A touching and satisfying story, even for adult readers
594454
From the opening pages of this book, twelve-year-old Sadie draws us into the world of a family fighting to survive during the Depression.  When Sadie's father decides to move the family from Missouri to Texas to find work, Sadie is angry over leaving her home and best friend behind.  She's determined to find a way back to her home, and promises her best friend that she won't forget her or make anyone else her best friend. Life on the road is challenging for Sadie's family.  Her father's physical disabilities are woven seamlessly and compassionately into the story.  We learn much about Sadie by seeing her brothers, sisters, parents, and strangers they meet on the road through her eyes.  Sadie is a likeable character and her ambivalent feelings of love and resentment toward her family draw the reader into her world. Sadie takes steps toward independence by finding work in the local shrimp cannery and showing an interest in a lonely man, but her life takes many surprising turns and she is forced to change and grow as she deals with new friends and tests of her loyalties, poverty, a hurricane, and the unexpected arrival of a new baby.

I really enjoyed this book.  Sadie is a strong character with a strong narrative voice, reminiscent of another Texas writer of the past, Loula Grace Erdman.  The reader learns the realities of life for migrants who lived on the Texas coast during the Depression (a story I'd never heard before) but history is woven into the story in a way that seems natural and the details provided are all integral to the plot.  Readers in 4th through 6th grades will find the story intriguing and Sadie an interesting character who will be real to them.  But I bought this book for myself as an adult reader and found myself caught up in the story as completely as any child reader.  I noticed this is a first novel for the author - I'm hoping she'll write more books and I know I'll be looking for them.  (I'm even hoping for another story about Sadie and her family.)
1462664
Of all the books I've read in recent memory, this one really grabbed me.  There is an open honesty that is right there on every page, and at the same time, softened with humor that ranges from making the reader (me) smile, to outright laugh.  In that sense this book reminds me of John Irving - you'll smile reading one page, be close to crying sympathetic tears on the next, and have to set the book down because you'll be laughing so hard on the next.

It's a story about a very intelligent girl growing up.  She is very aware of most things, but not all, as adults are a bit of a mystery. There's a sense of loneliness in her childhood, although she has very good relationships with several brothers.  Having an alcoholic mother doesn't help, and finding ways to cope with this situation (basically, having to parent her parent when her mom is hammered) is a central theme.  It's sad, but the author consistently pulls the reader back to a happy state, with humor.

My favorite author is Edgar Allan Poe, because of his ability to grab the reader, and, through written words on paper, make the reader feel whatever emotion Poe chose, for that moment.  In this book, Maureen Hurley also has that ability.  As a writer, she knows it too, and doesn't let the reader feel too sorry for her main character (herself, at age ten.)  She'll depress you a little, pull you back out of it, bring you down again, then make you laugh aloud.

This is really a quality piece of literature.  If the purpose of a story is to grab the reader and convey a series of emotions,while making the reader think, this book does that very skillfully.  What's nice, also, is that at the end, Maureen tells us that her relationships with her father and brothers is very good, and so, in the end, she isn't so lonely after all.  It was very important for me, reading this book, that there be a happy resolution, and I was very glad that was the case.

If you're looking for a book with a lot of substance combined with first-rate humor, this is a good one.
444565
The title for this books is incredibly apt - it is all about family and how they can help and support us, hurt and tear us down and all shades in between.  It's also one of the most touching coming out stories I have read in a while and two amazing love stories (although one is somewhat secondary).  I loved all the characters in this book (even the ones I didn't like) because Kaje Harper is an expert at depicting complex characters who are all flawed and all have some amount of goodness or at least possibility for redemption.

This is a follow-up to the free The Family We're Born With, which is also a fantastic story.  And, I was happy that we got a bit more of the characters from the first book in this one.

The writing is the high quality I have come to expect from this author.  And I applaud her for exploring some tough subjects and doing it realistically, but with much caring.  She really put me through the ringer, but it was worth it.

The book is long, but it did not feel that way to me at all.  I wanted it to keep going.  So, I hope there will be a third book in the series - maybe with a couple weddings in it.  (Pretty please with sugar on top.)
2313540
I'd recommend this book to anyone age 10 and up who loves characters who feel like they could be your neighbors, values kindness, and appreciates the soaring heights that everyday people can be reach.

I wish I could more eloquently articulate what a meaningful, moving story I found this book to be, but since I'm having trouble choosing the right words, I'll just say: Read it,and you'll see the wonder for yourself.
3011909
This story is beautiful because it can be both cherished by a child and an adult, although most adults believe that they receive more out the story than a child. This is not true a child will see it one way while an adult will see it another. It is written in a style to where it can be seen in whatever direction one might want to interpret it, and even those who want to take it literally can as well and still find it a good story.

