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Freeing Carter

by Nyrae Dawn (Goodreads Author)

3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 · rating details · 1,348 ratings · 124 reviews

His whole life Carter’s fought to hold it together: To help Mom run their store. To be there for his special needs sister, Sara, and be the perfect boyfriend Mel wants. To dominate on the basketball court—the only place he ever feels free. And to carry Mom up the stairs when she’s too smashed to make it on her own.

It isn't like she has a problem. Mom loves them. If she do...more

ebook, 155 pages

Published July 18th 2012 (first published July 17th 2012)

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New Adult Contemporary

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Best Young Adult Romance I've read this year

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Sep 21, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is my third Nyrae Dawn book and, once again, she has written a wonderful and thought-provoking book. I’m kind of beginning to wonder if Ms. Dawn is really a teenage boy trying to pass himself off as an adult female writer. Wouldn’t that be something???? Nyrae Dawn writes a teen boy POV like nobody’s business. I love it!

“People think alcoholics are violent. They don't hold down jobs or they're out drinking every night. No offense to the people who believe that, but they don't know jack. So...more
This is my third Nyrae Dawn book and, once again, she has written a wonderful and thought-provoking book. I’m kind of beginning to wonder if Ms. Dawn is really a teenage boy trying to pass himself off as an adult female writer. Wouldn’t that be something???? Nyrae Dawn writes a teen boy POV like nobody’s business. I love it!

“People think alcoholics are violent. They don't hold down jobs or they're out drinking every night. No offense to the people who believe that, but they don't know jack. Sometimes, people do it to deal. Because fate sat down and decided, 'hey, let's see how much shit we can throw at this person before they break.' Before all the skinned knees and bruised limbs keep them from getting up after one last fall.”

Carter Shaw has a secret.

description

Seriously, he is living a life that no teen should have to deal with while trying to maintain a perfect image as he’s trying to hold it all together. His life is definitely hanging by a thread. To make matters worse, he is lying about it – lying to others and to himself. He’s trying to be strong for his alcoholic mother and special needs sister at the cost of his school work, personal life and his youth. This guy is unquestionably walking around with the world on his shoulders and he can’t see a way out. He has only himself; that is, until Kira walks into his life.

Kira is a burst of fresh air for Carter. He can breath around her and be himself. The closer they become, the more he shares. Although Kira seems like she is the strong one in this relationship, Kira is dealing with things of her own. She had a rough start in life and is trying to discover her true self. While she is comfortable with herself, she is always changing her style and hair. Kira may have been the one to help Carter breath; however, Carter is the one that helps Kira see who she truly is.

I catch the ball and shoot again, but this time it bounces off the rim and goes into the bushes. When she tries to go after it, I stop her, taking her gently by the wrist and pulling her to me. “You’re the girl who took the time to see what I tried to hide from everyone else. The girl who broke into a Jacuzzi with me., to steal my secrets and give me yours. You’re the one who looks gorgeous with purple hair, orange hair, or black hair. You’re just as comfortable in combat boots as heels or my Nikes.”

I step closer to her. “You’re the one who helped me with my homework. You’re the straight A student who loves to dance on tables. You love Lana like a mother. You love my little sister like she’s yours and never make me feel weird or different. You’re the one who doesn’t think twice to wipe vomit off my mom’s mouth, or try anything new. You’re the one who wore a Jersey with my name on it and made me win the game. When no one else did, you saw me and you drew me. That’s who you are.”

Doesn’t that just make you want a Carter for yourself??? So freakin’ sweet!

