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36th out of 281 books
—
436 voters
Sway
by
Amber McRee Turner (Goodreads Author)
For four long months, ten-year-old Cass has been dreaming of the day her mom, Toodi, will come home. But when Toodi's welcome back party takes a turn for the disastrous, Cass finds herself stuck alone with her dull-as-dirt dad, who insists that they set off for the summer on a mysterious adventure--just the two of them.
It turns out Cass's dad has some big-time surprises u...more
It turns out Cass's dad has some big-time surprises u...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
May 15th 2012
by Disney-Hyperion
(first published January 1st 2012)
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I flew through this... I was really conflicted on how to rate this since its not my usual fare but it was free from Starbucks iBooks, and the cover is so sweet. This is written with the hyper-drama of a typical pre-teen( that's a complement BTW). It was different in that it didn't center around the typical plot that most books seem to cling to these days.
Not a rich family, not even middle class Cass, her mom and dad barely get by. Dad is the local fix-it guy who sells meat door to door. Mom thin...more
Not a rich family, not even middle class Cass, her mom and dad barely get by. Dad is the local fix-it guy who sells meat door to door. Mom thin...more
When I stop in at Starbucks, I sometimes grab one of the cards they give away with a code for a free song on iTunes. On my last trip to Starbucks, I saw the cards and was surprised to find that they were not giving out a song this time around, but an e-book. The cover showed a young girl looking up at a very tall tree and the title “Sway.” Since it was free, I thought I’d give “Sway” a try, and I read my first book entirely on an iPhone. I thought it would get super annoying to have only small a...more
I really enjoyed this book. I could almost give it 5 stars, but I save that for books that were incredible. This book was great and fun, but just shy of 5 stars. After a huge disappointment, Cass's dad takes her on a road trip to help them move on. On the trip he introduces her to the "soapernatural" wonder of Sway. The book is real with just enough implied fantasy to add interest. It is not a fantasy story; it's a book about the complicated relationships so typical nowadays. I really liked the...more
I’m always hesitant to begin a piece that seems to have some fantastical element to it, but I’m thrilled that I picked up this book. Amber McRee Turner’s writing was consistent and enjoyable throughout the entire book and she created characters we can root for as Cass and her father work on their relationship. I was very impressed Turner’s debut novel and look forward to getting into the hands of my students in room 107!
I am reading the book Sway by Amber McRee Turner. I want to find out what happens in the end because this book is good. I am on page 271 out of 311. I think this book is kind of interesting, but not that interesting. It doesn’t make you want to read every minute of this book. It is good enough to keep reading though. I want to see how this book ends.
If I had to pick to be a character out of this book, I wouldn’t pick to be any. The reason is because Cass’s mom has been cheating on her dad and b...more
If I had to pick to be a character out of this book, I wouldn’t pick to be any. The reason is because Cass’s mom has been cheating on her dad and b...more
Cass is a 10 year old girl who worships her rescue-worker mother. Sway opens on the day her mother is returning home from a 4 month rescue mission in Missouri (Misery, as her 12 year old cousin, Syd calls it), a day that promises great celebration and delight, but turns disastrous. In his attempt to pick up the pieces, her boring, but steadfast dad loads them into an RV given the name "the BEAST," for a whirlwind cross country tour of magic and discovery, stopping only when a shoe is found on th...more
Beautiful story!! Absolutely fantastic debut novel by Amber McRee Turner!
The story begins with 10 year old Cass, named after the Castanea dentata tree, waiting for her Mother to return from a 4 month rescue mission in flood ridden Missouri. Why Mother Toodi is off saving widows and orphans in nature torn areas, Cass is home with Dad Douglass, who is a janitor in the school year, meat sales man in the summer. Cass keeps a journal called the Book of In-Betweens where she doodles and takes notes fo...more
The story begins with 10 year old Cass, named after the Castanea dentata tree, waiting for her Mother to return from a 4 month rescue mission in flood ridden Missouri. Why Mother Toodi is off saving widows and orphans in nature torn areas, Cass is home with Dad Douglass, who is a janitor in the school year, meat sales man in the summer. Cass keeps a journal called the Book of In-Betweens where she doodles and takes notes fo...more
When ten-year-old Cass Nordenhauer's mother Toodi comes home to Olyn, Alabama from her work as a disaster relief worker, Cass looks forward to all the fun they'll have. Cass looks up to Toodi and tries not to mind all the traveling she must do for her job. But when her father proposes a plan for a road trip in an old RV called The Roast, Toodi takes off again, leaving Cass to deal with her boring, rather ordinary father. In Cass's eyes, he is decidedly unheroic, and although she agrees to go on...more
Turner wrote an interesting, child friendly novel that looks into the thoughts of a ten year old girl in an out-of-the ordinary situation. Cass’s mother is a volunteer rescuer and her father is a janitor. Douglas, Toodi, and Cass Nordenhaur live next to her Uncle Clay, Aunt Jo, and Cousin Syd. Douglas and his brother Clay planned a party to honor Toodi’s return home after being gone four months. Rather than celebrating, however, Cass’s mother comes home with life-changing news. Toodi is leaving...more
This story is magical.
