Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

A Gift for My Sister: A Novel

by Ann Pearlman (Goodreads Author)

3.14 of 5 stars 3.14 · rating details · 140 ratings · 48 reviews

Ann Pearlman's The Christmas Cookie Club enthralled readers everywhere with a heartwarming and touching story about the power of female friendship. Now, in A Gift for My Sister, she once again explores the depth of the human heart, and this time it’s through the eyes of two sisters. Tara and Sky share a mother, but aside from that they seem to differ in almost every way. W...more

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published May 1st 2012 by Atria/Emily Bestler Books

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 685)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Oct 01, 2012 Jasmine Ko rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: received-from-publisher

I'm a sucker for books about sisterhood. Maybe it's because I have a younger sister of my own and I personally understand how unique our relationship can be. Even though I enjoyed reading A Gift for My Sister, it left me with a sad, sinking feeling that I couldn't seem to shake away all day after I finished the book.

I really enjoyed Pearlman's writing. She has an exceptional way of adding depth to her characters through flashbacks that are seamlessly embedded within the story in a way that build...more

like 2 likes · see review

Dec 04, 2012 Christina M Condy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was a tumultuous ride for me. The book starts out with Sky waking because she can’t sleep past a certain time due to the death of her best friend Mia. This awoke cords in me because I too wake at a certain time every morning due to deaths. I kept reading and my world just went topsy, turvy. Sky had lost 3 pregnancies, I too had lost 3 twin pregnancies in the span of one year and I knew the heart felt pain that losing those pregnancies cost me, so right away I was sucked kicking and scr...more This book was a tumultuous ride for me. The book starts out with Sky waking because she can’t sleep past a certain time due to the death of her best friend Mia. This awoke cords in me because I too wake at a certain time every morning due to deaths. I kept reading and my world just went topsy, turvy. Sky had lost 3 pregnancies, I too had lost 3 twin pregnancies in the span of one year and I knew the heart felt pain that losing those pregnancies cost me, so right away I was sucked kicking and screaming into Sky’s life. Then to make matters worse her husband has this boil on his back and winds up sick. My husband luckily only had the flu but I had to put the book down and go “oh no, this is so not happening.” Once my darling husband was well again and I lived thru the ridicule of him saying Chris it’s just a book it is NOT your life, I continued bravely on. Only to once again put the book down while practically in tears saying I wouldn’t want to live if this happened to me. So without going into more detail than that, because I truly don’t want to give the story away, I will say this READ THIS BOOK!

We have two sisters who are diametrically opposed on pretty much everything. Sky is the “perfect child” at least in Tara’s eyes. Tara meanwhile is the hellion, the one who needs no one. But BOTH girls have scars that run so deep inside them from their own childhood. Sky’s father passed away suddenly when she was just a child, her mother remarried (the wrong man), Tara was born and almost immediately Tara’s father was out of the picture, because he was a cheat. Tara winds up being the strong one in this book, the one who helps her sister deal with all the tragedies that have been thrown in her path. Tara helps her sister and in return Sky gets an inside look at Tara’s life and the daily prejudices she must deal with. The thing is this author has hit upon the very things that children deal with even as adults. Sky resented her sister because her sister still had a father, even an absentee father is still a father. Tara meanwhile envied her sister because she was allowed to go out, have sleep overs, wear make-up and all the other things younger siblings envy older ones. Tara also was jealous of the relationships Sky had with her husband. Something she herself cannot seem to do with her longtime boyfriend and “baby daddy”. Tara is ALWAYS looking over her shoulder for the woman who will steal her man away from her and she can’t fully open herself up to Aaron, even though he loves her fully.

Pearlman did a wonderful job reenacting what would happen should two such people be suddenly thrust together. Their forced time together leads to some very interesting and intense interactions, the anger comes out in odd times and this in turn leads to such strong acts of kindness and understanding and compassion that we the reader are literally in their lives.

