Never Forget the Bridge That Crossed You over

Rating:
Summary: Great Writing
Review: A fantastic read, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I was propelled from one surprise to another, one event to another. Never forget the bridge that crossed you over is an experience as well as a page turner. One moment it has you in tears and the next angry and shocked but through out it is a wonderful read and one I won't soon forget. It's characters come alive and live in your heart and mind as you share their joy and pain. A surprising end brings this story to a daring close. Readers won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Bridges
Review: A story about tragedy and triumph in a black family. In her book
Adriene reveals what time and history have written in stone, the
resilience of a black family showing pride and endurance while dealing with tough circumstances, against incredible odds. A mother whose family is stolen from her, a brother who's faith in God and strong belief in family, helps him to survive sepration and an uncertain future. It is a story applied too often in the past, of true values and true black pride. An unforgettable book.

Rating:
Summary: Bridges
Review: Adriene Pickett reveals a story of love and devotion that spans forty years of the lives of a family separated by deception and treachery. She displays to the world what time has written in stone, a black family's resilience to continue in love and faith in God against insurmountable odds. A mother whose family is torn from her bosom during a time of illness, a brother who's faith in God carries him through an uncertian future, three girls who refuse to believe thier dreams are just visions of the night. It is a story of black pride, hope and success. A excellent read

Rating:
Summary: A Whole New Meaning to "Family Reunions" ...
Review: Debut novelist, Adrienne Pickett writes an extraordinary story that stands out among the usual plots and characters found in today's African American fiction. Pickett brings readers a highly engaging story of Ivory Walker and her family.

Multiple births are widely heard about today, but in the 1960's it was surely a looked upon as a "gift from God" when Ivory delivers triplets on Christmas Day. She names the girls Magnolia, Hyacinth and Rose. The three oldest children absolutely adore these little girls, especially the oldest, fourteen year old Solomon. Due to the lack of a father figure, young Solomon is the man of the house. The first part of this novel is from Solomon's point of view. Readers follow this young man struggles to step into his deceased father's footsteps.

When Ivory is diagnosed with breast cancer, she must make a decision about the care of her six children. She decides to entrust the care of the triplets to Solomon's teacher, Miss Smith. After Ivory recovers, the Walker family expects to be united, but instead received devastating news. The teacher betrayed the family's trust by selling the triplets to three different families across the United States. After searching in vain, the family moves to New Jersey --- still hoping to find the girls.

Thirty-eight years pass by and incredible circumstances unite the triplets again with their family. The second half of the novel's glides around one of the missing triplets, Magnolia. As Magnolia slowly meets one family member at a time and discovers other surprises along the way, readers will be entranced by this emotional family reunion. The tear-jerking pages bring a sense of satisfaction and brings new meaning to the words "family reunion."

Rating:
Summary: Emotional Journey
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I laughed and cried with the characters through their very emotional journey. The character development was excellent, the characters became real within my imagination.It would be wonderful if all family bonds could be as tight as the walker family.
Reviewed by THood
Circle of Sistahs BookClub

Rating:
Summary: Emotional Journey
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I laughed and cried with the characters through their very emotional journey. The character development was excellent, the characters became real within my imagination.It would be wonderful if all family bonds could be as tight as the walker family.
Reviewed by THood
Circle of Sistahs BookClub

Rating:
Summary: Family Reunion
Review: In her debut novel, Never Forget the Bridge That Crossed You Over, Adriene Pickett tackles the rarely explored plot of finding loved ones after a long separation. Set in rural Mission, Georgia until their move to New Jersey, the lives of the Walker family is followed as they trust God to fight their battles when the going was tough.

Solomon Walker's father died unexpectedly when he was a young child. His father taught him many life lessons. One important message that his father passed on to him was "not to trust anyone but family" and Solomon took these words and instructions seriously. When his mother became ill and trusted a friend to care for his triplet sisters, in his heart, Solomon knew this was not the right thing to do. His worse fears are realized when he goes to bring the triplets, Magnolia, Hyacinth and Rose, back home and they cannot be found.

