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Schumacher, Julie
5 Reviews
(3)
YA
Bookish, quiet Adrienne is stuck in her small Delaware town for the summer with nothing to do except read books for eleventh-grade AP English. When her single mom insists they join a mother-daughter book club, Adrienne's proscribed world opens up, but her new experiences and self-knowledge come at a price. Chock-full of literary references and wry humor, this is a thought-provoking novel.
Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano
(3)
YA
Elena watches her beloved older sister Dora struggle with a deep depression from which Elena, for once, cannot save her. Can Elena best help Dora by keeping her secrets, or by exposing them? Focusing on the sisters' tight relationship and the family's fractured dynamic, this powerful novel presents a raw, intimate look at fraught topics including institutionalization and antidepressants for teens.
Reviewer: Lauren Maggio
(2)
4-6
While narrator Thea, a known liar, spends the summer with her grandparents at the shore, she must think of one hundred "truths" while babysitting her seven-year-old cousin. Touches of suspense sustain the plot, but the real story is character-based. The sprawling house and seaside setting also become integral parts of the story, and everything comes together for a believable, satisfying conclusion.
Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2007
(4)
4-6
When twelve-year-old Livvie fails to forward a chain letter, bad luck befalls not only her but also her friends and family. A largely unnecessary revenge subplot takes the focus off a thoughtful consideration of whether we make our own luck. Likable characters and a snowy Minnesota setting add to the appeal of this humorous novel.
Reviewer: Norah Piehl
(4)
4-6
Frances decides to stay home in Ohio with her eccentric aunt for the summer while her mother attends a spiritual retreat in Oregon, taking Frances's beloved little brother, Everett, with her. Much emotional turmoil ensues--camp is a disaster; Frances worries that her mother won't return--and then Everett runs away. Despite uneven pacing and overstated themes, this first novel is still engaging.
Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano
5 reviews
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