I can say one thing about 60% into the book I was doing some serious yelling at the books Author in my head and saying if you kill off one person so help me god I’m going to scream! I truly did have a unique bond with Sky due to my own personal life and tragedies. And I have also a keen understanding of where they live since I lived in Flint Michigan for many, many years. I can understand the bigotry and racism that Tara and Aaron must deal with and the fears they have for their son Levy.
I have to say one thing I truly enjoyed her thoughts that you should love regardless, not to the destruction of yourself, but in spite of yourself. I will say I felt the story had far too much death in it for my own personal tastes, but that could once again be due to my own life and the pure number of deaths that have happened in our family in the last 2 years.

I also can say truthfully that while I didn’t “enjoy” this read I did enjoy the ending and I did enjoy the fact that it wasn’t a true story. I also can say I did enjoy the way the author looked at the exact same space in time through BOTH sisters’ eyes by breaking it into separate chapters unique to each sister. So while you had read something just seconds before it took on a whole new depth when you saw how the other sister saw the same situation. This is indeed what I always believed that BOTH sides of a story must be told for a person to know what honestly happened, because somewhere in the middle is where the truth of the situation lies.

This book was a fabulous mix of past and present and told in such a manner that you never wondered. The sisters travel along their paths merging and separating until these paths finally merge to show just how close a bond there is with sisters, and that family is there for you when you need it.
Pearlman did a fabulous job on character creation and you feel as if the characters are actual family members or friends. The emotions this author can pull from you is amazing and the love that the sisters have for their children shines on through the darkest of times. The pain, the suffering, the laughter and the love are all shared by the reader and I praise Pearlman for her wonderful job of sucking me into the story.

This story is sentimental, and full of conflict, it is about life’s hardships and how the two sisters can deal with these hardships to become closer. It is a story about sisters and family, loss and abandonment, love and most of all forgiveness. I can recommend this book to anyone who doesn’t mind reading about life’s hardships or a book that can and will spark a dozen different thoughts and emotions. While it was a rough ride for me personally since my own personal tragedies were far too close to those suffered by Sky, I can still honestly say I think this is what I classify as a must read.

Details/Disclaimer: Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Oct 09, 2012 Susanna Mahoney rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Gift For My Sister opens with Sky, a lawyer, as a little girl reminiscing about her childhood and losing her father at the tender age of seven and has to walk the life path pretending it did not shatter her world, for everyone around her treated her as a disease and she is contagious.

The character Sky deeply grieving in her sorrow thinks of her father, his sudden death and like a windy storm her life's path was changed with surprises and personal trials.

First she had to accept a step sister wh...more

like · see review

Sep 30, 2012 Reyna Hawk rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ok what can I say about this book; I was expecting something totally different. I hadn’t read the synopsis (which I do quite frequently, I like being surprised) so I was going by the title alone. This little book took me by surprised and I rather enjoyed it. I like the banter and the “attitude” between the sisters, Sky and Tara. Their story unfolds in a unique manner. I really liked how the author split up the story line between the two sisters; giving each one there own “voice” and view on what...more

like · see review

Sep 12, 2012 Latoya rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this story, I don't have any sisters but I can understand the sibling rivalry. Tara and Sky both assume that their mother gives more attention to the other. Tara, the wild child has always forged her own way and no matter what happens to her she is able to make "lemonade" out her situation. Sky is more of a planner, she is detailed about her life should be. She just doesn't understand why life is as cruel and unfair to her as she does everything right. She lost her father at young age a...more

like · see review

Sep 06, 2012 Phaedra Seabolt rated it 4 of 5 stars

A Gift For My Sister is a story about tragedy, family, and overcoming the odds. Every chapter has two sections, one from Tara;s perspective (the younger sister) and one from Sky's perspective (the older sister). Sky is the result of a very loving marriage that was shattered by the unexpected death of her father. A little after this tragedy, Sky's mother remarried and had Tara. Unfortunately,Tara's father was a philanderer. He left the family when Tara was fairly young and remarried only to cheat...more A Gift For My Sister is a story about tragedy, family, and overcoming the odds. Every chapter has two sections, one from Tara;s perspective (the younger sister) and one from Sky's perspective (the older sister). Sky is the result of a very loving marriage that was shattered by the unexpected death of her father. A little after this tragedy, Sky's mother remarried and had Tara. Unfortunately,Tara's father was a philanderer. He left the family when Tara was fairly young and remarried only to cheat on that wife as well. Both girls essentially grew up fatherless. Their mother was much closer to Sky than Tara which has been the root of some of their sibling issues.