Cass, our eleven-year-old protagonist, is forced to go on a summer road trip with her father after her mother skips town to settle down elsewhere. On the journey Cass comes to realize a few things about her dad, about herself, and about the power of sway.
Amber's lyrical and playful language will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. The painful-yet-real happenings of a girl discovering the truth is handled with gentle humor, true emotion, and just the right am...more
Cass, our eleven-year-old protagonist, is forced to go on a summer road trip with her father after her mother skips town to settle down elsewhere. On the journey Cass comes to realize a few things about her dad, about herself, and about the power of sway.
Amber's lyrical and playful language will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. The painful-yet-real happenings of a girl discovering the truth is handled with gentle humor, true emotion, and just the right am...more
I love it our teacher is reading it now .... Got to love mrs. tiffany neal
Reminded me of how I felt reading Judy Blume as a kid; the author is someone who really 'gets' kids & so realistically wrote from a kids point of view. Plus I just love Castanea! Thoroughly enjoyed reading this story as an adult but even more I am looking forward to reading it again with my 10 year old daughter. Loved the theme & flow of the story. Everyone needs a little Sway in their life!
Things I liked about this book:
1. CAN IT! When Cass's cousin's family argues, they literally write down their complaints and put them in cans.
2. Shut up dot com. Do vegetarians have to speak Fig Latin instead of Pig Latin? And all the other wacky stuff Cass's cousin Syd says.
3. The idea that Sway is both magical and realistic.
4. The rhymey punniness of the language.
5. Cass's dad, who just wants his daughter to like him.
Things I did not so much like about this book:
1. The rhymey punniness w...more
1. CAN IT! When Cass's cousin's family argues, they literally write down their complaints and put them in cans.
2. Shut up dot com. Do vegetarians have to speak Fig Latin instead of Pig Latin? And all the other wacky stuff Cass's cousin Syd says.
3. The idea that Sway is both magical and realistic.
4. The rhymey punniness of the language.
5. Cass's dad, who just wants his daughter to like him.
Things I did not so much like about this book:
1. The rhymey punniness w...more
Cass idolizes her mom, who does disaster recovery and travels a lot. Cass's life is marked by long stretches of time alone with her boring father in between mom's visits home. But when Mom comes home this time Cass immediately senses something's not right. Seems Mom's decided to get herself another family. Cass blames her father - maybe if he wasn't so boring, Mom would have stuck around. The last thing she wants to do is take a road trip in the beat-up RV her father's been restoring. But Dad's...more
I fell completely head over heels for Sway, Amber McRee Turner's writing, Casstanea, the Nordenhauers, MB McClean, and the heartbreaking, wondrous, and magical tale. Within the first page, I knew that this book was going to be different than other MG books out there - between the characters, the setting, the story line, the inventive words, and the way that the writing was so unique, yet smooth. I connected with the main character right away and felt that the honesty that this story kept with ho...more
This book had a very slow start. It was at least 1/3 of the way through that it started to pick up. That being said, I'm glad I didn't stop reading the book as I originally thought I would. I understand that this book is told from a 10 year old's point of view but the pig-Latin and made up words were more than annoying (especially in the beginning of the book). The story is one of inspiration and about believing in yourself and those you love. Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it to f...more
“Sway” is a crunchy, prosaic novel wrapped up in a gauzy layer of whimsy. Touching on the sensitive issue of a child affected by adultery and parental abandonment, the rider like the protagonist is yanked out of comfortable surroundings and sent spinning down the road. The “sway” ability is an eye-opener but at first you’re not certain if it’s actual magic or a cunning ploy meant to keep an anxious child from grieving and searching for the mother who clearly doesn’t want her company.
Chock full o...more
Chock full o...more
I gave it 4 stars only because it was a bit of a 'young' read... more for pre-teens and teenagers. It's a great story of a girl surviving her family being torn apart and a father struggling to earn her love.
4 stars means I would highly recommend this book.
Pros: Very well written. I LOVE all of the new words and phrases: wrength, the cheese, etc. I was emotionally invested-angry when the mom left and crying at the end. Super-sweet dad/daughter story.
Cons: I was disappointed when the fantastical element of the soap was introduced. I thought this was going to be a straight forward, real-to-life story. Then it boils down to make-believe, not magic after all. Since I'm not a big fan of encouraging peop...more
Pros: Very well written. I LOVE all of the new words and phrases: wrength, the cheese, etc. I was emotionally invested-angry when the mom left and crying at the end. Super-sweet dad/daughter story.
