Author: Gwyn Hyman Rubio
Published: 1998
Genre: Fiction
"Rural Kentucky in the 1950s is not an easy place to grow up, and it's especially hard for ten-year-old Icy Sparks, an orphan who lives with her grandparents. Life becomes even more difficult for Icy when violent tics and uncontrollable cursing begin -- symptoms brought on by a troubling affliction that goes undiagnosed until her adulthood. Icy's adolescence is marred by the humiliation of her illness, and its all-too-visible signs are the source of endless mystery and hilarity as everyone around her offers an opinion about what's troubling the girl. Eventually, Icy finds solace in the company of Miss Emily, an obese woman who knows what it's like to be an outcast in this tightly knit community. Narrated by a now-grown Icy, this novel shimmers with warmth and humor as it recounts a young girl's painful and poignant journey to womanhood -- and the many lives she touches and enriches along the way."
Anyone who has ever felt that they don't fit in will instantly relate to Icy Sparks, the protagonist in Gwyn Hyman Rubio's novel of the same name. As a young child, Icy has always had the unique ability of being able to "pop" her eyes out when she gets excited or frustrated, earning her the nickname "Frog Girl". But when the tics and outbursts increase and become more violent, she and those around her realize that something is wrong. Since no one knows what exactly is wrong with the girl, she becomes an outcast with only her grandparents and friend Miss Emily, a fellow outcast, for company, and even they struggle to understand Icy. Only later in adulthood does Icy learn the name for the disorder that she suffers from -- Tourette's Syndrome.
Another big conflict besides girl vs. Tourette's is good vs. evil. Icy creates a divide within herself; one half is good, and the other is bad. Her bad self puts her at odds with God, and her God-fearing grandmother. She can't give herself over to Him, because a bad girl and God can't be in the same company. It's a constant inward struggle for her to figure out what side will define her.
While, in general, I enjoyed the story being told, I ran into road blocks along the way. One was that I sometimes lost track of what was going on, particularly when Icy was experiencing one of her fits. Things would get weird whenever she was having an attack, and it was hard to tell whether what she was seeing was real life or a result of her syndrome. The other moment that left me baffled contains a spoiler, so cease reading this minute if you don't want to know what happens.
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At the end of the novel, Icy experiences a spiritual awakening. It's a long, drawn-out moment featuring lots of hymns and various choir robes. I'm sure it's a metaphor for something, but I was so confused about what was going on that it was lost on me. Basically, Icy lets herself go and finally learns to accept herself and her mysterious syndrome, as well as coming to realize that she is loved by many people, including God.
Here's why you should read this book:
1. Rubio's writing style features witty Southernisms that will make any reader smile.
2. The story comments on the human condition and the inward struggle between good and evil.
3. The coming-of-age themes present in the story will resonate with many readers.
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