Sky was the good girl who always did what mom said and always had a plan. She followed her goals to a fault. However, things typically worked out for her until she tried to have a baby. Her luck with having children was terrible and resulted in miscarriages, a still born, and finally one healthy baby. Since this was out of her control, her mother was always there to love and care for Sky. Tara saw this as one more thing that brought mother and daughter closer and took her mother away from her. This story starts off with Sky's learning to live without her best friend who had just died of a very young age (due to fertility meds) and now her husband is deathly ill at 28 years old as well. As you can see, Sky has had a lot of heartache and loss in her 27 years. Tara didn't really understand how all this loss affected her until Sky's husband actually dies. Tara is the one to pick her up off the ground and put her life on a track rather than leaving Sky to drift aimlessly.

From Tara's perspective, we learn that she is the rebellious teenager who is just wanting attention. She mostly wants her father's attention because she feels that Sky has all their mother's attention. Unfortunately, her father truly does not care about her. She ends up falling in love with an ex-child convict at 15 and gets pregnant at 17. Since she has always felt like her mother didn't really want her, she moves in with Aaron before finishing high school. The only real problem with this (since Aaron is very willing to take care of her and his baby) is that Tara is a white girl and Aaron is black. Tara essentially gives up her white life and immerses herself in the black community because of her love and because of her music. You see, the driving force behind Tara is that she has a need to create music. It is a part of her that cannot be ignored. Aaron understands this and together they create a rap group. This story demonstrates how two opposite worlds can join together and even understand one another through Special Intent (the rap group). They become the rock that Sky needs to move past all her loss. While on tour, they take Sky and her daughter Rachel into their family and move them across the country.

Both sisters had a lot of problems with each other. One never felt the loss of the other and Sky never saw Tara as having to have a hard life in any way. Their road trip teaches them a lot about themselves and each other. You will need to read the book to actually learn what "the gift" is because I think I have already shared more than enough with you!

Read more reviews at Identity Discovery Blog.(less)

like · see review

May 29, 2012 Sandra Stiles rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, realistic-fiction

Sky and Tara are half sisters. Sky's father died when she was young. Her mother remarried and Tara was born. Tara's father left them to chase after other women. Both of their father's shaped their lives. Sky has issues with needing to feel secure. She is a perfectionist. Tara has always felt like she didn't fit in with her family. She has trust issues when it comes to men. Both of them have children they would do anything for. On the day Sky loses her job her husband ends up in the hospital. At...more

like · see review

Sep 13, 2012 Samantha rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book

Before I begin my review, I would like to thank Inga Kupp-Silberg for generously giving me a copy of this book for review and Pavarti Tyler for informing me of the opportunity.

Here is my very abbreviated synopsis of the book. A Gift for My Sister is a story told from the dual perspectives of two sisters about their struggles with love and life. At first, the two are distant, disconnected, and consider each other almost as strangers -- being only half-sisters by birth. After tragedy strikes, a ro...more Before I begin my review, I would like to thank Inga Kupp-Silberg for generously giving me a copy of this book for review and Pavarti Tyler for informing me of the opportunity.

Here is my very abbreviated synopsis of the book. A Gift for My Sister is a story told from the dual perspectives of two sisters about their struggles with love and life. At first, the two are distant, disconnected, and consider each other almost as strangers -- being only half-sisters by birth. After tragedy strikes, a roadtrip begins the journey of self-realization, acceptance, and healing. By the end of the road to recovery, the sisters are best friends.

Now, A Gift for My Sister does not fall into my typical, go-to genre for pleasure reading, so my opinion of the story may skewed by that fact. That said, I did still find it more enjoyable than some of the YA I've read in the past year. The story had some touching moments, especially when the main tragedy struck the family. I found the worries and concerns of the sisters to be feasible and believable, something essential in this kind of story. The thing that kept me reading to the end was to find out Tara's decision and what the fallout of her choice would be.