Nyrae Dawn tackles the difficult issue of alcoholism in this coming of age story. She does it in her typical real and humorous style. Pick Freeing Carter up peeps. Nyrae Dawn is an author to look out for. She is definitely making a name in my world as a great YA author!(less)

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Aug 06, 2012 Mitch rated it 2 of 5 stars

I hate to admit it, but sometimes a perfectly good book gets a totally different reaction from me than the reaction I know the author intended. Like Freeing Carter, Carter's story as a guy dealing with his mother's alcoholism is supposed to be sad and emotional, get my sympathy, but for the most part I just didn't feel it. I don't want to sound callous, but I don't like being told how to feel, I like making up my own mind based on the story, and the way Carter just spent most the book telling me...more I hate to admit it, but sometimes a perfectly good book gets a totally different reaction from me than the reaction I know the author intended. Like Freeing Carter, Carter's story as a guy dealing with his mother's alcoholism is supposed to be sad and emotional, get my sympathy, but for the most part I just didn't feel it. I don't want to sound callous, but I don't like being told how to feel, I like making up my own mind based on the story, and the way Carter just spent most the book telling me how awful his life is, my reaction was more tough for you than oh man that sucks.

Don't get me wrong, Dawn pulls all the right strings for a very emotional book. Carter's dealing with his mother's spiraling alcohol problems, with girlfriend problems of his own, heck with basically his life falling apart, but I just couldn't feel for him. I think it's mainly because Carter's actions didn't really match his words - I get he's ashamed of his mother being an alcoholic yet tired of having to hide it from everyone, but his constant complaining was a huge turn off for me. Not just things he has a right to be complaining about, but stuff like his English grade too; sure, I get he's in a bad mood when his mother's drunk so he might not want to do an assignment or two or five, but dude I didn't need to hear about how English is a complete enigma and totally useless. Carter's neither willing to laugh about it and ignore it nor tough it out and get it done - the whole time he's bitching and pissing me off, I just had one question for him. So what? What are you going to do about it? Keep complaining? Yeah, things suck for him, but it's not like he's doing himself any favors to begin with. And that really killed any sympathy I might've had for him.

Also, the way he blames certain people and lets others easily off the hook, made him seem like a huge hypocrite. Like the whole situation with his girlfriend Melanie, from what I read, looks to me like a case of both people losing interest in each other and starting to drift apart, but of course he casts her as the villain. Yeah, she's shallow and probably wouldn't have cared about his mother's alcohol problems even if he'd told her, not like new girl Kira, but I didn't see how she's guilty of letting their relationship fall apart any more than he is, and the way he just blames her didn't feel right to me. And his grandfather, he's a mean drunk instead of a sorry drunk like Carter's mother, but the way Carter's mostly forgiving of his mother and just hates on his grandfather, I just can't fathom how he can go easy on one alcoholic who's ruining his life while casting all the blame on the other.

Maybe I would've felt differently if things happened that changed my impressions later on in the story. But nothing did, I have to say this was one of the most frustrating books I've ever read because there just wasn't a single moment that I felt Carter manned up and took charge of anything in his life. I know Kira's supposed to be the character that helps him deal with everything, his rock, but Carter really does absolutely nothing except whine about how awful his life his until it longer matters. I'm angry, at his mother for being a neglectful drunk like I'm supposed to, but also at Carter for being such a weak character who neither shoulders his burden in silence nor takes charge of his problems. Instead, he just complains all the time without really doing anything about it to show me why he deserves my sympathy.

I guess I just wish there were more scenes of Carter showing my why his life sucks and what he intends to do about it, but instead I get almost an entire book of his whining which just pissed me off until I just didn't feel like Freeing Carter anywhere resembled a touching story of someone dealing with a family history of alcohol abuse anymore. I'm almost certainly in the minority, but Carter’s story just left me pissed instead of touched.(less)

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Nov 14, 2012 Jenn rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Buddy read: Bethany

Shelves: teens-highschool-teenybop

I really enjoyed Freeing Carter . I especially loved that this book was told from Carter's POV. I love getting the story from a male's perspective.

Carter is THE MAN on the basketball courts, he may even be better than his old man. The court is where Carter feels the most free: from the pressures of his life, to be happy & just to be Carter.

