Product Description

My name is Dovey Coe and I reckon it don't matter if you like me or not. I'm here to lay the record straight, to let you know them folks saying I done a terrible thing are liars. I aim to prove it, too. I hated Parnell Caraway as much as the next person, but I didn't kill him.

Dovey Coe says what's on her mind, so it's no secret that she can't stand Parnell Caraway. Parnell may be the son of the richest man in town, but he's mean and snobby, and Dovey can't stand the fact that he's courting her sister, Caroline, or the way he treats her brother, Amos, as if he were stupid just because he can't hear.

So when Parnell turns up dead, and Dovey's in the room where his body is discovered, she soon finds herself on trial for murder. Can the outspoken Dovey sit still and trust a city slicker lawyer who's still wet behind the ears to get her out of the biggest mess of her life?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #165753 in Books
• Published on: 2001-11-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

From Amazon.com
"My name is Dovey Coe, and I reckon it don't matter if you like me or not. I'm here to lay the record straight, to let you know them folks saying I done a terrible thing are liars.... I hated Parnell Caraway as much as the next person, but I didn't kill him."

Twelve-year-old Dovey has never had the slightest problem speaking her mind. But now, faced with a murder trial, she may just have to keep her mouth shut while the slick city lawyer takes care of things. It all started when the wealthy, vain, greedy Parnell takes a notion to win Dovey's older sister, trying to convince her she's too pretty to go off to college. But behind her back, he treats Dovey and her deaf brother Amos like dirt all summer long. Dovey gets in her jabs whenever she can--until the day she finds herself trapped in a back room with an irate, vengeful Parnell. Things don't look too good for Dovey when she comes to and finds her enemy dead on the floor next to her.

Southern courtroom drama, a sassy female protagonist, a misunderstood yet gentle neighborhood character, vicious and narrow-minded villains--sound familiar? Yes, there's a lot of Harper Lee's Scout in Dovey, and Boo Radley in Amos (To Kill a Mockingbird). But Frances O'Roark Dowell's absorbing, readable story of families, prejudice, love, and hate has a life all its own. Dovey is an impeccably drawn heroine, complete with Southern dialect, sturdy self-esteem, and down-home wisdom. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly
The 12-year-old title character narrates this first novel, in which she attempts to set the record straight about the death of her sister's suitor. PW called Dowell "an author well worth watching." Ages 9-12. (Nov.) n

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7-It is 1928 and 12-year-old Dovey Coe is happy with her life in Indian Creek, NC. Her family has been in the mountains "since the beginning of time." They own their land and are one of the few families who are not beholden to wealthy Homer Caraway. Dovey guards her siblings closely. She taught her deaf older brother how to read books and lips, and worries about her older sister, Caroline, who seems to have forgotten her plans to go to teacher's college after uppity Parnell Caraway (Dovey's least favorite person) starts calling on her. How protective a little sister she actually is, remains to be seen-she tells readers in the first paragraph that she is being tried for Parnell's murder, then proceeds to recount what happened. The story maintains a very fast pace, and Dovey is an original character who speaks with a mountain twang that brings the vivid setting to life without distracting from the plot. The background and characters are carefully developed and appealing. Dovey's adventures will appeal to fans of Avi's The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (Orchard, 1990), while the mystery follows conventions of the genre and is explained in an entirely satisfactory manner.
Betsy Fraser, Calgary Public Library, Canada
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Dovey Coe
I picked up this book thinking it would be more of a western novel, but after the first few pages I knew I was obligated to read it. Dovey had a very strong character and really expressed her opinion on every little detail. The court case is what interested me the most, when the suggestion of her murdering Parnell was being tossed around the court room. This is a GREAT book and I reccomend it.

A Fearless Tomboy
Dovey Coe is a fantastic book. It has great characters, like Dovey of course. It has a great setting on a mountain. The best part about it was that you don't know who killed Parnell until the end , and it's a surprising twist. Caroline is getting courted by Parnell the richest boy in town and this really bugs Dovey because she thinks Parnell is up to no good. So of course evryone acusses Dovey for killing him. All in all this was the best book ever

Spectacular
Dovey Coe is a story that touched my heart because of its seemingly amazing characters. The author made descriptions that could flow like the ocean. I recomend this book to anyone who enjoys reading and even if they don't I think they should give it a shot.