My biggest issue with this story (grammatical things and typos aside) was the dialog, both external and internal. I had a hard time, like, believing the characters spoke that way and oftentimes had a difficult time following their conversations. Occasionally, the way the two sisters spoke - and even some of the secondary dudes (characters) - ended up sounding alike. Also, there were moments when the prose shifted from the MC narrating the story for me to her talking to me (the reader). I found those moments unnecessary and disconcerting, often kicking me out of the story.

A few, other minor issues, included:

-the chapters: I would have had just one chapter 1 and had a sub header for the parts told by Sky and Tara. Sometimes, I would forget who was telling the story or if I'd read the other character's perspective for the same chapter yet. It was a little confusing.
-the flashbacks/back stories: There were several that I felt were not really needed for the plot to progress. They didn't really help deepen the main characters, just gave them more to think about. I will say that most of the flashbacks were done very well, so they flowed with the story and did give some insight for the reader into that character's motivations.
-the in-depth mention of daily activities/food: I almost didn't read past the first few chapters. The information of the little girl's potty training experiences and saving her successes for her daddy to see...a bit too TMI for me. The details of the sisters' everyday, mundane activities was somewhat tiresome, as well. I understood by the end of the book why the food and it's preparation were so detailed, but that information could have been left out and I would still know just as much about the characters.
-the last chapter: If recipes are going to be given, they should be written like you'd find in a recipe book. If you want to add a story/explain the meaning behind each recipe, that’s fine, but do it either before the ingredients list and directions or after. Don't mix it all up together. And I really like measurements with my recipes, too.

And while those things took up a lot of space in this review, they really didn't ruin the story for me. A Gift for My Sister is a story I would recommend to readers who enjoy realistic fiction, chick-lit, family drama, or a character-driven story.
(less)

like · see review

Jun 26, 2012 Sheri rated it 3 of 5 stars

Tara and Sky are sisters and couldn't be more different, as is probably usually the case. Tara has always been jealous of Sky, her older half-sister. Even though Sky's father died young, she knew he loved her. When Marnie, their mom, remarried and Tara came along, she knew that her dad didn't really care about her. So, she gives her mom alot of grief in her quest for love. She ends up pregnant at 17 with Aaron's baby, a black hip-hop musician and finds true love and commitment.
Meanwhile, Sky h...more

like · see review

Jun 28, 2012 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, review-copies, blog_etb, owned, reviewed, romance, tear-jerkers, challenge-1010

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.

My first impression of the book, even before cracking it open, was that it would be a gut-wrencher. The description mentions "Tara and Sky share a mother, but aside from that they seem to differ in almost every way. When a series of tragedies strikes, they must somehow come together in the face of heartbreak, dashed hopes, and demons of the past." which sounds right up my alley. I love a good tear-jerker - they can be so cathartic.

An...more I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.

My first impression of the book, even before cracking it open, was that it would be a gut-wrencher. The description mentions "Tara and Sky share a mother, but aside from that they seem to differ in almost every way. When a series of tragedies strikes, they must somehow come together in the face of heartbreak, dashed hopes, and demons of the past." which sounds right up my alley. I love a good tear-jerker - they can be so cathartic.

And then there's the cover. So gorgeous. I want to have it framed. I love it. I love the colors, the silhouettes, the way the figures are together, but distant, and we're prevented from truly seeing who they are. I love everything about it. Unfortunately, once I got the book, I did not love touching it. I don't know what it is, but the texture of the dust-jacket just does not feel nice. It's like... grimy, somehow. I don't know how else to describe it. I had to take it off the book while reading, because I just didn't like touching it. Such a shame, because it is really beautiful.

Regarding the story itself, I have mixed reactions. On one hand, I really enjoyed the concept and the story's format of alternating point of view chapters with parallel chapter titles, but there were quite a few things that just felt "off" to me.

