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148th out of 348 books
—
446 voters
Grief Girl: My True Story
by
Erin Vincent
Imagine that you're going through one of the hardest parts of your life—being a teenager—when your parents are killed in a horrific car
crash. Now you, your 17-year-old sister, and your three-year-old brother are on your own.
Imagine what that would be like. Then read this book and find out.
crash. Now you, your 17-year-old sister, and your three-year-old brother are on your own.
Imagine what that would be like. Then read this book and find out.
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
March 13th 2007
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
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The book “Grief Girl” was written by Erin Vincent. The purpose in this book was to share with people what has happened throughout her life. The author talks about the tragic life that she has had when she was only fourteen. She tells herself that she can make it through the rough times that she is having. The author takes us through the ups and downs of her life. The book is written in first person.
The theme of this that grief is different from person to person; everyone handles their grief in...more
The theme of this that grief is different from person to person; everyone handles their grief in...more
This story follows a teenager through the loss of her parents in a car crash that left her, her older sister, and their baby brother orphaned in the blink of an eye. (Granted, their mother dies right away and their father goes a month later as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.) Being a teenager is no picnic, but that does not compare to the loss and subsequent turmoil that Erin feels. Now left to deal with growing up alone, Erin faces more immediate and heart-wrenching problems. Sh...more
When I stared reading this book, I thought it was a bit confusing but as it continued I started to understand what the author was trying to say. I liked the way the author wrote her own biography in a way that made you relate to it and think it was a made up characters story. My least favorite character was Tracy because she was just so rude to Erin when they were going through the same thing. Tracy practicably ignored Erin when they were suppose to show the most love for each other and be suppo...more
Painful to read, but I guess that is what makes it good. It really makes clear the confusing and contradictory feelings surrounding deaths that happen quickly, in this case, a car accident. I have been closely effected by two quick deaths, one a suicide and the other a murder, and they really did effect me differently than the slow deaths (cancer) that have touched my life. It is a small part of the whole, but I was glad she added the short section about not being able to relate to the girl whos...more
Grief Girl by Erin Vincent, is a story that is hard to imagine and believe that it is true. Erin Vincent tells the tale of her life long struggle after a shocking tragedy befalls her family. The book is written in the present tense, and is narrated by Erin. She beautifully illustrates her story and quickly brings the reader in. As soon as I opened this book, I was captivated by the story. I am usually not the kind of person who would pick up this kind of book and read it, however I thoroughly en...more
This book is a memoir about Erin Vincent's life, starting from when she was fourteen. The whole book is based around the death of her parents and the aftermath of what happened. Throughout the book, she believes that her parents' deaths were her fault because she wished only a week earlier before their deaths that they would die. After their deaths, her life is torture, as she is stuck with her moody sister who appears to absolutely hate her and with no money at all.
I thought this book was pret...more
I thought this book was pret...more
Dec 01, 2008
Hendo
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommended to Hendo by:
Robyn
Shelves:
young-adult,
non-fiction
This one was okay. I didn't really like the author...I'm not sure why. I just didn't like her voice or tone or something.
I saw this book at my school library and thought it might be a good edition to the book room. Teenagers love drama...extreme drama....and a book about a girl who had lost both her parents seemed perfect.
