Sixteen-year-old Autumn has spent her entire life worrying about others. Her ailing grandma, meth-addicted mom, and a best friend who is always in ...
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reviews
Feb 11, 2012
Dream Smashers was a hard book to read, emotionally. I haven’t read many books that have dealt with addiction and its consequences, so this was also an eye opener for me. I’m really glad I read the book.
Most of the characters were likeable, and also complex. The main character, Autumn, is a very strong young lady. The girl has been through a lot, but she can take care of herself, along with the help of her grandmother who raised her. Her mother, Jacinda, was a meth addicted mess. I More...
Most of the characters were likeable, and also complex. The main character, Autumn, is a very strong young lady. The girl has been through a lot, but she can take care of herself, along with the help of her grandmother who raised her. Her mother, Jacinda, was a meth addicted mess. I More...
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Jul 01, 2011
Jamie
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Reviewed for Reading, Writing and Waiting
http://youngadultbookworm.blogspot.com/
I'll admit, I haven't read many Indie books. The ones I have read were written by friends, like fellow reviewer, Stephanie Jenkins. So, when Annie asked if I'd like to review Dream Smashers, I figured it would be a great way to jump into the Indie waters so-to-speak.
The jacket copy sounded right up my alley, and I dove right in. The first thing I noticed was how good of a writer Ang More...
http://youngadultbookworm.blogspot.com/
I'll admit, I haven't read many Indie books. The ones I have read were written by friends, like fellow reviewer, Stephanie Jenkins. So, when Annie asked if I'd like to review Dream Smashers, I figured it would be a great way to jump into the Indie waters so-to-speak.
The jacket copy sounded right up my alley, and I dove right in. The first thing I noticed was how good of a writer Ang More...
Apr 04, 2011
Jenny
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Dream Smashers was a very difficult read for me. Not because I didn't understand or like it but because it deals with some very tough topics in a very bold, real way. At times elegant, at times thoroughly visceral, the story dives right into meth addiction from the point of view of the addict as well as those around them including family.
The narrator is Autumn whose mother is as toxic as they come, addicted to meth and angry about her past choices and mistakes. Autumn's voice is snarky More...
The narrator is Autumn whose mother is as toxic as they come, addicted to meth and angry about her past choices and mistakes. Autumn's voice is snarky More...
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Apr 15, 2011
Tiger Holland (All-Consuming Books)
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From the very first page, Autumn notices other people's concealed pain--like the waitress at the diner who's rumored to be the victim of domestic violence and who always seems to have a new bruise or a fresh limp. Autumn is keyed in to other people's misfortunes because she has plenty of her own. She's living in a run-down Washington town where the only exciting thing to do is drugs, and she hasn't seen much joy. Her meth-addicted mother Jacinda has ensured that Autumn and her Grams don't have m
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Apr 04, 2011
Kim
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Dream Smashers is the debut novel of author Angela Carlie, and it was a novel that was just about impossible to put down once I began. This novel was much darker and much grittier than most young adult novels, very raw. While a coming of age story, it is also the story of a young girl struggling to be more than what life has given her as an example. Autumn's meth-addicted mother is a central figure in the story, having abandoned and emotionally abused Autumn since she was a little girl. Autu
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Jul 20, 2011
Revati Ragini
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jun 15, 2011
Kristen
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I wanted to like this book, but mostly, I'm just glad it's over.
I won this book on FirstReads here on goodreads. The author signed the book and even added a little handwritten note, which was a really nice & thoughtful touch.
***
I wasn't really impressed with this book. It's not that I think Ms. Carlie is a bad writer -- I don't. I think she tried too hard to sound like a teenager and the effect was wrong. Instead of sounding natural, it was just awkward and took y More...
I won this book on FirstReads here on goodreads. The author signed the book and even added a little handwritten note, which was a really nice & thoughtful touch.
***
I wasn't really impressed with this book. It's not that I think Ms. Carlie is a bad writer -- I don't. I think she tried too hard to sound like a teenager and the effect was wrong. Instead of sounding natural, it was just awkward and took y More...