The beginning of the story was fantastic. I was drawn into Sky's grief for the loss of her friend, drawn into her family life and her history, and I really felt for her. When she suffered yet another tragedy, I was completely heartbroken for her. Which is exactly what I would expect.

But things shifted after Sky went into her newer mourning cycle. I couldn't believe that she was the same person! I know that everyone grieves differently, but I couldn't help but be annoyed with the complete selfishness and narcissism that Sky displayed. It was just mind-boggling. I wanted to grieve and heal with her, but I just couldn't go with her to the level she was at, because not only could I not understand it, I couldn't justify it or condone it. I'm not trying to be heartless, but grief isn't an excuse to dredge up the most horrible things you can think to fling at someone. It's not a license to hurt others. People can be cruel, yes, but this was just beyond the pale, and I just couldn't go there with her.

Tara, Sky's younger half-sister, is there for Sky every step of the way. She went to lengths to rearrange her and her crew's tour schedule to help her sister decide what to do and help her get it done.

I identified with each sister differently, and at different stages of the story. But I will admit that I had trouble reading Tara's sections at times, because her dialogue was very uneven. At times she'd talk in a kind of valley-girl way, saying "like" all the time. At other times, it would be a kind of ghetto slang. Then others she'd use a sort of metaphor-heavy prose style, usually when talking about her family. And then when she wasn't "being" any of those other people, she was just herself and just talked.

Maybe this was intentional, though. Tara isn't sure who she is, so maybe the dialogue was a way to illustrate that point. But it didn't feel right to me and was a bit distracting. Also distracting was Tara's self-congratulatory musings. By this I mean that she'd often say something like "Do you see how I go out of my way for my sister?" I do see that, without you pointing it out, thanks.

Finally, the second half of the book got a bit bogged down in the "meaningful" stuff. It was full of Hallmark moments, people telling each other how much they loved them, appreciated them, how proud they were of them, or other deep, meaningful thoughts that just felt staged or forced. Meaningful moments are great, but they should be used sparingly or they begin to feel cloying and fake.

These complaints aside, I enjoyed the book quite a bit, and I really loved the crew. I liked that they helped Sky out as much as (if not more than) Tara herself. I kept turning the pages, and I wanted to know what would happen to these sisters and their families, and whether they'd make it or not. I would pick up another of Pearlman's books - even with the flaws I mentioned, it's one that will likely stick with me.(less)

like 5 likes · see review

Sep 01, 2012 Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-copy

Sky and Tara are half-sisters who share the same mother. The difference in their age and their individual personalities make them seem like anything but sisters. They each have their own issues and quirks. Sky, who remembers her own father as a loving person, looks at her relationship with her husband differently than Tara, who remembers her father as an unfaithful man who left them behind for another woman. Sky’s need for security matches Tara’s need to belong. When tragedy strikes Sky’s life r...more Sky and Tara are half-sisters who share the same mother. The difference in their age and their individual personalities make them seem like anything but sisters. They each have their own issues and quirks. Sky, who remembers her own father as a loving person, looks at her relationship with her husband differently than Tara, who remembers her father as an unfaithful man who left them behind for another woman. Sky’s need for security matches Tara’s need to belong. When tragedy strikes Sky’s life repeatedly and she loses her best friend, her job and her husband in a small span of time, she is left feeling alone and distraught. Tara steps in, going out of her way, and makes sure that Sky is taken care of. Sky taking a road trip with Tara and her band is just the beginning of a journey of self-discovery and connecting with family for both the sisters. What happens? Do the sisters realize that they are not so different after all? Well, you have to read the book to have to take this journey along with the sisters and understand their perspectives.

I do not have any sisters and so I personally do not know much about the relationship between sisters. I only know from watching others around me that it is much like any other sibling relationship. The love-hate aspects, the fights, the secret sharing and the love between siblings are the best things in a person’s life. No matter how similar you are or how different you are, it is simply impossible to deny the natural bond. This book basically explores that very bond. Sky and Tara are only half sisters, but they are sisters. No matter how different they thought they are, no matter how alienated things felt growing up – when Sky needed support Tara was there for her. They finally got to actually knowing each other and understanding each other’s perspectives. While it was really a great experience to see the sisters trying to find their way to each other, I personally didn’t like either of the sisters that much. They were both bit too self-centered for my liking.