The book is a true story about a 14 year old Australian girl who loses her parents in a car accident--- and how she and her older sister/brother survive. The book is pretty depressing, but well-written....and reminded me a lot of Go Ask Alice (except the story is true). I think my students would...more
The book is a true story about a 14 year old Australian girl who loses her parents in a car accident--- and how she and her older sister/brother survive. The book is pretty depressing, but well-written....and reminded me a lot of Go Ask Alice (except the story is true). I think my students would...more
Oct 29, 2009
Claudia
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Claudia by:
Jenny, Chase, Andee
Shelves:
sequoyah-2010,
ya-books
In this memoir, Erin Vincent gives us the unvarnished truth of grief. It's messy, it's not linear. It attacks us all differently. Not even sisters, facing the same loss, will respond the same. When she was a young teen, Erin lost her mother, and then a month later, her father. Both victims of an accident. Tracy, her older sister, dealt with the loss by keeping busy, taking charge, being competent. Erin felt pushed aside, useless, undervalued. The girls each were trying to survive that horrible a...more
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
In this heartbreaking yet uplifting memoir, Erin Vincent recounts the tragedy of losing both of her parents in a terrible car accident when she was fourteen. What makes the story so sad, at least for me, was that fact that her father, unlike her mother, was not killed instantly in the crash, but survived for a number of weeks before succumbing to his injuries. For me, this fact made Ms. Vincent's story even more difficult, as it felt like hope had left her fami...more
In this heartbreaking yet uplifting memoir, Erin Vincent recounts the tragedy of losing both of her parents in a terrible car accident when she was fourteen. What makes the story so sad, at least for me, was that fact that her father, unlike her mother, was not killed instantly in the crash, but survived for a number of weeks before succumbing to his injuries. For me, this fact made Ms. Vincent's story even more difficult, as it felt like hope had left her fami...more
I didn't realize this book was a true story until about halfway through when I happened to glance again at the cover. This makes it even more amazing when I say how raw and honest Erin's story is. She tells everything the way she sees it, no matter how strange or personal these thoughts might be. This, in turn, makes her narrative truly unique. I am astonished by the guts she had to tell her story the way she did. Everyone can learn something from this book, no matter where you are in life.
I'm reading this book for a project for school and I need to write a summary about it. I'm half way through and so far I find the book sad, but very real and what life would be like without a mother or father. It is truly realistic and I find that it is one of the best non-fiction stories I've read. That's not saying a lot considering I've only ever read 3 fiction books that weren't required for school. It is a good book and I will continue reading it.
This is not an easy read. Grief Girl is the true story of Erin Vincent, a 14-year-old Australian girl whose parents are hit by a speeding tow truck and die. Her grief, and that of her older sister, is unbearable and they both struggle for years to find themselves, and each other, in the midst of this unbelievable sadness. Erin's sister takes her grief out on Erin and, as a result, Erin struggles with feelings of unworthiness and depression. Erin believes the accident is her fault because in act...more
This was an interesting memoir about how the author deals with the death of her parents when she was a teenager. It's sad to see everything she goes through and the difficulties that occur in her life because of her parent's deaths. I don't feel like this book is particularly exceptional, but it is interesting to see other's experiences. I think that teenagers would probably relate to this more than I was able to.
Ms. Farris recommended this book to me, and it was outstanding. Erin Vincent tells the true story of when both of her parents died within a month of each other. Her sister Tracy, brother Trent, and she are left to fend for themselves. It is beautifully written, and I found myself looking forward to every opportunity I had to read it. I would highly recommend it, especially to students who have lost parents or students who enjoy true stories.
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Jan 14, 2013
2neal_taylor
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
all-time-favorites
This story was just so raw and true. I found myself crying most of the times I sat down to read it. Not exactly the dramatic page turner, but still an amazing story. Erin wasn't scared to put every raw moment she experienced into the novel. Mark playing outside her house was a needed dose of comedy so the book didn't get too depressing. Makes me want to hold my loved ones so much closer. You never know when you can loose them.
It took me a little while to get into this memoir of a young woman's experience losing both her parents. It was overwhelming at times to be so completely immersed in her grief with so little perspective. But what I came to appreciate about this book was how perfectly the author captured the voice of adolescent self going through this experience and all its phases.