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May 29, 2011
Sarah
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Dream Smashers is a daring and intelligent contemporary young adult story that features an interesting and likeable heroine.
Autumn Winters is a bit of a mess, but what sixteen year old isn't? Autumn has spent her life trying to keep things together - she has been thrown a lot of curves balls and she struggles to stay on top. You see, her mother is a meth addict and Autumn wants nothing to do with her destructive life. This creates an interesting dynamic in Autumn, because she wants t More...
Autumn Winters is a bit of a mess, but what sixteen year old isn't? Autumn has spent her life trying to keep things together - she has been thrown a lot of curves balls and she struggles to stay on top. You see, her mother is a meth addict and Autumn wants nothing to do with her destructive life. This creates an interesting dynamic in Autumn, because she wants t More...
Apr 25, 2011
Ivy
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Dream Smashers explores a very serious topic of Methamphetamine (Meth). It also informs me of how people act when they do drugs, like meth. Dream Smashers is not only informative, but also a great read!
I decided to read and review Dream Smashers because it talks about meth and is a Young Adult novel. I wanted to know more about meth and how it played out in this novel.
I really like the character Autumn. I feel like she has so much to deal with, such as her mother, the met More...
I decided to read and review Dream Smashers because it talks about meth and is a Young Adult novel. I wanted to know more about meth and how it played out in this novel.
I really like the character Autumn. I feel like she has so much to deal with, such as her mother, the met More...
Apr 22, 2011
Erin
rated it:
Joy. Laughter. Despair. Heartbreak. Hope.
That's the gamut of emotions I went through while reading this book. Tears flowed freely (the scene at Share House was heartbreaking). The book was written so fluidly, so powerfully that I couldn't put it down until I read the last word. I didn't know the first thing about being around someone crashing off drugs; I do now. I know what it's like to fall in love, to need to protect the ones you love, and to reach the point where faith is the onl More...
That's the gamut of emotions I went through while reading this book. Tears flowed freely (the scene at Share House was heartbreaking). The book was written so fluidly, so powerfully that I couldn't put it down until I read the last word. I didn't know the first thing about being around someone crashing off drugs; I do now. I know what it's like to fall in love, to need to protect the ones you love, and to reach the point where faith is the onl More...
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Jun 20, 2011
Savannah (Books With Bite)
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Ms. Carlie, you can write one wicked book! This book had so much great elements in it that is had me in love with it. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters.
First off, the storyline. Let me be the first to tell you how much it rocked! It blew my socks off. I loved the feeling of reading this book. It has so much realistic feel to it that you didn't want to finish it. You just wanted to savor every bit that you are reading. The way Ms. Carlie wrote this book it makes the More...
First off, the storyline. Let me be the first to tell you how much it rocked! It blew my socks off. I loved the feeling of reading this book. It has so much realistic feel to it that you didn't want to finish it. You just wanted to savor every bit that you are reading. The way Ms. Carlie wrote this book it makes the More...
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Apr 08, 2011
Missy (Two Readers Reviews)
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This was an incredibly powerful read. I haven't read a lot of books that went as into depth with families dealing with drug addiction.
Autumn's mother left her with her grandparents when she was young. In her 16 years these are the only parents she has ever know. Jacinda, her biological mother, is someone who just comes around from time to time causing trouble and breaking her Grams heart. I was immediately entranced in the story and the life of this 16 year old who has nothing, but a More...
Autumn's mother left her with her grandparents when she was young. In her 16 years these are the only parents she has ever know. Jacinda, her biological mother, is someone who just comes around from time to time causing trouble and breaking her Grams heart. I was immediately entranced in the story and the life of this 16 year old who has nothing, but a More...
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Apr 04, 2011
Ginger (GReads!)
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Autumn Spring Winters was given this outlandish name by the mother who abandoned her & chose drugs & alcohol, instead of her own flesh & blood. Imagine a teenage girl who only knows her mother by the wretched ghost who floats in & out of her life, only when she needs money for drugs. Autumn was handed over to her grandmother at a young age & was given a second chance to be brought up in a "normal" household. Autumn's life is anything, but normal. Her disinterest in school is shared
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Nov 16, 2011
Anne
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I flat-out adored this book. So beautifully written... every sentence was a pleasure to read. Angela Carlie creates vivid characters who you care about and root for. I loved Autumn, her courage and her spirit. Her little self-improvement program touched my heart. And Evan was so wonderful; I loved seeing those two get together.
