59 pages • 1 hour read
Allison LarkinThe People We Keep
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The People We Keep follows 16-year-old April Sawicki, who lives in Little River, New York, in 1994. After a tumultuous home life and a strained relationship with her father, she runs away, seeking a fresh start. April navigates relationships, personal struggles, and her pursuit of a music career, ultimately finding solace in the chosen family she builds along her journey. The novel includes discussions of sexual violence, child abandonment, abuse, drug use, and anti-gay prejudice.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Allison Larkin's The People We Keep is lauded for its poignant storytelling and relatable protagonist. Reviewers praise its heartfelt exploration of self-discovery and resilience. Some critics, however, find the pacing uneven and feel certain plot elements are predictable. Overall, it's appreciated for its emotional depth and lyrical prose.
Who Should Read The People We Keep?
Potential readers who would enjoy The People We Keep by Allison Larkin are fans of heartfelt, coming-of-age stories. This novel will appeal to those who appreciated the emotional journeys in books like Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. These readers savor richly drawn characters and poignant transformations.