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Six Degrees of Lost

by Linda Benson (Goodreads Author)

4.31 of 5 stars 4.31 · rating details · 16 ratings · 16 reviews

Olive’s mother is headed to jail and her brother to join the Army, so thirteen-year-old Olive is uprooted from sunny California and dumped in Washington state like a stray. That's exactly what she feels like surrounded by her aunt’s collection of homeless dogs, cats, and horses.

Fourteen-year-old David’s future is already carved in stone. From a military family with two br...more

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Published June 1st 2012 by Musa Publishing - Euterpe

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Indie Young Adult – June New Releases

2nd out of 19 books — 20 voters

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Doors, Portals, Gates

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Jul 29, 2012 Kaitlin Bevis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Six Degrees of Lost by Linda Benson put me through the wringer emotionally speaking. The characters were compelling and the story line had me sniffling more than a few times. It’s a great book for animal lovers and has a very cute story time. It’s a bit younger than the young adult I’m accustomed too, but it was still a fantastic read.

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Feb 08, 2013 DelSheree rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Olive is lost. Not physically, mind you, but in just about every other way. Her mother is in jail, her brother in the military, and her dad in places unknown. When she shows up at her aunts house, she feels as if she has been dumped off on the only person left who hopefully cares about her. Olive struggles to find her way, and finds help in the unlikely friendship of the animals she meets and local boy, David, who is wading through his own troubles.

The two main characters of this book are Olive...more Olive is lost. Not physically, mind you, but in just about every other way. Her mother is in jail, her brother in the military, and her dad in places unknown. When she shows up at her aunts house, she feels as if she has been dumped off on the only person left who hopefully cares about her. Olive struggles to find her way, and finds help in the unlikely friendship of the animals she meets and local boy, David, who is wading through his own troubles.

The two main characters of this book are Olive and David. Both are struggling to maneuver their lives, but both face very different problems. Olive can hardly find a family member who seems interested in her life. David struggles to keep his overbearing parents from planning out his entire life regardless of what he wants. The juxtaposition of these two characters provided a nice contrast.

The relationships that develop with the animals in this book, and the importance they play in the story is an interesting aspect. A runaway yellow lab brings David and Olive together. Their search for his owner gives them a common cause, and a reason to see each other. Olive also finds more purpose in her life when she begins helping care for the stray animals at her aunt's house and the animal shelter. The friendship Olive and David develop is very sweet.The addition of the animals was a lovely reminder of an animal's ability to lift spirits and provide comfort.

My main issue with the characters was that I didn't feel as though I was able to get inside their heads very much. There was more "telling" the reader what they thought and felt than "showing." Olive was a likable character who young readers will be able to relate to. I had a harder time with David because he whined frequently and despite the struggles he had, his life was not so terrible. He came off as rather spoiled at times. The characters are both fourteen, which would typically put this in the YA category, but their maturity level and the "all tell" style of the writing made it read more like a middle grade novel.

The pacing of the first half of the book was also a bit of an issue for me. I felt the opening chapters didn't initially grab me and it took a while before I felt the main conflict of the story really developed and the interest level increased. The last half of the book was much faster paced and kept me interested. The editing in this book could have been better. It was a little distracting for me, but not a deal breaker.

Would I recommend this book? This is one I wouldn't be able to recommend to everyone. It will have a select audience that the characters will appeal to.

Who would I recommend this book to? Mainly to tweens, or the 9-12 age group, will be able to identify with these characters more than older teens. I think adults will struggle with the pacing and depth of character development.

Check out my other reviews at The Edible Bookshelf (less)

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Sep 25, 2012 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, fiction, ya-children

First off, the genre of this book was little fuzzy. It could fall both in the middle grade or young adult genre. The main characters are 13 and 14 years old but sometimes seemed a little on the younger side. That being said, the book deals with some heavier topics (such as having a parent in jail) that may not be ideal for younger readers. This book is probably most appropriate for younger Young Adult readers.

This book is also a great book for animal lovers. After Olive's mom goes to jail, Olive...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Rita Monette rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book moves so fast, I literally could not put it down.

Olive is a thirteen year old girl that has had a life of instability. By the time she lands on her Aunt Trudy's doorstep, she feels like one of the stray animals her aunt takes in. David is a fourteen year old boy that wants for nothing...except his father's acceptance for who he is and what he wants to do with his life, and his mother's love.

Ms. Benson smoothly switches from Olive's to David's intimate point of view in short paragraphs...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Sandra rated it 3 of 5 stars

After Olive's mother is sent to jail for credit card fraud, Olive is sent to live with her aunt in Washington state while her brother is off for basic training. It's there that she must come to terms with her mother's imprisonment and the fact that she will be living with Aunt Trudy longer than she first anticipated. Meanwhile she meets David, a wealthy local boy who's dealing with coming-of-age problems of his own, including his father's determined plan to get him into the Air Force.

