What People Are Saying About Singing With the Top Down
SINGING WITH THE TOP DOWN is..."a book about trust and love. a strong, universal story about what defines a family and how love fosters trust. It’s warm, funny and engaging. And by the end, Pauly is family."
Ann DeFrange, The Oklahoman
SINGING WITH THE TOP DOWN is a book filled with uplifting themes and a promise of a better life. The title itself connotes a happy feeling, of the desire to escape and to sing at the tops of ones lungs in a celebration of life. SINGING WITH THE TOP DOWN is highly recommended.
Loves Romances and More
Williamson's well-drawn characters step off the page and into the reader's heart. She presents them not as caricatures or ideals but as people who in any era could be our friends, neighbors or even crotchety relatives.
Elizabeth Cowan for The Norman Transcript
"Precocious 13-year old Pauly Mahoney heads an ensemble cast of eccentric characters in this coming-of-age charmer…..Graceful and witty, Pauly’s courageous voice is this bighearted novel’s greatest strength."
Publishers Weekly
"The title of this book perfectly describes the joy I felt as I was reading it. The story tugs at your heart strings with endearing characters, their humor, courage and a huge amount of love and trust.  A delight!"
Susan Wasson – Bookworks
"For those who like a quirky plot delivered with relentless good cheer.
Joanne Wilkinson Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reservedÂ
"SINGING WITH THE TOP DOWN has everything I love in a novel: a colorful cast of characters with the most appealing heroine since Scout Finch; a rollicking plot that kept me up late turning pages; and a story that's tender, heartwarming, and wise. I'm telling everyone I know: Don't miss this one!"
Cassandra King, author of The Same Sweet GirlsÂ
"Pauly Mahoney, Debrah Williamson’s protagonist in her wonderful novel SINGING WITH THE TOP DOWN, is my favorite literary kid since Will Tweedy of Olive Ann Burns’s classic COLD SASSY TREE.  Pauly’s story of finding a "chosen" family after her parents die in a tragic carnival accident is filled with moments both laugh-out-loud funny and intensely poignant. There were lines on almost every page that I had to reread because they were so deliciously good. With southern flair, biting wit and charming characters, this novel is a delight."
Dayna Dunbar, author of Saints and Sinners of Okay County and The Wings That Fly Us Home. Â
"This is the delightful story of a westward journey that parallels the pioneer tradition, complete with outlaws, Indians and fellow-travelers of various sorts. So put the top down on the convertible and join Pauly, Buddy, Aunt Nora, Tyb and Puppy for high adventure. But watch out--there may be a mummy in the trunk!"
Ann B. Ross, author of the Miss Julia Series
"With writing that sparkles, a story that shines, and a narrator who's nothing if not spunky, SINGING WITH THE TOP DOWN is a luminous tale of self-discovery you can fall into and believe in until the journey's end."
Lisa Wingate, author of Drenched in Light
"SINGING WITH THE TOP DOWN is a feast for the heart. Wise, witty and tender, this wonderful story brims with expertly-crafted characters and sparkling dialogue. A true pleasure!"
Karin Gillespie, author of Bottom Dollar Girls novels
"Debrah Williamson weaves tragedy and humor into a powerful coming of age story. Pauly Mahoney is a shining star, and the story of her journey through a tough adolescence and the American heartland is a winner. Take The Trip with Pauly, Buddy, Aunt Nora, Tyb and Puppy—and savor the pleasures of Williamson’s masterful storytelling."
Carolyn Haines, author of Judas BurningÂ
"With Debrah Williamson’s first women’s fiction novel, SINGING WITH THE TOP DOWN, readers will find a heart-warming story of one girl’s personal discovery in a more idyllic time in America….What a charming tale!"
Kelley Hartsell, for CK2’s Kwips and Kritiques
Read full review at: http://www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com/...
"SINGING WITH THE TOP DOWN is an absolutely top-notch story and Debrah Williamson is a wonderful storyteller, bringing the characters to life with grace and apparent ease. From page one, readers will root for Pauly. She’s smart, cynical, a perfect narrator for Singing with the Top Down and the newest addition to my list of all-time favorite characters….Singing with the Top Down would be perfect for mother-daughter reading groups…or for anyone who looks for happy endings."
Diana Vickery, The Cozy Library
Read full review at: www.cozylibrary.com Â