Cynnie takes care of herself—and more importantly, she takes care of her little brother, Bill. So it doesn't matter that her mom is drunk all...
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reviews
Jan 24, 2009
Okay. I made it through the first three chapters (45 pages). The writing is good. Very good. But I found that I really didn't want to go on this journey with the main character. After finishing the first 45 pages and realizing that it was only going to go downhill from there, descend into a 13 year-old girl's addictions that she learns from her alcoholic mother and a never-ending parade of boyfriends---and that she turns to substance abuse to deal with the increasingly intolerable pain and stupi
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Jan 08, 2010
Cindy
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Thirteen-year-old Cynnie can take care of herself, which is a good thing since her mom is usually drunk and often passed out on the couch. Cynnie can take care of her three-year-old brother, Bill, too. Bill has Down Syndrome, and Cynnie knows he loves her because her name is the only word he can say. But when Cynnie's mom, Rita, asks her parents to come and take Bill, life starts to spiral out of control for Cynnie. Even though she has vowed that she would never be like her mother, without Bill
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Mar 31, 2008
Pam
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I'm still not entirely sure I how I feel about this book. It was def a quick read, I read it in almost one sitting, and I enjoyed the subject material. I think it is almost an important book for teens to read. but I hated the writers style. it felt too over simplified. like the author was trying to dumb down the language of a teenager. You can have a narrative sound like a teen without using simple sentences.
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Oct 21, 2011
Ela
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I don't like crying. Hate it, actually. So things that make me cry don't usually make it very high on my 'things that I like' list. But every now and then, something comes up that is so amazing, it's worth the tears. This book... is one of those things.
My mom isn't an alcoholic, and I've always known that somebody loves me. But Cynthia's story of her fall - and the recovery from it - really touched me. There are times when things get out of proportion, and times when you take things fo More...
My mom isn't an alcoholic, and I've always known that somebody loves me. But Cynthia's story of her fall - and the recovery from it - really touched me. There are times when things get out of proportion, and times when you take things fo More...
Mar 28, 2009
Celestasaurus
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Picture a broken, thirteen year-old girl named Cynnie. Picture her three year-old brother with Down syndrome, (now just imagine his only word being her name, “Thynnie”). Picture her mother, passed out on the floor, a bottle of vodka spilled at her side, soaking the carpet. Picture her sister—oh, wait—don’t because after Cynnie gets in trouble, her sister, Kiki, isn’t there for her.
Her brother is her world.
When her grandparents come by one afternoon to pick up her brother, Bill, and leave her More...
Her brother is her world.
When her grandparents come by one afternoon to pick up her brother, Bill, and leave her More...
Nov 30, 2011
Michelle
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"The Year Of My Miraculous Reappearance" is about a girl named Cynnie who has basically taken over the role of the Mother in the family to take care of her brother Bill, since her Mom is an alcoholic & most of the time is too drunk to be doing anything at all. Cynnie would do anything for Bill, & has made a vow to herself that no matter what happens, she would never make as bad decisions as her Mother... which she couldn't manage to keep. Everything just started to spiral in the wron
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Dec 16, 2010
Lindsay
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WARNINGS: About half way through the book and all the way to the end, it was all I could do not to cry.
First let me just say, I never ever expected this book to turn out the way it did. Cynnie is just a girl with a drunk for a mom and she's having to grow up faster than she should. She has to take care of her little brother Bill, too. I definitely connected with Cynnie. My dad is almost exactly like her mom. Even though, I didn't do some of the things Cynnie did, sometimes it was lik More...
First let me just say, I never ever expected this book to turn out the way it did. Cynnie is just a girl with a drunk for a mom and she's having to grow up faster than she should. She has to take care of her little brother Bill, too. I definitely connected with Cynnie. My dad is almost exactly like her mom. Even though, I didn't do some of the things Cynnie did, sometimes it was lik More...
May 13, 2008
Jennifer
rated it:
Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
THE YEAR OF MY MIRACULOUS REAPPEARANCE by Catherine Ryan Hyde (also the author of the well-known PAY IT FORWARD) truly illustrates the life of a young teen and her struggle with an alcoholic parent and the ripple-effect of alcoholism.
Cynnie is used to taking care of herself. Not only herself, but also her little brother, Bill, and let's face it, she takes care of her mother, too. Normal life for C More...
THE YEAR OF MY MIRACULOUS REAPPEARANCE by Catherine Ryan Hyde (also the author of the well-known PAY IT FORWARD) truly illustrates the life of a young teen and her struggle with an alcoholic parent and the ripple-effect of alcoholism.
Cynnie is used to taking care of herself. Not only herself, but also her little brother, Bill, and let's face it, she takes care of her mother, too. Normal life for C More...
Apr 14, 2008
The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
Thirteen year-old tomboy Cynnie lives with her alcoholic mother and her baby brother Bill, who has Down’s Syndrome. Cynnie loves Bill more than life itself and it’s a good thing because her mother is incapable of taking care of either of them, let alone herself. Cynnie’s mother has a parade of boyfriends, each seemingly more despicable than the last. Her older sister won’t help her, so Cynnie sticks it out, for Bill’s sake More...