This book will take you on a very emotional journey of love, loss and tragedy. I loved the foundation of the story and there is no denying that I loved the author’s languid style of storytelling.
(less)

like 1 like · see review

Sep 08, 2012 Dinda Lestarini rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The story is quite heartwarming. Sky and Tara are half sister. As sisters, they're never close because they're so different. Sky is the good girl and Tara is the rebel one. Sky always plan her life, but sometimes reality are not always the same with what we want. Along the way, Sky lost some people she loves so sudden and tragic. When her husband died, she can barely function. In her depression, Tara steps up and help her sister moving back to their hometown. In the journey to their hometown, th...more

like · see review

Jan 17, 2012 Lauren Murphy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

2.5 stars

This review was first posted @ The Australian Bookshelf

A Gift for my Sister is a tale of grief, loss, love and forgiveness in the lives of two half-sisters, Tara and Sky. Sky’s father died when she was just seven years old and her mother re-married and birthed to Tara. The age-gap and circumstances of the family has not lent to itself to closeness between the sisters who were abandoned by another father due to his unfaithful ways.

Now, as adults Tara is married to a rap-star and pursuing...more

like · see review

May 05, 2012 Kristin (Kritters Ramblings) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, kritter-reviewed-2012

How strong is a bond between sisters, even if they are only half sisters? I think through this book you find that sharing a mom is a bond that can overcome almost anything. Tara and Sky are half sisters who have lived through quite a few disappointments in each of their lives, but they don't realize what emotions each sister has had to live through until a true tragedy hits and they are on a road trip of sorts.

Being a sister this book hit real close to my heart. Although my sister and I have not...more

like · see review

Aug 09, 2012 Erica rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: dead-friends-and-family, flat-characters, love-and-romance, racism, real-life-fiction, sisters, terribly-disappointing, travel, unengaging, women-and-girls

This just wasn't the book for me. I loved the premise but was never able to get behind any of the characters. The conversations usually left me confused; in fact, most of the story left me feeling confused. There were some stock 2D characters who had more of an impact than they should have, though for reasons unknown; character's actions, feelings, and responses didn't really make sense to me and didn't feel believable; and it all had the surreal, dream-like quality of strangeness that you just...more

like · see review

Jul 14, 2012 Jennifer | Nerdhuffing rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, 5-stars, chick-lit, favorites

This review is also posted at The Bawdy Book Blog.

A Gift for My Sister leaves you emotionally raw and rips your heart to shreds…before putting it back together in such a way that you know you’ll never be the same again. Because this is a story that, once you’ve finished it and set it aside, takes a piece of your heart with it.
Sky and Tara are half-sisters; they share a mother, but Tara came along a number of years after Sky’s father passed away and their mother remarried, disrupting the comfort...more This review is also posted at The Bawdy Book Blog.