Overall it is an easy read maybe for an adult can read it within a day, its elegant and one won't find themsleves lost on what is being said. If one wants to find the deeper meaning must realize each character encounter is important, take a moment and relate it and how you may want to see them thats up to you.

I recommend this book.
3026411
Well written, sweet story appropriate for anyone
3283962
Julie Anne Peters has written an excellent book about two teenage girls who fall in love, and the challenges they face because of their relationship. This is a difficult subject to write about and easily could drift into several directions. But Peters stays focused and true to the story and her characters. She gets the message across to the reader without being preachy. Although this is written for young adults, I think adults -- especially parents -- can benefit from reading this book. Although fiction, the characters were real to me, and the story a compelling one. It reads fast and is hard to put down. This is a keeper for me, and I'll read it again. But in addition to being a good story, it has a message and theme to it, which taught me a lesson about the particular challenges gay people face with assorted prejudices from peers and family alike. If anything, this novel has taught me -- I hope -- to be more compassionate and understanding, to be more open-minded. This story touched me. I'm glad I read it.
4040013
I only read YA books with LGBT themes, and 35% into Joanna Parkhurst's "Here's to you Zeb Pike," I was wondering if the friend who recommended this to me had misunderstood something.  Because Dustin Porter, the wounded, brave heroic adolescent at the center of this story, has more than enough to deal with in his young life without focusing on his emerging sexual awareness, and his story had already captured me, hook, line and sinker.

Then the other shoe dropped.  And I was very glad.

Parkhurst manages the teenage voice extremely well, without dumbing down her writing or losing the key literary elements that anchor a story in a place and time. She gives us, both in first flashback and in first person, a richly detailed portrait of a fourteen-year-old with all the prickliness of his age, yet yearning desperately to be loved.

And Parkhurst also gives us adults who matter. I realized as I finished this book that, ironically, the only adult who uses the word "love" is the one who is the least trustworthy and the least lovable. Which simply made me appreciate the truth in the saying that actions speak louder than words.

This book brought me near to tears any number of times, out of sheer sympathy with one or another of the characters. As one of two gay dads who adopted children in our middle years, I discovered a particular poignancy to a story that is both about parents who can't understand  what an irreplaceable gift parenthood is; and about folks who yearn desperately to take on that role.