Carter's mom has a drinking problem. His sister has special needs. His girlfriend only cares about her self and is a NUT JOB! His BFF, Travis, has some...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Karla rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: angst-filled, emotional, hurtful-parents, overcoming-tragedy, single-mom, spunky-girl, spunky-heroine, sweet-boy, sweet-couple, sweet-girl, sweet-romance, teenage-drama, terrific-dialogue, thought-provoking, tortured-souls, wonderful-secondary-characters, young-adult, youthful-angst, alcoholism, 1st-person-pov

4 ½ Stars…Another winner! Nyrae Dawn has crafted an amazing thought provoking book. She gets into the mind and heart of a teen boy the likes of which I have never read before. One would think that she somehow transformed herself into Carter’s character and then wrote the story while she possessed his soul.

”People think alcoholics are violent. They don't hold down jobs or they're out drinking every night. No offense to the people who believe that, but they don't know jack. Sometimes, people do it...more 4 ½ Stars…Another winner! Nyrae Dawn has crafted an amazing thought provoking book. She gets into the mind and heart of a teen boy the likes of which I have never read before. One would think that she somehow transformed herself into Carter’s character and then wrote the story while she possessed his soul.

”People think alcoholics are violent. They don't hold down jobs or they're out drinking every night. No offense to the people who believe that, but they don't know jack. Sometimes, people do it to deal. Because fate sat down and decided, 'hey, let's see how much shit we can throw at this person before they break.' Before all the skinned knees and bruised limbs keep them from getting up after one last fall.”

Carter Shaw has a secret and he lies about it, not only to others, but to himself. Lying is a harsh way to put it, but it’s how he sees it. He believes in his heart, that he alone can carry the burden of his mother’s alcoholism; it’s his job to make her better. His only concern in the life at the moment is to keep his family intact and make sure that his sister, a special needs child, is protected and well cared for. However, it’s costing him his youth, affecting his schoolwork, and the possibility of a basketball scholarship. He has the weight of the world on his young shoulders, as his mother doesn’t seek the help she needs to overcome alcoholism and depression she still feels over the death of Carter’s father so many years ago. Carter bottles it all up and is strong for everyone who needs him, but there is no one there for him, or so he believes, until Kira enters his life.

For someone who had such a rough start in life, Kira was very put together. I love how she changed her style, clothes and hair, to try to identify with who she was, but underneath it all she was still Kira. She was comfortable with herself, funny and a true friend to Carter. She made her own way in life, didn’t need a past to identify who she was and Carter is the one who helps her to see that. Kira never judges Carter but stands at his side, supports him, in her quiet confident manner, and allows him to find his way…it was lovely!

Nyrae Dawn tackles the issue of alcoholism head on, but is able to add some romance and humor into the story. It’s told from Carter’s first-person point-of-view, something that this author has mastered, along with her amazing ability to get into the mind of a teen boy. You feel everything that Carter feels, and live vicariously through him, you care about him. Her main characters are always so likeable and she has the reader rooting for the best of outcomes and I think about them long after I’ve turned the last page. Nyrae Dawn is a talent to be reckoned with in the YA genre!

"Carter, the guy with the messy brown hair."

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Jul 27, 2012 Kathleen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, romance, young-adult

I really enjoyed this story. Not only because the characters were so fab but because it was such a realistic representation of how alcoholism can effect a family. I admit to bawling my eyes out in the last chapter. Nyrae Dawn is a wonderful storyteller who I will continue to keep an eye on. This is my second read by her and it won't be the last. sniff....

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Aug 04, 2012 BeegPanda Panda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, teen-ya, tugs-on-heartstrings, sweet-hero, covers-substance-abuse

Possible spoilers

I liked everything about this book. I very seldom vote five stars, unless it completely covers everything I'm looking for in a book of a certain genre.

This romantic teenage YA perfectly describes hard hitting issues which people from all walks of life have to live with. It's insightful and accurately depicts the thoughts and feelings of an eldest son of an alcoholic, and that of a young woman who knows nothing of her birth parents, where she comes from, who she is. It also cove...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Rachmi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bully-abuse-dysfunctional-family, ebook, contemporary-romance

Being 17 years old is about having fun. Playing basketball, hanging out with friends and girlfriend, partying, drinking and sometimes get drunk. It’s what Carter thought about being his age. But the truth is he always has to be careful and has to stay awake for his mom and his little sister.