Six Degrees...more After Olive's mother is sent to jail for credit card fraud, Olive is sent to live with her aunt in Washington state while her brother is off for basic training. It's there that she must come to terms with her mother's imprisonment and the fact that she will be living with Aunt Trudy longer than she first anticipated. Meanwhile she meets David, a wealthy local boy who's dealing with coming-of-age problems of his own, including his father's determined plan to get him into the Air Force.

Six Degrees of Lost is a short novel, but I appreciated the alternating points of view because I feel like that really kept the plot and the pace of the book moving. On the one hand we have Olive, a thirteen year old girl who is a bit delusional about who her mother really is. Olive's mother isn't the greatest person and it's clear that she is much better off with her aunt, but she has a hard time believing that. Aside from that, Olive loves animals and really enjoys helping her aunt out around the farm and at the animal shelter. I love characters who love animals.

On the other hand, we have David, who grew up with a wealthier background than Olive but that hasn't made him full of himself at all. He loves animals just as much as Olive and seeing them work together with the animals was great. I really admired the way David thought for himself and didn't just blindly follow his father's advice. Sure David's only fourteen in this novel, but he came across much more mature. He's a boy any parent would be fine with to date their daughter.

Speaking of dating, the romance in Six Degrees of Lost is very sweet and innocent and entirely appropriate for the ages of the characters involved and for the book's middle grade/young adult readers. The highlight of their relationship isn't sex and making out, but rather hand holding. I'm no prude, but I'm not going to lie... I found that refreshing.

Like I said, I was glad for the alternating points of view because I felt like it kept the novel moving. The book probably would have been pretty boring if it had only been one point of view because both David and Olive came across a little flat. Their two halves made a whole, even if that whole got a little repetitive. It wasn't until chapter forty or so (I'm estimating) that I really started to turn the pages because I wanted to know what happened next. I think a younger reader would appreciate Six Degrees of Lost more, particularly readers in middle school.

Three stars - At times I felt the plot was slow and a little repetitive, but I really enjoyed the animal aspect of the book. Ultimately I liked this coming of age novel, though I think it would be more appropriate for middle grade readers; I think they'll relate well to the storyline. (less)

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Aug 30, 2012 Sandra Alonzo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

With its intriguing title, SIX DEGREES OF LOST, it's difficult not to be drawn to this book. Linda Benson, author of THE GIRL WHO REMEMBERED HORSES, has written an engaging story for 'tween readers, one that is filled with good, interpersonal relationships. The characters, interesting without being over-characterized, depict just the right amount of rebellion to make them feel real. Not only is the plot forward-moving, this quick read provides a nice romance, innocent enough for the 'tween group...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Linda Ulleseit rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade-fiction

Six Degrees of Lost, by Linda Benson, follows Olive as she moves to a new state away from her mother and brother. She is lost without them, but for most of this book it seems like all the characters are lost. Olive’s new friend David isn’t as close to his parents as he once was, and his brothers are away. Olive longs for her mother, and enhances the memories so that it seems their life was perfect. Aunt Trudy is alone and battling illness. The yellow stray dog flits in and out as a more obvious...more Six Degrees of Lost, by Linda Benson, follows Olive as she moves to a new state away from her mother and brother. She is lost without them, but for most of this book it seems like all the characters are lost. Olive’s new friend David isn’t as close to his parents as he once was, and his brothers are away. Olive longs for her mother, and enhances the memories so that it seems their life was perfect. Aunt Trudy is alone and battling illness. The yellow stray dog flits in and out as a more obvious symbol of being lost. Even the abandoned puppies are adrift without a place.

The two central characters, Olive and David, have very different families yet are experiencing much of the same angst in growing up. Benson presents them as very normal teens with warm and wonderful traits as well as flaws. It makes them very relatable to young readers. At one point David and his friends interrupt a raft trip to take shelter from the rain in a barn, and they light a cigarette. The scene reminded me of every time during my teen years that I followed my friends in doing something stupid. Teens are all about doing what their friends are doing, and this pivotal scene will resonate well with them. Olivia, as the story goes on, builds up in her mind memories of a loving relationship with her mother that are dashed by reality. Many teens look at their world through rose-colored glasses and have experienced such rude awakenings, so again young readers will empathize with Olivia.

Although it was a minor subplot to the book, I enjoyed the dogs. Aunt Trudy is quite the animal lover, and takes in the box of abandoned puppies. As I read this book, my own eight week old yellow Labrador puppies played at my feet. How could I not want to jump into the pages of the novel and adopt those pups?

