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Canadian Jen's Reviews > Sleeping Giants
Sleeping Giants
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by
I鈥檝e heard of letting sleeping dogs lie, but awakening sleeping giants, that disruption will unleash nightmares.
Dennis, a 9 year old boy, passed from parent to foster to institution. The darkness that accompanies abandonment and loneliness compounding into hardness. Death follows but leaves in its trail a mystery.
Fast forward twenty years. Amanda has discovered Dennis was her brother. She yearns to learn about him, as she too, was adopted. On her quest to discover more, the truth unravels about the institution and its methods for reforming these children- specifically the Holding Method. An ugly history where sleeping giants are awoken.
This wasn鈥檛 flawless- there were some character inconsistencies but no denying Denfeld does dark disturbingly well. In reading the acknowledgments, she survived her own darkness.
4猸愶笍
My fave still remains The Enchanted
Dennis, a 9 year old boy, passed from parent to foster to institution. The darkness that accompanies abandonment and loneliness compounding into hardness. Death follows but leaves in its trail a mystery.
Fast forward twenty years. Amanda has discovered Dennis was her brother. She yearns to learn about him, as she too, was adopted. On her quest to discover more, the truth unravels about the institution and its methods for reforming these children- specifically the Holding Method. An ugly history where sleeping giants are awoken.
This wasn鈥檛 flawless- there were some character inconsistencies but no denying Denfeld does dark disturbingly well. In reading the acknowledgments, she survived her own darkness.
4猸愶笍
My fave still remains The Enchanted
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Comments Showing 1-50 of 79 (79 new)
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Laura
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rated it 4 stars
Apr 13, 2024 04:31PM
Agree The Enchanted favorite. It was flawless. This one was good though.
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Laura wrote: "Agree The Enchanted favorite. It was flawless. This one was good though."It was, Laura. Because you enjoyed The Enchanted I do also recommend Notes on an Execution.
Excellent review, Jen. Of her other books, the only one I haven鈥檛 read is your favourite. Well, I鈥檒l make sure I read it! I own it. What can I say? Do you find you ignore the books on your shelves and just read the library books as they come in? Guilty!
Fabulous review, Jen! I love this author, and I can't wait to read this.
Excellent review Jen 馃挅
She does do dark well, drawing on her own life, unfortunately.
Jayme wrote: "Fantastic review! 馃挒"TY Jayme!
Antoinette wrote: "Excellent review, Jen. Of her other books, the only one I haven鈥檛 read is your favourite. Well, I鈥檒l make sure I read it! I own it. What can I say? Do you find you ignore the books on your shelves ..."Guilty as charged. Antoinette, I am a book hoarder..then have to read all the new and shiny ones first. I've done an inventory...I have 300+ books on my physical shelf! But Enchanted is a keeper! So, do read that one soon! TY :)
Thanks Susan, Tina & Margaret!
I still need to read The Enchanted. Lovely review, Jen. Happy you enjoyed it overall. 鈾ワ笍
Meredith (Trying to catch up!) wrote: "Fabulous review, Jen! I love this author, and I can't wait to read this."You'll enjoy this one, Meredith! will be looking fwd to your thoughts 馃槉
Carmel wrote: "She does do dark well, drawing on her own life, unfortunately."Yes, it looks like she had her own sleeping giants to deal with.
I do love the premise of this one, but I'm not sure about the character inconsistencies. I'll check out the book you've tagged. Nice honest review, Jen!
Thank you for recommendation. I put on hold at library. I鈥檝e read The Enchanted twice. It鈥檚 either a huge hit with readers or not at all impactful. My book group was that way.
I worked a couple years in a level 14 residential care institution for children - definitely the stuff of nightmares. Argh. Was the author in an institution herself?
Great review, Jen! I haven't read anything by this author, but I'll add The Enchanted to my tbr.
Maureen wrote: "Excellent review Jen."TY Maureen!
Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader wrote: "I still need to read The Enchanted. Lovely review, Jen. Happy you enjoyed it overall. 鈾ワ笍"You'll be interested in this one and this Holding Therapy, Jenni. Hope you get to hers soon as I think you will appreciate them! TY
Excellent review, Jen! I understand your reservations.馃槏
Terrific review, Jen!I may add later.