Thirteen year-old tomboy Cynnie lives with her alcoholic mother and her baby brother Bill, who has Down’s Syndrome. Cynnie loves Bill more than life itself and it’s a good thing because her mother is incapable of taking care of either of them, let alone herself. Cynnie’s mother has a parade of boyfriends, each seemingly more despicable than the last. Her older sister won’t help her, so Cynnie sticks it out, for Bill’s sake More...
Aug 12, 2011
Ruth
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I would think every mother wants to hold this young teen in her arms and tell her everything is going to alright, but it isn't for Cynnie. She is more of a mother to her handicapped younger brother than her drunkard mother. When he is taken away by her grandparents she goes off the deep end until she finds the strength to get her brother back. One of those books you are so glad you read.
Sep 27, 2010
Ann
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Her mom's a drunk, so thirteen year old Cynnie is responsible for her brother. Bill is three and has downs syndrome. When her grandparents take Bill away, Cynnie begins drinking. She never wanted to be like her mom, but when she 'kidnaps' Bill from her grandparents and gets in a car accident because of her drinking, she's faced with the hard truth: she's court ordered to join AA and get sober.
Feb 11, 2010
Trevor
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Miraculous is a story about a young girl climbing out of a hellhole and trying to reclaim her family and identity. Cynthia’s rapid descent into alcoholism is illustrated with telling details, such as her wondering what it was she used to do for fun before she began drinking, the physical pain of alcohol withdrawal, and the juxtaposed feelings of elation some people get with their first drunk. Cynthia’s voice is engaging and honest and sometimes sounds mature, like that of other CofAs who have ha
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Jan 13, 2009
Paige
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I'm mixed about this one. It starts out really harsh, but eventually lightens up. I enjoyed it from an adult perspective, but I don't think I would recommend it to a teen. (thought provoking, though) :)
Jan 22, 2012
Karen
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Saddled with a miserable life 13 year old Cynthia hits rock bottom. Looking for an escape she turns to booze, like her mother did.
Dec 21, 2011
Carol
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Teenage alcoholic. Her realization, her steps towards recovery. Very insightful. OK for a grade 8 or 9 to read.
Jan 10, 2009
Lynlee4
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Overall, this is a good book with a good message. I feel that the writing was a little too simple for the target age group.
Jan 29, 2009
Teresa
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this book is pretty good its kinda sad but it makes you look at people in a different way. it was a very touching book
Dec 05, 2008
Ellen
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Maybe my expectations were too high, because Pay It Forward is one of my favorite books ever and has such an original premise. I felt this book was an average teen problem novel- girl with alcloholic starts drinking heavily...won't add more to avoid spoilers. I felt it was very predicatble. The most redeeming quality was the well-described accurate portrayal of teen depression.
Mar 25, 2008
Jasmine
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The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance by Catherine Ryan Hyde was a wonderful book about a young girls' struggle to deal with her mothers problems with alcohol, and the problems she has with her own alcohol abuse.
In thiws book the girl must overcome her dependence on alcohol and be able to not hold her mothers drinking against her.
This story is a fictional account of the girl as she herself to re-emerge into the world and take control of her life, putting all of the troubles in her l More...
In thiws book the girl must overcome her dependence on alcohol and be able to not hold her mothers drinking against her.
This story is a fictional account of the girl as she herself to re-emerge into the world and take control of her life, putting all of the troubles in her l More...
May 03, 2008
Vanessa
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Couldn't put it down. Offered insight into alcoholism that I didn't have. Cynnie's mom is an alcoholic, so Cynnie takes care of herself at 13--and her three-year-old brother, Bill. When the grandparents take custody of Bill without intervening in Cynnie's dysfunctional life, Cynnie turns to the bottle as well. Her recovery is too miraculous at times, perhaps, but this is a great read.
Dec 21, 2007
Regan
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This is a story about a young girl who lives with her drunk mom and little brother, who has down syndrome. She has to take care of her brother and the house and deal with her mom's various boyfriends. When her grandparents take her brother away, she starts to drink and go down her mother's path. It reminds me of Ellen Foster.
May 16, 2007
Jen
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If you grew up with an addictive parent this is a must read...there's stuff that you can really relate too...as it reads more like narrative non-fiction or memoir IMO. I was thinking I would give it just 3 stars all along but the last two chapters made the book...the prior ones seemed too much like a someone preaching AA.
Jun 04, 2008
Charles
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This is the story of a teenage alcoholic, her slide into darkness and subsequent recovery. I found it spot on with respect to my own experiences and knowledge of this topic, without being moralistic in the least or preaching. Ms. Hyde has done a wonderful job with a very difficult and painful topic!
Mar 08, 2009
Kelly
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This book is almost heartbreaking until you get toward the ending. The struggles Cynnie endures almost make the ending warm and fuzzy...
Aug 13, 2007
Maya
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This is a well-written book - plot, characters, pacing etc. The main character comes through from the very first pages and her rises and falls are believable while still outrageous. A book that I will remember.
Nov 23, 2007
Melody
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Very well-done and believable first person narrative of finding comfort from an alcoholic home in that same bottle, and coming back alive. Sad and sweet and recommended.
Sep 03, 2008
Rachel
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Powerful book dealing with harsh realities. The character is vivid. Note some content may not be suitable for all readers.
Feb 05, 2012