A Gift for My Sister leaves you emotionally raw and rips your heart to shreds…before putting it back together in such a way that you know you’ll never be the same again. Because this is a story that, once you’ve finished it and set it aside, takes a piece of your heart with it.
Sky and Tara are half-sisters; they share a mother, but Tara came along a number of years after Sky’s father passed away and their mother remarried, disrupting the comfortable twosome Sky and their mother had built over their own grief. Tara, having inherited the musical gene from her wayward, promiscuous father, uses her creativity as a measure of comfort in what she perceives is the absence of familial love. If she only has herself and her music to depend on, she doesn’t need anyone else.
Likewise, Sky, when she marries her high school sweetheart and best friend Troy, and they go off across the country to be lawyers together and raise a child, finds the twosome in him she has missed since Tara was born, and determines that is all she needs to survive.
Both sisters treat the other as if they have nothing in common, because they aren’t fully blood, when sometimes that doesn’t matter at all. Family can be created, not born.
Until tragedy strikes and the two sisters are thrown together by circumstance and the familial bonds they didn’t think existed.
I can’t say enough good things about A Gift for My Sister. There are just so many! The premise is initially very sad and full of heartbreak. After having several miscarriages, a stillbirth, and losing her best friend, Sky loses her husband Troy to a mysterious bacteria. Her family rallies around her in support, including Tara and her rap crew, a group of black kids from Detroit that Sky would rather judge than face her wrongfully preconceived notions. Notions that, in light of her recent loss, they all look past gracefully. Tara, desperate for some measure of a sisterly bond that they never really had, tries again and again to reach Sky and find what they’ve been missing all these years. But old resentments are hard to get over when one daughter lost her father and the other daughter’s father abandoned her.
I feel like I could wax poetic about A Gift for My Sister all day long and simply not do it any justice. This is a book I don’t even want to tell you about; I just want you to read it. It personally struck a chord in me because I have an older half-sister, who is not quite eight years older than I am (we share the same father) and a younger stepsister by four years, whose father passed away nine years ago (and he raised me). And while my younger sister and I were close in childhood, and my older sister and I were not, the tides reversed when my stepfather passed away. Tragedy can do funny things to families; it can make you or break you. But, I like to hold out hope that in the end, it all works out. And A Gift for My Sister really gives me hope that it will.
It addresses so many issues: family estrangement, race & prejudice, death, infidelity, but most importantly: how you live your life. It was heartbreaking and it was happy. I identified with all of the characters on a really deep level and this is the contemporary read I recommend everyone read at least once in their lives.

Because it doesn’t matter how you die; only how you live.

*This book was provided to me by the publicist in exchange of an honest review.(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Sep 28, 2012 Colleen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, family-relationships, womens-fiction

Tara and Sky are half-sisters who have always led very different lives and have never been very close. A series of tragedies brings the two sisters, and their immediate families, together. On the long road trip from California to Michigan they re-connect and finally come to understand, accept, appreciate and truly love one another. A good look at the often rocky relationship between sisters, as well as what life can be like in present-day America when you're in a mixed-race (ie. black/white) rel...more

like · see review

Oct 11, 2012 Lori rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was a Good reads first reads winner of A Gift For My Sister. I would give this a 3.5. the story of two sisters who have not had a close relationship is not original. It is told by both sisters. Sky And Tara. Each chapter takes turns telling each sisters version of what is going on. Sky the older sister and her Half sister Tara. Sky's dad died when she is seven. her mother remarries quickly and Tara is born. Tara's father cheats on the mother and is out of the picture. Sky has always resented T...more

like · see review

Dec 29, 2012 Sandy Pothier rated it 3 of 5 stars

this book encompasses so many of life's journeys; mother-daughter relationships, sisters, sibling rivalry, birth of a child,adultery ,being deserted by a loved one, death of a spouse, grief, depression, racism, acceptance,and gratitude. I did enjoy reading about Tara and Sky, but I was left emotionally exhausted. How Ann Pearlman could write with so much insight into so many of these aspects of life, is a wonder, but she did it wonderfully.

like · see review

Feb 19, 2013 Tara rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2013

An absolutely mind-numbingly boring book! Wish I never picked it up in the first place! I like a book that I can sink my teeth into this book was VERY dry and seemed to have a number of unrelated events. The title did nothing to impart the storyline and overall I found this book to be dry, monotonous, and very poorly written only pick this book up if you are having a hard time sleeping as it is sure to cure insomnia!

like · see review

Feb 23, 2012 Betty Dickie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Okay I read this for review, otherwise I might not have finished it. The writing is tight and the characters are well drawn but they talk in Hallmark card phrases. One sister is filled with self-pity and the other sister has commitment issues. Through a series of coincidences and near misses however, all works out calmly and serenely. Yeah. Again, not a bad read, just a little sweet for me.

like · see review

Nov 19, 2012 Deborah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Sad book about losses in life, written from the perspective of two sisters, whose voices alternate among the chapters. One sister has interesting insights into the behavior of the mother, finally reaching peace and understanding why she acted certain ways.

