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What Members Thought
I didn't want to read this after I read the words "but when their lives are suddenly turned upside down" and "responsible for the devastating event that wrenches the family apart", but I was quickly drawn into the characters' lives. The writing is so good that even though I didn't want to read about any of this, I left feeling good. I'll be reading all of Knowles's books.
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I loved this book! It's a great coming of age story and a tearjerker too. I teared up numerous times while reading (much to the chagrin of my husband!). Fern has always felt like the invisible child in her family. Her two older siblings cause lots of angst for their parents, and her little brother, Charlie, is the cute one who gets all the attention. Charlie loves Fern best of anyone in the family. This is sweet, but a lot of times Charlie's a real pain. He clings to her with sticky grubby hands
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Twelve-year old Fern, named after Fern from the book Charlotte's Web, often feels like flotsam and jetsam trailing in the wake of older sister Sara (Little Princess), older brother Holden (Catcher in the Rye), and tiny terror and human dynamo Charlie (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). Her parents own a restaurant and the long hours keep them busy and not always present in the moment. In typical teen-angsty fashion, Fern deeply feels the injustice of this and wishes her life could be different.
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Wow! What a terrific kids/YA book. It is wonderfully written by Knowles.
Every page brings a new surprise that you don't see coming.
This book centers around a family that owns a diner. The Dad wants to increase business all the time so he is constantly having his kids Sara (HS Senior), HOlden (Freshman), Fern (7th grader) and Charlie (3 yrs) doing crazy TV commercials, ads, and photo cards, which the kids hate.
The kids take for granted that they have such a loving family and that they actually ha ...more
Every page brings a new surprise that you don't see coming.
This book centers around a family that owns a diner. The Dad wants to increase business all the time so he is constantly having his kids Sara (HS Senior), HOlden (Freshman), Fern (7th grader) and Charlie (3 yrs) doing crazy TV commercials, ads, and photo cards, which the kids hate.
The kids take for granted that they have such a loving family and that they actually ha ...more
Such an interesting book and not what I was expecting.
I know this book got a lot of newbery buzz the year it came out. Although it didn't win anything I know people really liked it. I can see why it got the attention it did. It deals with issues such as coming of age, homosexuality, death, guilt, family.
I feel that all the issues it dealt with were done tastefully but the one thing that keeps me from giving this higher stars is that it drives me crazy when characters don't communicate with other ...more
I know this book got a lot of newbery buzz the year it came out. Although it didn't win anything I know people really liked it. I can see why it got the attention it did. It deals with issues such as coming of age, homosexuality, death, guilt, family.
I feel that all the issues it dealt with were done tastefully but the one thing that keeps me from giving this higher stars is that it drives me crazy when characters don't communicate with other ...more
2012 seems to be the year of the tear-jerker and this one is no exception. While I liked this story, there were times when the story line felt forced.
Give to kids who clamour for sad books.
Give to kids who clamour for sad books.
Good female protagonist. Serious sibling death stuff. Interesting if a bit meh on the family dynamic.
Heart-breaking but hopeful story of family and grief.
Jul 24, 2012
Ariell
marked it as to-read
Mar 16, 2013
Robynn
marked it as to-read
Sep 11, 2013
Anamaria
added it
Apr 14, 2014
Katie Day
marked it as to-read