Of course I doubt many public schools will offer LGBT-themed YA books such as this one to their students, because we are still a society brimming with prejudices. It does me good to know that books like this are out there, because surely there are lots of teenagers who need them and the messages of hope they offer.
4458624
I do not throw the word "great" around blithely - this book is indeed great, a testament to the legitimacy of the Newbery Award Committee, to the frequent superiority of the best children's books to adult literature in grabbing the imagination and imbuing the mind with truth, and to the artistic abilities of Ms. Creech. As a former teacher in a school predominated by minorities, I can testify that this book, with its natural sense of spirituality, whimsical characters (Phoebe, Gram and Gramps, and other supporting characters strike me as a more-naturalistic rogue's gallery to rival the creatures in Alice and Wonderland), fascinating narrative thread, gradual unvieling of the truth, and sensitive portrayal of familial and friendly relationships should appeal to just about all young people and all adults who haven't had reality leeched out of them by a violent, licentious, consumerist culture. Creech has characterized Sal so sensitively and beautifully that the reader knows her as well as a living friend. She is intelligent, artistic, and deeply "spiritual" in her perceptions of what is most important in life. It is indeed this sense of perspective in the first person narrative that conveys Sal as such an admirable human being - someone from whom her "peers" who read her story can learn about aspects of life they may never have considered. She comes across as someone destined to great things in the lives of a few people at least, if not in the world, but still that person whom most of the kids in the middle school class like and respect. Some of the editorial reviewers rather pathetically and erroneously critiqued the ending of the book, but 1) it's a children's book, and the "tidiness" and joyfulness of some aspects of the ending (which has more to do with resigned acceptance) reflect that, 2) the reader goes through the final stream of experiences much as Sal would have. After what she has lost - and it is considerable - Sal values what is left all the more. Why am I harping on about "Truth"? Because gratitude, and the ability to perceive reason for joy even in the face of deep hurt and sorrow, are two of the key realities of life, and this book conveys that with believeable and entertaining characters. The point is, this book resonates with a far truer perception of human nature than literally 99% of the adult fiction produced in the past 30 years or so. I have recommended it to many of my adult friends to their edification and gratitude, and naturally to all of my students. One of my ten favorite books of all time in any genre. It's True and it's joyful. What more do you want?
813899
This is a good, satisfying book,  however, it sometimes seems a little long in parts.  There is a focus on conversation and manners and the characters are excellently portrayed.  I believe
a woman would find this book more enjoyable on the whole than a man, and an adult find it more enjoyable than a person under 14.  I have read the book more than twice in my adult life and have much appreciated it each time I have read it.
4577664
This book may be classified as YA, but really can be read and enjoyed by a lot of people. Audrey is a 14 year old girl who is dealing with typical kid issues while also battling anxiety disorder and depression,
After an incident at school involving bullying, she becomes close to her brother's best friend Linus who tries to help Audrey while not always completely understanding her predicament.
There are a lot of storylines in this book which tie into the main themes of AD and depression. As someone who has had minor issues with both, I found myself commiserating more because I have some understanding of how difficult this can be and how it affects everyday life. Audrey's issues were severe and I found myself feeling for her because she was a great character with a lot of heart and feeling.vI thought the book's author handled the subjects with understanding while also not managing to overwhelm the story with too much information for her target audience to process. Her supporting cast of character were interesting and included a gaming addicted brother Frank, a younger brother that was sweet and cute named Felix, and Audrey's funny and somewhat weird parents who were well intentioned but at times begged the question of who were the adults------the parents or the child. Her mother was a little nutty and her father was often oblivious to the things happening around him, but as the story evolved there was a strong sense that this family grew and evolved.
The simple and innocent romance and friendship between Audrey and Linus was sweet and very relatable for anyone who managed to keep it simple during their early teen years. I liked the tender and sweet aspects of it.
While every issue or storyline was not resolved by the end of this novel, this was a satisfying tale that was realistic and did not overwork its main topics, had nicely developed characters, and dealt with real problems with both empathy and humor.
825620
Connah Brecons Theres This Thing follows a little girl as she tries to share her heart with another. She tries to invite love, entice love, capture love, but the love seems to be unrequited and unreturned. She tries to be someone she is not, to be loud and showy in order for her displays of affection to go noticed. And just as she is feeling rejected and giving up, she gets her happy ending  love has found her after all.

This books message of not trying too hard for love, but letting it find you, is not in-your-face, but rather, more philosophical. The girls longings are described rather vaguely so I am not sure a picture book aged-child will understand completely; However, I think if you can explain the story to your child first, in a simplistic way, they will really enjoy the story. Perhaps if it was more straightforward all along that she wanted to share her love with a boy, it would read easier for children, but I understand in doing so, the story could lose the thing about it that makes it so different.

Brecons quirky illustrations accompany the story perfectly and show the girls frustration through squiggles and hope of potential romance on the horizon through a single red heart balloon that follows her. I do think that picture book aged children can appreciate Theres This Thing for what it is without understanding the message; the pictures are bright and vibrant and tell a story all their own that a child can make of what they will.

This book may require more than one read even as an adult, but as such, I must say I really enjoyed Theres This Thing, on many levels. There truly is this thing about it that makes it very captivating. In fact, it gives you that all-too-familiar butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling you experienced in your youth, even just remembering how nerve wracking and tough and exciting and dramatic it was to be in first love (ugh, those years were the worst). This book was a really different story of love than is typically told in a childrens book, probably a more real story than most, so I appreciated that realness very much. Love isn't always easy, it is full of heartache and turmoil, joy and playfulness, but it is beautiful. Read more at www.diapers-and-daydreams.com
3199003
I was pretty curious about The Year of Billy Miller because Ive long been a fan of Kevin Henkess picture books and because I don't see very many books written about or for children of this age (second grade). On the whole, I found the novel to be a really warm, gentle, and satisfying read.

The Year of Billy Miller follows Billy for a year. Billy is a little insecure going into the second grade because he hit his head pretty hard during his summer vacation and doesnt know if there will be any negative effects. Billy, it is soon clear, though, is a hardworking and warm-hearted kid who wants to please, and not much is going to hold him back.

Even though the motif of a year recurs throughout the novel, really the book is structured around the key relationships in his life. The novel focuses on how Billy grows, and especially in his appreciation for his teacher, his father, his little sister, and his mother.  The events of the novel are certainly not high dramahe tries to make the teacher like him after he thinks hes offended her, he tries to stay up all night with his sisters help, he tries to write a poem for class, etc. These events are, however, all amusing and human moments that highlight the charms of Billy and the people around him.