Ages 12+ (language)
In the early 80's a freak accident kills Erin's mother and badly injures her father. A month later, with barely time to recover from her mother's sudden death, her father, thought to be recovering, unexpectedly dies from his injuries. She and her 18 year old sister Tracy, along with their 3 year old brother Trent, are left parentless. A fast and engaging read, chronicling the years after her parents death as they struggle with anger and sadness, incompetent relatives, and just...more
In the early 80's a freak accident kills Erin's mother and badly injures her father. A month later, with barely time to recover from her mother's sudden death, her father, thought to be recovering, unexpectedly dies from his injuries. She and her 18 year old sister Tracy, along with their 3 year old brother Trent, are left parentless. A fast and engaging read, chronicling the years after her parents death as they struggle with anger and sadness, incompetent relatives, and just...more
Looking for nonfiction for my students, I picked up this teen memoir of an Australian teen who loses both parents as a result of an auto accident. It's worth reading, but has real problems that go against my being able to give it to my students: offensive language, some reference to sexual topics (not horribly offensive).
The novel's purpose is good: tell the story of a girl who loses both her parents and give insight into the challenges of a teenager who must grow up and deal with all of the co...more
The novel's purpose is good: tell the story of a girl who loses both her parents and give insight into the challenges of a teenager who must grow up and deal with all of the co...more
At times the prose was lucid and lovely: a spot-on portrayal of a teenaged girl in crisis after the death of her parents. In the end, though, I felt troubled by the fact that I didn't have a feel for the book's intended audience.
Full disclosure: Erin is my friend. That said, I read this book quickly. I read it on the train, while walking down the street, on my lunch break.
The fact that she and her siblings were orphaned is hard enough. But what happens from there is just astounding. It made me wonder how adults could be so cruel and unfeeling toward children, especially orphaned children of their friend or family member. It's amazing that any child going through this would rise above it and flourish. But Erin kept going...more
The fact that she and her siblings were orphaned is hard enough. But what happens from there is just astounding. It made me wonder how adults could be so cruel and unfeeling toward children, especially orphaned children of their friend or family member. It's amazing that any child going through this would rise above it and flourish. But Erin kept going...more
This really IS a true story, not one of those fiction books that says it's true but really not. I don't know that it is necessarily an inspiring story, but it is interesting and teens will like it.
It was a very good book. Slightly depressing, but in the end it was very well written. I love how it was written about Erin Vincent's real life. It expresses all her pain and tragedy very well.
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Not a bad read, though I wasn't crazy about the writing style. The author's recount of her childhood after losing both of her parents has its moments, but I just didn't like the author (or at least the way she portrayed herself) very much.
That being said, I recently lost my father in a fairly bizarre accident, and her critique of some of the grieving process and the way you're treated by other people during that process resonated with me.
I gave it 4 stars not because I liked it that much but be...more
That being said, I recently lost my father in a fairly bizarre accident, and her critique of some of the grieving process and the way you're treated by other people during that process resonated with me.
I gave it 4 stars not because I liked it that much but be...more
Another memoir to add to my list. Again enjoyable. Siblings dealing with the loss of both parents within a few months, dealing with the aftermath& moving on.
Grief Girl is about a young girl’s fight against grief due to losing her parents in an accident. I think it doesn’t provide a sure fire way to fighting against such feeling. But, it more of teaches a lesson that everything takes time and it will always be a matter of perspective.
We are how we see things. We are our choices.
We are how we see things. We are our choices.
This memoir started out strong, but quickly lost steam and I felt myself skimming. See IF I STAY for a similar story (but better IMHO).
this book had my crying like a baby every time i picked the friggin thing up!! id never cried over a book before i read this!
Grief Girl was powerful, unsettling, and raw. It is an amazing memoir of grief from the perspective of a teenager. Not always an easy read (it had me near or in tears many times) but a worthwhile one. Erin Vincent is not afraid to delve deep and to touch on thoughts and subjects that are uncomfortable, because they are real. Overall, an incredibly worthwhile, quick read.
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Erin Vincent has worked as a journalist, fashion designer, creative consultant, theater actress, photographer's assistant, waitress on a paddle steamer, bartender, and served pies and mushy peas late at night from a roadside van. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Adam, and a pet crab named Charlie.
More about Erin Vincent...
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