I fall in love with this book from the first sentence Nyrae Dawn wrote. It isn’t from first chapter but from her dedication page.

No matter your battle, this book is dedicated to everyone fighting to be free

I...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Madison Seidler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Read this and other reviews at Madison Says.

This was not the first book I read by Nyrae Dawn. I had first come across this author when I read What a Boy Wants and What a Boy Needs. She’s so incredibly talented when it comes to writing from the boy’s perspective. It’s quite remarkable actually.

I was really looking forward to reading Freeing Carter for a number of reasons. One of those was again, to read exclusively from the boy POV, but also because it dealt with the subject of alcoholism and the...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Kala rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review is also posted on my blog at:
Kala's Book Blog

I originally rated this 3 stars after reading, but after giving it some thought I bumped it up to 4. I really liked this book.

Carter, the main character, has so much to deal with. His mom is an alcoholic who struggles hard with her inner demons. His little sister, Sara, has special needs and he struggles to help her and deal with his mom. He also has grown apart from his girlfriend and knows their relationship is no longer a good thing, bu...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Michael Burhans rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, young-adult

I finished this book more than 24 hours ago, and I still cannot figure out what to write for this review. I try really hard to never include spoilers, and this book is so good I do not want to spoil anything for anyone that has yet to read it.

Yet it is so hard to find a way to explain how darn good, how important, how real, and how heart-rending this book actually is without doing so. If you have substance abuse issues, if someone in your family does, if a friend does, you need to read this bo...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Sofia Lazaridou rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Carters mother is alcoholic and he is the one who takes care of her.His father died from heart attack and that's the reason his mother drinks.His little sister Sara has the Down Sydrome and needs to been take care of.His realtionship with Mel is practicly over but they dont admit it.His English grade is low and the teacher threats Carter that if he doesnt do his homework she will talk to the coach to take him of the basketball team.Basketball is the one thing he loves more than his family and di...more Carters mother is alcoholic and he is the one who takes care of her.His father died from heart attack and that's the reason his mother drinks.His little sister Sara has the Down Sydrome and needs to been take care of.His realtionship with Mel is practicly over but they dont admit it.His English grade is low and the teacher threats Carter that if he doesnt do his homework she will talk to the coach to take him of the basketball team.Basketball is the one thing he loves more than his family and distracts him from reality.So basicaly his life is shit.
Then he meets the new girl in school Kira.Kira changes her hair colour like some people change shirts has different style every day and a bright smile for Carter.Carter is having fun when he is with her and she makes him forget his problems.As the books proceeds Carter breaks up with Mel,gets a better grade at English,his basketball team wins,his relationship with Kira becomes more romantic and his mother sobers up.But the last doesn't last long.On his father's death anniversary his mother drinks again and that's the last drop for Carter.He admits his mother's problem and everything becomes better since he finally gets free.

The book was very good,but honestly in one little point I was wondering why the book wasnt coming to an end.After 10-20 pages it started getting interesting again so it deserves 5 stars.The story was good and I like the books were the hero gets free from his demons so the book got more points with that.

It was interesting to see a boys POV for a change and I was glad he wasn't thinking boobs,asses,hot chicks when he wasn't worried about something.

Quote time:

“I have to bite my lip not to lean down and kiss her. God, I want to kiss her so bad”

"Her eyes don't leave her book, but I see her smile. It's like the inside of my chest hiccups or something at the sight.”

“My arm itches to reach up and wrap around her. To pull her closer, but can we get closer? Right now she might be closer to me than anyone's ever been."(less)

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Mar 27, 2013 Clo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Realmente me gustó. Aunque no está enfocado en lo romántico, sino más bien en lo mucho que influye el alcohol en una familia, y cómo destruye a los integrantes.