Carlie switches points of view between three characters: Autumn, her boyfriend Evan, and her mother Jacinda. They are three very different people, but Carlie c More...
Carlie switches points of view between three characters: Autumn, her boyfriend Evan, and her mother Jacinda. They are three very different people, but Carlie c More...
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May 04, 2011
Ana
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“Dream Smasher” is a very strong and emotional story about a young girl named, Autumn Winters. Her mother has been addicted to drugs pretty much all her life. Autumn’s grandmother has had to take care of her after child services took her away from her drug addicted mother. Now Autumn is a teenager and is not only having to deal with normal teenage problems, but problems that no teenager should ever have to deal with. Ms. Carlie does an incredible job describing Autumn’s drug addicted mo
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May 04, 2011
Once Upon
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Very strong and emotional story about a young girl named, Autumn Winters. Her mother has been addicted to drugs pretty much all her life. Autumn’s grandmother has had to take care of her after child services took her away from her drug addicted mother. Now Autumn is a teenager and is not only having to deal with normal teenage problems, but problems that no teenager should ever have to deal with. Ms. Carlie does an incredible job describing Autumn’s drug addicted mother, Jacinda, who by the way
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May 22, 2011
Addison
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Dream Smashers is an awesome debut novel, far more raw and gritty than your average YA read. I tend to gravitate towards raw and gritty because it depicts the nature of the world around us with a much more accurate lens. The author has clearly demonstrated a talent for describing a gripping reality that many people face today in an engaging manner. To read of Autumn’s life is difficult, but so gripping I could not put the book down for very long. The novel was very well balanced with Evan’s char
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May 20, 2011
Katelyn
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This honest, gripping novel will leave you stunned! I have had this book read for a while and I have just been waiting for my review to come to me. There are so many positive things to say about this relatively negative novel. It was hard to read and even harder to think about but I feel this is a book that should be read by all. This beautifully written novel touches on hard subjects while keeping readers completely engrossed with a wide range of characters that you will either love to death or
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Sep 04, 2011
Yani
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http://www.thesecretlifeofanavidreader.c...
Dream Smashers is a realistic, heart wrenching story about a girl named Autumn Spring Winters and the people in her life that "kill" her dreams. More like they make her feel her dreams aren't possible. She lives with her grandmother, has a homeless/alcoholic/druggie mother and her best friend is currently not make great life choices. I thought the story was powerful and emotional. Angela is a great writer, but for some reason I cou More...
Dream Smashers is a realistic, heart wrenching story about a girl named Autumn Spring Winters and the people in her life that "kill" her dreams. More like they make her feel her dreams aren't possible. She lives with her grandmother, has a homeless/alcoholic/druggie mother and her best friend is currently not make great life choices. I thought the story was powerful and emotional. Angela is a great writer, but for some reason I cou More...
May 10, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. Once it mentioned Evan as being a really big christian, I thought it would be another one of "those" christian books, but it really wasn't. The sentences are beautifully written and make you want to keep reading. It made me realize that there was more to the world then the little bubble I currently live in and I may need to start looking around to see if I can start helping out more in my community. I loved the main character, Autumn, and I thought that
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Aug 03, 2011
Mrs. Heather Maddox
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The Storyline……
I was intrigued with this storyline. After, personally having an addict in the family, I was curious to see where this book would lead to. It is a beautiful story about trying to rise above worrying about things you cannot change and try to live your life as carefree as possible.
The Romance….
This is a great young adult story. The romance itself was not full of sexual content, just kissing and holding hands. Maybe a hug or two here and there. I l More...
I was intrigued with this storyline. After, personally having an addict in the family, I was curious to see where this book would lead to. It is a beautiful story about trying to rise above worrying about things you cannot change and try to live your life as carefree as possible.
The Romance….
