish I could give each and every one of you a bag of dark chocolate- covered cherries.

The generous booksellers across the country who have made me feel welcome in so many ways.

English teachers and librarians, my earliest heroes.

Early readers and dear friends, the Flemings, Eileen Sherman, John and Marsha Bobek, Connie Kittelson, Hope Irwin, Susan Shimshak, Sharry Sullivan, Nancy Kennedy, Sara Schroeder, Eileen Kaufmann, and Robert Welker.