[Spoiler alert: One sister deals with the loss of her father, multiple miscarriages, and her spouse.]

like · see review

Aug 24, 2012 Stacy rated it 3 of 5 stars

A good heart-warming story - a little cliche, but overall a nice plot. The family story was realistic and wonderfully described but the ending reunion was a little too neat. Sky's change in attitude toward her sister Tara was too quick and unrealistic for me, but the descriptions of Tara's life and frustrations were well done. However, the book could have done without the last chapter. I assume that it connected to the writer's first book, but not having read that work (since there was no indica...more

like · see review

Oct 16, 2012 Emily Boivin rated it 5 of 5 stars

i was so happy to recieve my copy of this wounderfull little book that i won on goodreads. as it is an amazing story that truly touched my heart. i loved the charecters and hated to see the book come to an end. i will keep this novel in my permanat library to be read over again. thank you ann for a wounderfull read, i can not wait for your next novel.

like · see review

Nov 01, 2012 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sometimes a book exactly catches the emotions you are feeling, and the exact thoughts you are thinking about. This book really got into my head and heart, reflecting my own thoughts and feelings about some current life events. Very evocative and profound for my life right at this moment.

like · see review

Apr 11, 2012 Elle rated it 3 of 5 stars

A wonderful idea for a plot, but it fell a little short for me due to some awkward characters. I didn't like this book as much as I wanted to, but I did still enjoy it. There was a lot of potential in this book that makes me think that Ann Pearlman may be an author to keep an eye on. For the full review : http://erraticprojectjunkie.blogspot....

like · see review

Sep 14, 2012 Caterina rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was so difficult to read. The author managed to get me invested in the two sisters so fast, then took me on a heart-wrenching journey.
It was really unpleasant to read. I almost couldn't continue afer the initial tragedy.

like · see review

Nov 29, 2011 Aileen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I cannot really say much about the plot in this book without giving it away, what I can say is I was very disappointed with this book, it started off so well, it began to repeat itself and I found it boring and depressing, I did manage to finish the book, however I would not recommend.

like · see review

Jan 07, 2013 Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars

Hard to believe story, does not really pull you into the characters. Deals with death of a husband, but once again characters do not lend themselves to really understanding this tragedy.

like · see review

Sep 10, 2012 Donnadettling added it

Nice story about finding the positive, connecting threads in relationships that had previously only been perceived through all the negative aspects. Easy to read, hard to put down.

like 1 like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 22 23 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
A gift for my sister	4	9	Oct 17, 2012 05:50pm
Creative Reviews: New release today!	1	8	May 01, 2012 09:36am
The Indie Exchang...: New release today!	1	8	May 01, 2012 09:32am

combine
Other Editions (6)

More editions...

Genres

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

2 users

Contemporary

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

What You Wish For: A Novel
by Kerry Reichs
Things Remembered: A Novel
by Georgia Bockoven
Being Lara: A Novel
by Lola Jaye
A Simple Thing: A Novel
by Kathleen McCleary
One Good Friend Deserves Another
by Lisa Verge Higgins (Original author)

About Ann Pearlman

Ann Pearlman was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award for INFIDELITY which was also made into a Lifetime movie. Her first novel, THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CLUB has been translated into 6 languages and was a national and international bestseller. A GIFT FOR MY SISTER is launching in May, 2012. She also writes non-fiction, INSIDE THE CRIPS is the story of a gang member from L.A. and K...more

More about Ann Pearlman...

Books by Ann Pearlman

Inside the Crips: Life Inside L.A.'s Most Notorious Gang

Other Lives: An Illustrated Short Story for Adults

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About A Gift for My Sis...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from A Gift for My Sister: ...

“And some man can't be the door to what you want. All a man can do is love you, be family with you, help you fulfill your dreams.” — 3 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: A Gift for My Sister: A Novel
avg rating	preview: A Gift for My Sister: A Novel Goodreads rating: 3.14 (140 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12856397-a-gift-for-my-sister?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330400504l/12856397.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12856397-a-gift-for-my-sister?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]A Gift for My Sister: A Novel by Ann Pearlman[/url]

A Gift for My Sister: A Novel

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website