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What Members Thought
UNBECOMING by Jenny Downham is a compelling work of realistic fiction focusing on family secrets and three generations of women.
When Katie’s estranged grandmother suddenly moves into her home, the whole family must adjust to not only grandma’s dementia but also to long hidden family secrets. Multiple crises converge as Katie adjusts to a realization about her own sexuality, tries to understand her mother’s bizarre behavior, and wrestles with her younger brother’s special needs.
Downham’s beautifu ...more
When Katie’s estranged grandmother suddenly moves into her home, the whole family must adjust to not only grandma’s dementia but also to long hidden family secrets. Multiple crises converge as Katie adjusts to a realization about her own sexuality, tries to understand her mother’s bizarre behavior, and wrestles with her younger brother’s special needs.
Downham’s beautifu ...more
Touching, sad, and more nuanced than i anticipated.
Three generations of women; a family saga sharing the back story as we currently read about the three as still a work in progress. Many secrets slowly revealed. Compassion builds as you see each persons many sides.
"You can't unknow things. You can't shove information to the back of your mind and not have it hurt you." A British author, also wrote the notable, "Before I Die" ...more
"You can't unknow things. You can't shove information to the back of your mind and not have it hurt you." A British author, also wrote the notable, "Before I Die" ...more
Interesting, and probably a situation that is more common than we think. Teens get older and realize their family has secrets that impact the family relationships that were hidden from them as kids.
Apr 16, 2016
Carrie
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
realistic-fiction,
young-adult
Downham is able to explore the intricacies of female family relationships and different forms of accountability. It's definitely a slower read meant to be lingered over. I enjoyed it, but some of the issues of parental guilt, Alzheimer's, and adult responsibility means this won't be for every teen. It would make a great choice for a mother-daughter bookclub.
...more
Mar 17, 2016
Kate (kateexplainslit)
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ya-contemporary
Mar 30, 2016
Shauna Yusko
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2016
Mar 31, 2016
Abby Moore
marked it as to-read
Jul 15, 2016
Maureen
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audiobooks,
zz2016
Aug 11, 2016
Lauren
marked it as to-read
Sep 05, 2016
Nancy
marked it as to-read
Sep 10, 2016
Sherry
marked it as to-read
Feb 22, 2017
Jennifer
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
library-copy,
life-changes,
bullying,
audiobook,
family,
lgbtq,
purple-chapter,
2017,
ala-yma
4.5
