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Leslie Tall Manning
Author
Feral Maril & Her Little Brother Carol
Bright but unassuming Marilyn Jones has some grown-up decisions to make, especially after Mama goes to prison for drugs and larceny. With no one to take care of them, Marilyn and her younger, mentally-challenged brother, Carol, get tossed into the foster care system. While shuffling from one home to another, Marilyn makes it her mission to find the Tan Man, a mysterious man from her babyhood she believes holds the key to her family’s happiness. But Marilyn’s quest is halted when her daddy, an ex-con she has never met, is chosen by the courts as the new guardian. Caleb Jones wants something more than a father-daughter relationship. He sends Carol far away, where the boy won’t be a hindrance to his plans. Marilyn devises a plan of her own: to locate her little brother, kidnap him, and run away. Independence, however, often comes at a high price. As Marilyn weathers the unexpected and often brutal storms of her childhood and adolescence, hope becomes her ally as she winds through small Southern towns, wrapping herself around an assortment of hearts along the way. With a little help from a Chinese woman, a carnival of misfits, her first true love, and even the elusive Tan Man himself, Marilyn will discover that “family” isn’t always what we imagine it to be.
Reviews
Literary Titan Review

"A remarkable exploration into the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity."

Michelle Garren-Flye, author

"Manning has captured hope in this testament to the power of sibling love. I adored this beautiful book." ~Michelle Garren-Flye, owner of The Next Chapter Books & Art, and author of Ducks in a Row

Midwest Book Review

"Realistic in its portrait of childhood abuse and adversity...Marilyn harbors the survival traits of being a stubborn, positive, creative thinker. Readers don't just follow Marilyn's journey. They come to love her." D. Donovan, Senior Editor

Padgett Gerler, author

"Marilyn Jones is a hero for the ages: tenacious, loyal, optimistic, resourceful...and all heart. I loved everything about this story." ~Padgett Gerler, author of She's the Same 

Readers' Favorite 5-Star Review

"An original, unpredictable tale told through the eyes of a child forced to grow up too soon...bittersweet."

The Letter Review

"Effective and original. Lovely use of colloquial language. Skillful evocation of emothion [with] lots of enjoyable comedic moments."

The Prairies Book Review

"Highly recommended for book clubs and libraries seeking stories about coming-of-age experiences which incorporate threads of growth (from physical to attitude adjustments) into their sagas in a rich, powerful manner that will appeal to mature teens to adults."

News
03/15/2024
Feral Maril Finalist in Chanticleer Awards

We are honored to announce that Feral Maril & Her Littl Brother Carol has advanced to the Finalist Level of Achievement in the SOMERSET Book Awards, a Division for Literary and Contemporary Fiction, of the prestigious Chanticleer International Book Awards judging rounds! 

05/18/2024
Santa Fe Writers Project Longlist

Feral Maril made the longlist for the Santa Fe Writers Project.

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