Benson hooks her reader into each of these lost souls and weaves a story around them that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming as she ties them all together. Great book to remind readers of all ages there is somebody out there for everybody.(less)

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Aug 04, 2012 Jill Swanson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, arc-and-giveaway, musa-publishing, blog-review

This was such a great story!
For my full review and an interview with the author, Linda Benson, visit my blog:
http://littlehyuts.blogspot.com

First I would like to say a big thanks to Linda Benson for sending me a copy of this book for review. I really enjoyed every page. The story behind Six Degrees of Lost is simple and sweet. I was taken in by this story and it's main character Olive. Olive is barely fourteen and struggling with the events in her life. With her mother in jail and her dad off tr...more This was such a great story!
For my full review and an interview with the author, Linda Benson, visit my blog:
http://littlehyuts.blogspot.com

First I would like to say a big thanks to Linda Benson for sending me a copy of this book for review. I really enjoyed every page. The story behind Six Degrees of Lost is simple and sweet. I was taken in by this story and it's main character Olive. Olive is barely fourteen and struggling with the events in her life. With her mother in jail and her dad off traveling--god knows where--she is forced to make a new life with her aunt in rainy Washington. Olive denies the reality of her situation, and who could blame her. In her mind she has created the perfect version of her mother to mask her less than perfect childhood. It takes running away and a new found appreciation for the relationships she has built for her to realize that, perhaps she has been home all along. Linda has created a wonderful and well developed character in Olive. You can tell that the author has a passion for what she writes and I loved the message behind this story. Her use of 'strays' as a comparison for Olive was well worked. The yellow dog introduced in the beginning of this book makes for a great side story. I got teary eyed at the end when everyone who was in need of a home found one. I could relate with the author's love of animals and was glad they played a prominent role in this book.
I also enjoyed the setting as well. You really get the 'homey' feel when you are reading and a great picture of the town.
Six Degrees of Lost is told from two perspectives--Olive's and David's--eventually becoming more like one towards the end. I think this was very fitting for this story and it kept the plot moving and intertwining at a great pace.
I really enjoyed experiencing both David and Olive's lives and am so glad they found each other. Both are able to stand up for themselves at the end and it is great to see them grow as characters.
This is such a wonderful story and I am gladly recommending it to any YA lovers. All though, I could see adults enjoying this story just as much. I look forward to reading Linda's upcoming novel, Walking the Dog(less)

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Jun 12, 2012 Maggie Dana rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: mid-grade, tween, YA readers; adults, too

Six Degrees of Lost is a perfect coming-of-age story. It's compelling, believable, and quietly powerful. It held my attention from the very first page, and when I finished one chapter, I just had to dive into the next, and the next. There's plenty of dialogue, which is what YA readers love, and there's just enough description so you get a good sense of your surroundings. I could actually feel the dampness of a Pacific Northwest summer; I rejoiced when the sun came out.

The author, Linda Benson, h...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

I love books when they both perspectives of the main characters... This book is great for middle schoolers... My only problem was that this book is perfect for a boy or girl to read, but if you look at the cover what boy is going to read this? So basically my only issue was with the cover, it was too girly in my opinion... It should have incoporated some dog tags maybe to tie in the military aspects, some animals too since Olive's aunt took care of strays...

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Oct 05, 2012 Coral rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: indies-good-read-2012

Daughter loved this book.

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Jul 06, 2012 Candace rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 stars

Review to come...

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Aug 13, 2012 Shari rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: author-sent-for-review, ebook-challenge-2012, read-in-2012, upcoming-reviews

An adorable and sweet middle grade book. Full review coming soon.

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Sep 12, 2012 TuRtLeFaEiRe marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: a-wish-list-book, giveaway-miss

This is a book after my own heart. If I could live out somewhere with a lot of land, and of course was a gazillionaire, I would rescue and treat as many horses, dogs, and cats (even though they don't seem to really get along with me very well. I guess it is because I love my dogs so much and they can smell it in me). I think the actress Doris Day does the sort of thing I wish I could do, at least that is what I have heard. I know she loves animals for a fact.

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Nov 06, 2012 Deanna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a wonderful book. I am a Foster parent and I am keeping this for my kids when their old enough.

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Aug 29, 2012 Katie Fitzgerald rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grade, realistic-fiction, reviewed-on-blog, published-2010s

Reviewed on my blog: http://sharingsoda.blogspot.com/2012/...

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About Linda Benson

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author
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Linda Benson is the author of WALKING THE DOG, SIX DEGREES OF LOST, THE GIRL WHO REMEMBERED HORSES, FINDING CHANCE and THE HORSE JAR. In addition, THE HORSE JAR has been translated into Spanish - LA ALCANCIA DE LOS SUENOS (The Piggybank of Dreams.)

Her passion for nature and animals often finds its way into her writing. She has bee...more

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