A Girl Named Zippy

By Haven Kimmel

Haven Kimmel grew up in a very small town in Indiana in the 1960s. A town of only 300 people, of course she knew most of them. But even in a small town, people are people and, as a little girl, Haven had her own ideas about her fellow towns folk, including her own parents. Her mother was apparently depressed and spent most of her time on the couch reading and snack foods. Her father, a tall, imposing man, had a very quick temper. She was the baby of the family, with a brother and sister who were almost teens when Haven came along.
Mostly things were good for Haven. Her parents didn't have a lot of money but Haven still had a rich childhood, with lots of pets, lots of visits with friends and family. She was a bit of a tomboy and most of her teachers felt she was disruptive. She certainly was a high-spirited, on-the-go youngster, racing around her small town in grubby clothes and wild hair. Like all kids she had some unpleasant encounters with the facts of life, some grisly, some sad. But it was all leavened by her boundless enthusiasm for life and by the quiet love of her two parents.

This was a very good read. Parts of the book are quite funny, and some parts a bit disturbing, like when their neighbors butchered their rabbits for meat. I was not familiar with that method of slaughter, it was gross and shocking. I can image it was pretty traumatic for the little girl witnessing it in the backyard next door (not to mention the rabbits). But even despite the grim bits of country life, it was a real joy to read about little Haven and her small town adventures.