Only My Mouth Is Smiling

Merle

by Jocelyn Riley

Merle's family is torn apart by her mother's increasingly disintegrating mind and strange actions

Genres: Young Adult

222 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1982

Reviews

[mdt]

I read this book as a kid, except I specifically remember it being titled "The Brass Ring". I had a helluva time trying to find this book based on that title, but finally was able to locate it because a TV movie was made based on the book in 1983, called "The Brass Ring". I think it's odd that I can't find any evidence of the book being released with this alternative title.
I recently checked this book out from a library, and it mostly held up. As a kid I remember enjoying it because I thought the kids were smart-mouthed and witty. I'd forgotten so many of the other important aspects of the book, like that fact that the mom was crazy and that they camped out in the woods for two whole months. The skate party is one of the only scenes that stood out for me years later.
However, I'm positive that the ending of the version I read was different - the ending I remember tied in the brass ring on a merry-go-round.

[Jennifer Bailey]

This was one of my absolute favorite books growing up. I actually watched the TV movie, The Brass Ring, first. I probably checked it out at least 25 times from the library. The teenager in the book, Merle, is dealing with her mother's mental illness and having to take care of her younger brother and sister. It is a wonderful read!