I really enjoyed two of her previous books!
Nice review. Sounds like a heart wrenching story!
Rosh wrote: "I do love the premise of this one, but I'm not sure about the character inconsistencies. I'll check out the book you've tagged. Nice honest review, Jen!"You may not notice it, Rosh, but I think you would and it would go on your niggle list. But Enchanted was awesome! TY
Laura wrote: "Thank you for recommendation. I put on hold at library. I鈥檝e read The Enchanted twice. It鈥檚 either a huge hit with readers or not at all impactful. My book group was that way."I could def read Enchanted again too. Hope you are compelled with Notes, Laura.
Sarah wrote: "I worked a couple years in a level 14 residential care institution for children - definitely the stuff of nightmares. Argh. Was the author in an institution herself?"level 14? Good grief...how many levels are there? She has suffered from abuse and trauma but has risen to overcome by fostering 3 kids and was a chief investigator for public defender's office. So, she has experienced it in many forms, Sarah.
Yun wrote: "Great review, Jen! I haven't read anything by this author, but I'll add The Enchanted to my tbr."Hope you love it, Yun! TY :)
Wow, I'm duly impressed by Ms. Denfeld. P.S. - Here's what Chat GPT says about the higher levels of care in California:
Level 10-14: Highly intensive care for children with severe emotional or behavioral issues, often including specialized treatment modalities and a high staff-to-child ratio.
Level 15+: In some states, particularly California, the numbering system may extend beyond level 14. These levels typically represent the highest level of care for children with extremely complex needs, often including psychiatric support, medical care, and specialized interventions.
Fran wrote: "Excellent review, Jen! I understand your reservations.馃槏"Still a good read, Fran...but you know when you start questioning something as you read on but kind of get stuck thinking did I miss something? Maybe I did...maybe I didn't . Thanks Fran
Karen wrote: "Terrific review, Jen!I may add later.
I really enjoyed two of her previous books!"
I think you will enjoy this one too, Karen! TY
Thanks Liz, Sandy & Christy!
Sarah wrote: "Wow, I'm duly impressed by Ms. Denfeld. P.S. - Here's what Chat GPT says about the higher levels of care in California:
Level 10-14: Highly intensive care for children with severe emotional or ..."
Wow. It would be such a tough job. And those poor children. Have you heard of this holding therapy, Sarah? Apparently, it is still practiced. Scary stuff.
Wonderful review Jen!
Ok now I'm conflicted. I've loved 3 of her other works, so I am fond of her as an author...Now I'm afraid to discover her sad background! I don't want to learn about clever Rene's darkness, but I want to read it. Fantastic review Jen.
I was blown away by The Enchanted but have yet to read another Denfeld. Great review!
Terrific review Jen! Glad you enjoyed! 馃挌
Sounds like a tough one, Jen, but glad it delivered in spite of not being perfect .
Great review, Jen. I need a break from dark reads.
DeAnn wrote: "Wonderful review Jen!"Thanks DeAnn. I see you enjoyed it too :)
Barbara wrote: "Ok now I'm conflicted. I've loved 3 of her other works, so I am fond of her as an author...Now I'm afraid to discover her sad background! I don't want to learn about clever Rene's darkness, but I w..."I don't think this particular story is her actual background. See my notes above to Sarah. Denfeld does note she hopes readers find hope for these children. She has had experienced it first hand - trauma that is - but that's what has come out in all her stories, Barbara.
Diana wrote: "I was blown away by The Enchanted but have yet to read another Denfeld. Great review!"Enchanted just blew me away, Diana!
Suzy wrote: "Terrific review Jen! Glad you enjoyed! 馃挌"TY Suzy!
Angela M wrote: "Sounds like a tough one, Jen, but glad it delivered in spite of not being perfect ."It was another good one but not Enchanted. Not sure if you read that one, Angela?
Wonderful review, Jen! I just picked this up from my library! You have me excited to read it!
Grand review, Jen! I am eager to read this! 馃┓
Bianca wrote: "Great review, Jen. I need a break from dark reads."I hear you on that front, Bianca. That's me with WWII stories.