This is a great young adult story. The romance itself was not full of sexual content, just kissing and holding hands. Maybe a hug or two here and there. I l More...
Aug 09, 2011
Cynthia
rated it:
Dream Smashers by Angela Carlie is not a book for everyone. With topics varying from drugs, explicit language, and depression, Dream Smashers is not for the faint at heart. However, if one desires to read a realistic book with a positive message, Dream Smashers is the perfect read.
Even with some minor hiccups and irritations throughout this read, I have to focus this review on my personal attachment to the message Carlie gets across, beautifully! Anyone, and anything, that is a negat More...
Even with some minor hiccups and irritations throughout this read, I have to focus this review on my personal attachment to the message Carlie gets across, beautifully! Anyone, and anything, that is a negat More...
Dec 27, 2011
Ashleigh
rated it:
Even before I began to read Dream Smashers, I assumed it would be a book similar to Perfect Chemistry or The Tension of Opposites; two books revolving around teenagers, dark pasts, and romance. While Dream Smashers did revolve around all three of those things, it approached the subjects in an entirely different manner. A little less than halfway into the book, I realized the overlying theme was (to my surprise) Christianity. While I do believe in God or a higher power, I tend to steer clear of l
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Apr 05, 2011
Stacey
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I thought this was a wonderful contemporary YA novel. It deals with several difficult subjects - drug addiction, faith, death - in a eloquent manner. The main character really struck a chord with me as well as the setting - this book takes place close to where I live. Not to sound silly, but the author's descriptions of Pacific Northwest weather are some of the best I've read. It's not a lighthearted read, but there are plenty of funny, real moments - especially between Autumn and Rainy.
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May 09, 2011
Karen
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Just finished Dream Smashers and I thought it was excellent. I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline and I would love to see a sequel to this because I didn't want it to end. I really like how the author would switch between the different characters to get different points of views but still kept the focus on the main character, Autumn.
This story is extremely heart wrenching in certain parts due to the main character's drug-addicted mother. I felt saddened by her and her s More...
This story is extremely heart wrenching in certain parts due to the main character's drug-addicted mother. I felt saddened by her and her s More...
May 04, 2011
Patricia (Two Chicks on Books)
rated it:
I have to start off by saying that this is not my usual read. With that said, I loved it. It took me longer to read than what it usually does but I think it's due to the strong subject matter.
This story was hard, gritty and yet inspirational. I particularly enjoyed seeing Autumn come to terms with her mother's addiction even though it was intensely heartbreaking. When Autumn is least expecting it she meets a great guy, Evan. He's exactly what she needs: non-judgmental, caring and kind. More...
This story was hard, gritty and yet inspirational. I particularly enjoyed seeing Autumn come to terms with her mother's addiction even though it was intensely heartbreaking. When Autumn is least expecting it she meets a great guy, Evan. He's exactly what she needs: non-judgmental, caring and kind. More...
Jun 02, 2011
*Babs*
rated it:
Autumn is the trying to find her way and overcome some of her obstacles. Her mother is addicted to Meth, but the best part is the romance between Evan and Autumn. The book was well written and I think Angela does a great job of taking us along with Autumn and her journey to better herself. There are some dark sides as well, but you must expect it with the kind of situation. It was a great read and I will be reading more by this author.
Jul 26, 2011
Krystal
rated it:
This book has the ability to make the reader both sad and happy for the main character. Autumn has two main people in her life: Evan and her mother. Her mother is addicted to meth and not a good parent or friend at all. Evan truly loves Autumn, the author makes this readily apparent. The novel jumps right into the story, the reader doesn't have to wait around. Autumn and Evan's relationship appears real and solid, the reader won't be rolling her/his eyes at the unrealistic romance in this n
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Oct 10, 2011
Amy
rated it:
Dream smashers wasn't really what I was expecting, as far as the big Christian theme of the book. I don't care to mix religious beliefs (or political for that matter) with my means of escapism. And once I feel the author becomes preachy I tend to tune out. The characters felt a bit flat to me and I had a hard time getting invested in their lives. MC's love interest was too perfect and I wasn't drawn in by their romance.