El libro trata sobre un adolescente que tiene una madre alcoholica y una hermanita con sindrome de dawn a las que ama. Carter al principio intenta tapar el problema, como si mantenerlo en secreto lo hiciera desaparecer. Pero esto lo va carcomiendo por dentro.

Cuando su madre está sobria es alegre, divertida, protectora, y él se siente li...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Anesha †Curious & Obsessive Bookworm† rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-school, reality, sports

I honestly don't know what it was about this book. I didn't want to continue it yet a needed to finish it. I felt like it wasn't as good as the previous books I've read by Nyrae, yet it was so good in it's own way. I was torn and confuse. I was like "This book is so.. blah" But in the same breath, I'd be thinking about it ALL the time when I couldn't read it. No joke.

Carter was amazing in his own right. It's so hard to find a real man like him with such devotion and loyalty (hence why am sure mo...more I honestly don't know what it was about this book. I didn't want to continue it yet a needed to finish it. I felt like it wasn't as good as the previous books I've read by Nyrae, yet it was so good in it's own way. I was torn and confuse. I was like "This book is so.. blah" But in the same breath, I'd be thinking about it ALL the time when I couldn't read it. No joke.

Carter was amazing in his own right. It's so hard to find a real man like him with such devotion and loyalty (hence why am sure most of us turn to books to get lost in their world, heh). He went through alot of things, no 17yr old had to go thru, and even when his silence, his mind is saying one thing, his action shows another and it just express how big his heart is. His first is always family no matter what - even when things began to crumble around him, with his no good gf, he still didn't give a fuck... his mind was always with his family. I love that he was more in need for what the thought of a gf gives him - normalcy - rather than actually losing her personally and specifically. He was and is just so amazing.

Even more amazing and free when he's in his zone - which is basketball. When he's on the court, everything is shaken off of him, the weight, the worry, the problems - everything. For that short time on the court, the ball doing whatever he commands it, he is in every sense free. It's where he has control and he grasp it with enthusiasm. I love him for that. For giving it all, being so selfless and never expecting much. Even when he's playing ball, he plays for his sis... he scores for her... at the end of the day - it was all for his family - everything he do. How can one not love Carter for who he is and how he is?

His relationship with the new girl was natural, effortless.. and so, he was falling even before he knew it and when he did realize it - he didn't care. Because that was one normal he didn't have to work for. Such normalcy was never suppose to be an overbearing job and with Kira - he got that, and more.

This book is amazing in it's own right. It wasn't the best from Nyrae to me but sometimes it's not about the book or what one should expect... it's about the STORY...and theis story was real, deep and affected me in more ways than i'd be willing to admit. The characters were relatable... even the vapid ones because I could have always linked them with someone in my life. And I guess because of that, it was why I love the book yet didn't like it all in one.

It was real... and that's why I'm always so addicted to Nyrae's writing and will always give her books a chance <3(less)

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Aug 10, 2012 Word Blog-Robin Harper rated it 4 of 5 stars

Loved it, just as I have loved Nyrae's other books. I am still impressed with how well she captures the male voice (tho I only have the pov as a female, so maybe it's not accurate lol) as well as the emotions that surround such a heavy topic

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Jul 18, 2012 Dani Morales rated it 5 of 5 stars

Honestly all I can say is Nyrae Dawn is by all means one of my favorite authors of all times! She has a way with words that I can only idolize. She had me in awe with What a Boy Wants, in tears with What a boy Needs, and completely speechless for Freeing Carter. I love how Nyrae takes on the challenge of writing from a male’s POV, there’s not too many books out there and she speaks volumes through her characters. Each of her characters face important roles, roles that some people butcher when tr...more Honestly all I can say is Nyrae Dawn is by all means one of my favorite authors of all times! She has a way with words that I can only idolize. She had me in awe with What a Boy Wants, in tears with What a boy Needs, and completely speechless for Freeing Carter. I love how Nyrae takes on the challenge of writing from a male’s POV, there’s not too many books out there and she speaks volumes through her characters. Each of her characters face important roles, roles that some people butcher when trying to write about, Nyrae however, has the ability to write the truth with no malice.