Really, the simplicity of the novel is what I enjoyed most about it. The Year of Billy Miller is a little tribute to a good kid with a good family and what a good life they have together. Its a total pleasure to read.
4426393
First, I want to say that I appreciate a non-Christian novel that is not full of vulgarities and curse words. Second, I at least as much appreciate a storyline that keeps me guessing until at least the halfway point. As an author and lifelong novel reader, I can usually predict where a story is going pretty early on. But I was about halfway through this novel when I began to make the first connections.

Besides those aspects, the author does an excellent job juxtapositioning the events of Graces life with the reading of her mothers diaries. I found it easy to relate to both mother and daughter, as well as to vicariously experience their emotions, because the author also does an excellent job of developing and delving deep into her characters. The story is a touching and poignant one illustrating the concept of family.

If you're looking for a quality work of womens fiction, I highly recommend this one!
4455927
Boundaries is intensely heartfelt at times and at others, a delightful story of young lovers who struggle to keep it together, both in their own personal lives and in their relationship. It begins with a love story but is not necessarily just that. Mother-daughter, father-daughter, mother-son, father-son, sisters, in-laws, cousins -- dysfunctional families are indeed everywhere but this story is drenched with the secrets and deviations of the many relationships that go on, in the open and behind the curtains. Elisa, an enchanting mother suffering from manic depression, is my absolute favorite. Her story and her character, with so much pain and yet so much brightness, is eccentric and deeply moving that I've always had to know where she was in the story. Also, there's a lovely, classic atmosphere with the book being set in the 80's, though still a modern book, the absence of ubiquitous technology like cellphones or laptops and and the replacement with letters and that ache and excitement of waiting for a message back is refreshing to read about.
Recommended to those with a taste for forbidden passions.
4621233
4 1/2 stars is what I'd give this novel, with the only reason for it not quite getting five stars having to do with the extraneous and, in my opinion, unnecessary baseball references that did nothing to further the plot and pulled me out of the novel. That said, this story is a treasure of unexpectedness. Touching, tender and gentle, the moments between father and son in When You Went Away pull at the heartstrings and the tear ducts.

The book is told in a near-memoir style, even though it's a fiction novel, and the reader gets to go along with Gerry, our protagonist, on his journey of surviving after both his wife and daughter leave him--his wife through death, and his teen daughter through running away from home. His daughter left prior to his wife dying, so he knows he's going to have to tell her, if he ever finds her.

Left to raise a near-newborn son, alone, Gerry has to learn how to live again. He was young when he married, and had been married for the majority of his adult life, and now he's a single father to Reese, the unplanned but much wanted child born just month prior to Maureen's, his wife, death.

Ally, a co-worker and unexpected love interest for Gerry, helps him feel again, though he questions his commitment to Maureen because he feels so much for Ally so soon after his wife has died. It's those feelings that allow him to see and understand what his daughter might have been feeling when she left home as a teenager, to run away with her love of the moment, Mick.

I won't give away the ending, because you'll really want to read this one for yourself. I do want to mention, the ending slightly disappointed me, because it seemed to come too quickly, without enough full resolution. I guess that might be a good thing, in that it left me wondering what happened next, but I'm the type of reader who, if there's not going to be a sequel, would prefer more closure.

All in all, Baron gives us likable characters in Gerry Rubato and his son Reese, with touching moments, emotion and a good story. This one is well worth adding to your reading list.
654596
As I reached the end of this very touching and lovely book, I suddenly felt saddened that I was saying goodbye to people that I had "lived" with for what seemed like a lifetime, although it was only for the few days I had spent reading it. While the story is ostensibly geared toward 9-12 year old young adults, and while it serves this group admirably by its rich use of language that respects the intelligence of these young people, it is the richness of the characters as they journey through the various travails, joys and sadness of life that left it's effect on me for many many days afterward. The story reaches through generations, and as the tale extends through the deep American south to the battlefields of Europe and the terrible and wide impact of the holocaust, it is these people, young and old, whose thirst for life and happiness keeps them so vivid in our minds. Aunt Netti involves us, amuses us, touches us and finally teaches us. As a reviewer, I was terribly moved by the story, particularly as it builds towards its conclusion. Something touched me deeply reading it, although I'm not quite sure why....cynical me has to admit that I even teared up from time to time. In truth I resisted putting it down at all until the necessities of life forced me take the occasional break. And as the story passed as a panorama before my mind's eye, I couldn't help but think what a lovely movie this would make; hopefully some appropriate person will recognize this as well........Highly Recommended.  EarlC.