Cons: I was disappointed when the fantastical element of the soap was introduced. I thought this was going to be a straight forward, real-to-life story. Then it boils down to make-believe, not magic after all. Since I'm not a big fan of encouraging peop...more
Not even close to one of the best YA books I have read. I really did not like the first half of the book but it picked up with the road trip. I never ended up liking the mother and just barely tolerated the pathetic, yet well-meaning, father. The custie plays with language and rhyming got to be a bit much as well.
I guess what I did like about it is that I feel kids would relate to Cass and her cousin. Divorce, suspension, retention, and other situations that today's children experience makes it...more
I guess what I did like about it is that I feel kids would relate to Cass and her cousin. Divorce, suspension, retention, and other situations that today's children experience makes it...more
I got this book from Starbucks as a free pick of the week, and boy am I glad I gave it a try.
I love this book, and in my opinion it's a classic. I love Cass, her story and her voice. "Sway" is a story, lovingly told, with characters that are believable, and with whom you really come to care about. What an absolute pleasure to read.
I will place this book with my other beloved "Father/Daughter" books "To Kill A Mockingbird", "The Lovely Bones", and "Addie Pray" also known by the title "Paper Moo...more
I love this book, and in my opinion it's a classic. I love Cass, her story and her voice. "Sway" is a story, lovingly told, with characters that are believable, and with whom you really come to care about. What an absolute pleasure to read.
I will place this book with my other beloved "Father/Daughter" books "To Kill A Mockingbird", "The Lovely Bones", and "Addie Pray" also known by the title "Paper Moo...more
One of the best books I've ever read. The author's impeccable art of words and style made every page such a joy. Loved it!
I loved this book so much!!!!! I like books that are realistic fiction, so this was totally my kind of book. I also like RV's;)
4-6 grade
when cass finds out her mom is leaving, cass's dad takes her on an adventure in an attempt to bring cass's hero worship from her rescue/adventurer mom to her plain old boring blah dad. mr. nordenhaur's attempt to bring some magic into cass's life is at first met with disdain, then met with enthusiasm and eventually comes crashing down on both their heads. a tender story of redemption with a really likeable main character. i especially loved her 'noodles' and wished i could see a real r...more
when cass finds out her mom is leaving, cass's dad takes her on an adventure in an attempt to bring cass's hero worship from her rescue/adventurer mom to her plain old boring blah dad. mr. nordenhaur's attempt to bring some magic into cass's life is at first met with disdain, then met with enthusiasm and eventually comes crashing down on both their heads. a tender story of redemption with a really likeable main character. i especially loved her 'noodles' and wished i could see a real r...more
It took me awhile to figure out what I was going to say about this book. Here's why. One, it's a Children's Book. Good. Two, it's about 320 pages in e-book format. Ok! Three, the mother runs off to be with another man. What the?? (Trying to keep it clean). Four, the book is based on Christian values. Good! But not the mom. What?! Last but not least, the book is basically about ten year old Cass trying to be with her mom. Did I mention mom ran off to be with another man?
Why would this be a good c...more
Why would this be a good c...more
I got this as an ebook from Starbucks' free picks. I was caught by the interesting cover and title, and after reading a brief synopsis, my curiosity was peaked. It's a unusual, creative story about family and growing up; the descriptive language is delightful and original and will keep you reading. To say much more might spoil the discovery and adventure the author has carefully devised, so I'll just have to leave you wondering, with a strong recommendation to read this book. Other reviewers hav...more
Cass has dreamed of becoming a rescue worker, just like her mom. Her mom travels to states far and wide after disaster strikes and leaves Cass to stay at home with her dad. But her mom`s latest return turns out to be far shorter and far more disastrous than Cass or her dad expected. Cass`s dad decides to take Cass with him on their own adventure in the RV, nicknamed “The Roast,” to discover the power of “Sway.” What is Sway? And who is M. B. McClean? And can a little soap and water wash away som...more
This was a free download I picked up at Starbucks ,also my first E-book. Looks like I've finally gone over to the dark side?
I a grownup who still likes reading children's books. I enjoyed this one very much. Really interesting story ,which gave me a feel of what living in that part of the South is like. Had a happy ending, but not the one you expected. The main character is sweet,smart, independent girl,having to realize parents aren't always perfect and sometimes they need help too.
,
I a grownup who still likes reading children's books. I enjoyed this one very much. Really interesting story ,which gave me a feel of what living in that part of the South is like. Had a happy ending, but not the one you expected. The main character is sweet,smart, independent girl,having to realize parents aren't always perfect and sometimes they need help too.
,
A cute contemporary story about a girl trying to deal with her parents' separation (or rather, her mother's abandonment of herself and her father for another man). It's cute mainly because of the girl's perky way of speaking, and because of her father's creative efforts to become the inspiring parent his daughter needs at this time. An endearing though involved story that give serious themes a lighter feel, it would be helpful for kids suffering through a similar predicament.
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Jan 14, 2013 04:16pm