Carter to me is so unlike what you would consider to be the normal basketball jock, but maybe through his personal dilemmas that’s what makes him so much more than the stereotypical jock. With an alcoholic mother, a sister with down syndrome, Carter feels the need to be the protector of his family, but in doing so he needs an outlet, basketball, but also a relief of some sense of normalcy. He tries to hang on to that normalcy by dating someone who I would consider beneath him, only because I know him now, lol but in reality, he was dating the cheerleader like any normal popular jock would. I mean it has to be written in the laws of high school or something, jocks=cheerleaders…so blasé if you ask me, but that’s what makes the world of high school!

Getting a little off subject here…I immediately loved Kira, not only is her name awesome, but her carefree persona and the colored streaks captivated me. In a way Kira reminded me of myself with always changing my hair color, and boy I don’t even remember what my natural color is lol. Kira was able to be something to Carter that no one else was and vice versa. They helped each other discover who they are and made an amazing team.

Anyways this book is awesome and it would be a mistake not to buy it right now and read it! Nyrae Dawn is an amazing writer and person, so check it out and check out her other books if you haven’t already!
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May 18, 2013 Whit Martin (Whit's Book World) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed, good, reviewed-by-me, ya-contemporary, new-adult

I hate to say this but when I started this book I really just thought it would be an "okay" book one to just pass the time away with. Boy, was I WRONG! This book was truly wonderful!

It starts with Carter thinking he has to be the perfect jock, boyfriend, friend, brother, and son. He has to be perfect and take care of everyone. He can not just be himself. He knows his mom is going through a lot, and he loves her but he hates the fact that he has to live his life taking care of her.

This shows yo...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Caroline rated it 2 of 5 stars

I just read this book, because I liked the first one I've read of Nyrae, but I'm disappointed. I thought it would be more interesting not that much boring. I guess I liked it at the beggining, but then it turn into an annoying story. I mean, in all my reader's life, I can only think in Richelle Mead and Meg Cabot that make me fall in love for more than one book [series]. It's possible that there's more authors that I can't remember...

The narrative was from Carter's POV, and that's a reason to me...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Chucha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: alcohol-related, art-buff, cheating, family-problems, i-so-love-these-books, psych-problems-or-related, sports-buff

I fell in love with Carter from the first chapter, and continued to until the last page. He was someone that his family could count on. At an age that he should be enjoying girls, booze and friends - he was stuck making sure that his mother and sister were fine. Who would not love him?

But Carter has a secret...
some_text

Secret he's not willing to share even with his best friend.

He tried his best in keeping his sister and his mother safe. But sometimes, even strong people falter and needs help. Carter was...more

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Dec 10, 2012 CJ rated it 4 of 5 stars

I purchased this book as I have read Nyrea Dawns previous books and adored the characters she writes and the situations she places them in. Freeing Carter is in many ways her best book yet. Freeing Carter is again written from the perspective of a teenage boy, only this time it is a teenage boy who is trying to keep the world from knowing about his alcoholic mother. What makes this such a good book about addiction is that it is about a mother who is very good at hiding her addiction, she is not...more I purchased this book as I have read Nyrea Dawns previous books and adored the characters she writes and the situations she places them in. Freeing Carter is in many ways her best book yet. Freeing Carter is again written from the perspective of a teenage boy, only this time it is a teenage boy who is trying to keep the world from knowing about his alcoholic mother. What makes this such a good book about addiction is that it is about a mother who is very good at hiding her addiction, she is not an abusive screaming drunk who uses emotional manipulation, but rather a women whose life has at times been hard and is spiralling further out of control, a women who is a good mother and would be outstanding if only she would ask for help, but she won't. Carter is the son who loves his mother, adores his younger sister and wants his family to be together, so lies to keep it together, he puts walls up everywhere.