Thirty-eight years later, Magnolia is married to Anthony and they live in New Jersey. On a business trip to Miami, Anthony sees a lady he mistakes for Magnolia, only to find out she is Hyacinth. With the help of Hyacinth's parents, bits and pieces of the past are brought to light and these two sisters are reunited. Rose is still missing and they are wondering about the rest of their siblings and mother. An appearance on a television show that reunites families might be the answer, or the answer could be staring them right in the face.

My actual rating for this book was a 3.5. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the story. It is not often that you get to see beyond the hugs and tears of the television reunion stories. There are twists with some of the characters that will have you guessing about their connection to the triplets. However, I found the unearthing and meetings between the missing links to be drawn out so much so I started skimming through the back of the book to find out the answers. I think this was a good first effort and look forward to reading more of this author's work.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

Rating:
Summary: Family Reunion
Review: In her debut novel, Never Forget the Bridge That Crossed You Over, Adriene Pickett tackles the rarely explored plot of finding loved ones after a long separation. Set in rural Mission, Georgia until their move to New Jersey, the lives of the Walker family is followed as they trust God to fight their battles when the going was tough.

Solomon Walker's father died unexpectedly when he was a young child. His father taught him many life lessons. One important message that his father passed on to him was "not to trust anyone but family" and Solomon took these words and instructions seriously. When his mother became ill and trusted a friend to care for his triplet sisters, in his heart, Solomon knew this was not the right thing to do. His worse fears are realized when he goes to bring the triplets, Magnolia, Hyacinth and Rose, back home and they cannot be found.

Thirty-eight years later, Magnolia is married to Anthony and they live in New Jersey. On a business trip to Miami, Anthony sees a lady he mistakes for Magnolia, only to find out she is Hyacinth. With the help of Hyacinth's parents, bits and pieces of the past are brought to light and these two sisters are reunited. Rose is still missing and they are wondering about the rest of their siblings and mother. An appearance on a television show that reunites families might be the answer, or the answer could be staring them right in the face.

My actual rating for this book was a 3.5. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the story. It is not often that you get to see beyond the hugs and tears of the television reunion stories. There are twists with some of the characters that will have you guessing about their connection to the triplets. However, I found the unearthing and meetings between the missing links to be drawn out so much so I started skimming through the back of the book to find out the answers. I think this was a good first effort and look forward to reading more of this author's work.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

Rating:
Summary: Mahogany Book Club Best Fiction Award 2003
Review: Ladies and Gentlemen, please have your tissues near by before you start this book, because sometime before you are finished reading this book, you will need them. This story is really two stories in one. It is the story of a young boy name Solomon and his devotion to his family, especially his 3 younger sisters. These girls are stolen away from the family by the very teacher whom Solomon has befriended. How the family is able to pull together is amazing. Then nearly forty (40) years later, a man staying at hotel views a women who looks exactly like is wife. Later on that evening, he receives a phone call from the young women's fiancee requesting him to come to the young women's home and...Well you going to have to read the book. Ms Pickett did an excellent job of bridging those forty years. We find out what he did with his live during that time and how losing his sisters has effected him both personally and professional. I do have some questions for the author. Ms Pickett I would like to know if Buford Cloverfield had anything to do with the death of Solomon's father. Was Billie Magnolia's half sister. Also if what happen to the girls had not, would the family had left Mission Ga. This is a very very good book. It includes family values, shows how life can be up one day and down the next. The title is appropriate, we should never forget bridges we cross over. We may need to cross over them again. We voted this novel Best Fiction For 2003.

lucillejoyce
MBC/2004

Rating:
Summary: Very intriguing story
Review: This story was an original one that held my attention throughout the read. The characters were well presented and the flow from plot to plot was smooth. I liked the way the story was pulled together in the end and the surprising twists. I'd even like to see a sequel to this story from the author.