This story is what happens in many families, the child is left to protect the adult, and that child struggles with that. I have worked with families like this for over 10 years, and it felt so real reading it. This is what trouble families often are, people who have good intentions but ultimately hurt each other. There are numerous people around Carter who offer `help', but never really confront him with the real issues. This is so real too. People know, but don't always address it. Nyrea has done an amazing job conveying the struggle young people face when they are forced to lie to protect their parents.

This is no light hearted read. It is heavy, but honest, and that made it good. There is a lightness in the character Kira, who does see through Carter and his family. She is needed in this book, or it would have been too heavy. She is the balance that often happens in real life too. Kira brings humour to the book, as does Carters best friend Travis (who might get his own story??). To compare it to Nyrea's previous books, it is not as funny, but much more serious. Again she has written marvellous real characters, who pull you into their story. My only real criticism with this book was the ending, it was nearly too `easy', and wrapped up quickly, not like life, and because of this i'm only giving it four stars not five.

Will I read it again? Not sure, but not because it's not good, but it is not a light read.
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May 18, 2013 Mahlyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Carter is in his youth but has so much on his shoulders. First, his mother was an alcoholic but no one knows except him or shall I say he does not let anyone know their situation. His mom always makes promises to not drink again but when depression strikes again, she goes back to drinking. Second, his grandpa who is also an alcoholic and who verbally (and physically) abuse Carter's mom. Third, his friend Travis' coping mechanism on his parents' divorce is also on alcohol.

Until he met Kira who h...more

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Nov 14, 2012 ✿ℎazℯℓ✿ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-favorite-books, favorite-ya-contemporary-ro-adv, teen-issues

This is probably one of the most unique reads of my year.

Reading everything from Carter's view is amazing. Firstly, he's a boy. He has all sorts of different thoughts that girls can't have. He has one hell of a worrying mind, that boy. Between his mom being an alcoholic and the needs of his special sister, he would've exploded with all the things swirling around in his mind if it was possible. There were times wherein I was so angry at his mom for letting Carter shoulder all the trouble when it...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Mel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, contemporary, makes-my-heart-swell, nook, young-adult

Freeing Carter is simply amazing. Carter is admirable. He possess such courage and an undying love for his mom and little sister, Sara. I love the way he is with Sara. No little girl could ask for a better big brother. Carter has the weight of the world on his shoulders and he has to hide it from everyone. His only release is basketball, and even that could be taken away...

He's intrigued by the new girl in town. Kira is unique and says things that leave him baffled. Suddenly he doesn't feel like...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was fortunate to read to Freeing Carter before it released. I thought it was a truly meaningful story of a boy with way too much responsibility on his shoulders, and his road to being "free".

Nyrae Dawn is an excellent "character writer". Her stories always have characters who reel me in with their quiet, emotionally packed narrative. Carter was no exception. As his burden increased, I felt the panic in his "voice". He's a boy who wants to do right by his family, but also needs to learn to do...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Khanique McDaniel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Nyrae Dawn does it again!

This lady has a knack for writing teen drama novels and I love it!

This is a story about Carter, the model teenage boy who is about to start his senior year of high school while he struggles with lost, a disabled sister, an alcoholic mother and school work.

It shows you how alcoholism really is a disease (maybe even genetic), and how it affects not only the drinker, but everyone around them.

This might not be a blow your mind book! But, it is a real good and comfortable rea...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Such a wonderful sorry. It broke my heart to see everything Carter was trying to manage alone. He was such a strong kid. This one made me cry a lot, but was so very good.

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Aug 03, 2012 Amber ♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Nyrae Dawn makes it into my top three favorite authors. I expected a lot from this book because What A Boy Wants/What A Boy Needs were so good and this book didn't let me down! The reason I love Nyrae Dawn books so much is that I love how she writes from the guy perspective, I wish more books were like hers.

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Aug 03, 2012 Kristy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2012, arc, favorites, july2012, young-adult

4.5 Stars!

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Aug 10, 2012 Mandy (I read Indie) Anderson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Carter is hiding things from his friends, a side of him he doesn’t want them to see. He doesn’t want them to see the Carter that takes care of a drunken mom late at night. He wants them to see ‘normal Carter’; the one who has a beautiful girlfriend, the one who loves basketball more than anything. But things are starting to slowly fall apart for him. And all it takes is a free spirited girl named Kira to shake up his world and show him he doesn’t have to hide…that he can be free.

I am not sure I...more Carter is hiding things from his friends, a side of him he doesn’t want them to see. He doesn’t want them to see the Carter that takes care of a drunken mom late at night. He wants them to see ‘normal Carter’; the one who has a beautiful girlfriend, the one who loves basketball more than anything. But things are starting to slowly fall apart for him. And all it takes is a free spirited girl named Kira to shake up his world and show him he doesn’t have to hide…that he can be free.

I am not sure I have ever read a book with a male POV throughout the entire book. I liked it though. Nyrae did an awesome job making Carter sound convincingly enough like a guy should sound…not at all what I am used to with some female authors. Sometime they make the guys sound robotic or nothing at all male. But I fell in love with Carter from the beginning.

What I loved about the book was the author took something like alcoholism and shined a light right in its ugly face. She didn’t sugarcoat it and make it something cute and fun. She showed what a lifetime of it can do to a person, to a family. The pain it brings to a family and the repercussions.

But Nyrae also showed us that all it takes is one person to open your eyes and show you the world doesn’t have to be at all like you make it. It can be beautiful and free of restrictions. And I am not just talking about Kira opening Carter’s eyes…but also the other way around. Kira is trying to find out who she is among the world…and Carter may be just the guy to help her along the way to finding herself.

Freeing Carter is a real quick read that had me hooked from the beginning…when I see how devoted Carter is to his mom. It’s hard not to like him when he is such a good kid. I spent all of my free time reading it, eager to know what would happen between Carter and Kira. And when I finished it I knew I had to read more of Nyrae’s work.

Fave quotes....
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“It’s no longer a game. The second she started this truth, I knew that. We really are baring our souls and if there’s anyone I want to show what’s inside of me, it’s her.”

******************************************************************************
“I like you”. Another one of my truths.
“I like you, too. Truth or Dare?” she asks. And I know this is enough truths for one night. That we both need a break just to be.
“Dare.”
“I dare you to kiss me.”(less)

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Sep 21, 2012 Beatriz rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. This wasn't the first book I read from Nyrae Dawn, yet somehow she has given me such satisfaction from reading a book like it was the first time I had once I read one of her first works.

Carter seemed like a tortured soul in a less morbid way and the way he lies to everyone, especially the way he lies to himself by denial. Kira, more tortured than Carter, needed to find herself. Both were clueless of what they truly are until they found one another. It's not easy dealin...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoy reading books by this author. I have read two other books by Nyrae Dawn. That is what led me to give this one a try. I like the way the author writes from the male POV. It is interesting to see the thoughts of the male characters and how they deal with issues. This book had some tough issues for any teenager to go through. Dealing with an alcoholic parent is no easy task and the author brought it about beautifully. I inner turmoil of Carter was very believable. I liked the pairing...more

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Crazy for Young A...: Freeing Carter by Nyrae Dawn → Start Date: July 6th, 2013	14	12	May 30, 2013 09:25pm
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About Nyrae Dawn

I am a compulsive reader and writer who loves YA fiction.

I love nothing more than writing about young adults. There is something so fresh and fun about it. You can pretty much always find me with a book in my hand or open document in front of me.

I live in Southern California with my husband and two children.

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Quotes from Freeing Carter

“I have to bite my lip not to lean down and kiss her. God, I want to kiss her so bad” — 12 people liked it

“Right now, I could do with a little less "Carter, I need you to" and a little more, "Carter, do what you need to do." Hell, maybe even a little, "Carter, do you need help?” — 11 people liked it

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