Lost in the Sun, by Lisa Graff → Start Date: September 3rd, 2015

[Vicki]

Anyone like to join Megan and me reading this book with such a brilliant cover? We'd love to have you!

[Megan]

Thanks for making the thread! I love Lisa Graff's middle grade books so I have high expectations for this one!

[Vicki]

She's new to me. In fact, I didn't even have any of her books on my TBR shelf until now. I just love the inviting cover. LOL

[Vicki]

I can't believe that I just ordered my book last night and it is already here. YIPPEE! I just have a feeling I'm going to love this one.

[Megan]

My copy is still in transit so I'm hoping to have it by Tuesday. It sounds like the kind of book that will tug at your heartstrings while simultaneously bringing a smile to your face.

[Vicki]

Awe, I hope so! Sounds like my kind of book.

[Vicki]

Do you mind if I wait until the 3rd to start this so I can use it for the Fully Loaded Challenge?

[Megan]

I don't mind at all, that actually works better for me since I'm not sure I'll have it by Tuesday.

[Vicki]

Okay, I'm changing the date then. LOL

[Megan]

Yay! I got my copy! Excited to get started on this one in a few days.

[Vicki]

Awesome! I'm glad you got it in time for our BR.

Finished Ch. 5 and so far I think it's really cute.

Trent (view spoiler)[must be beside himself for killing that boy. I'd feel horrible guilt too, even though logically I'd know there was no guilt for what happened since it wasn't planned. But I feel for him! (hide spoiler)]

Fallon (view spoiler)[is a bit bossy but I really like her for some reason. I'm trying to figure out why she'd have SO many lies for her scar. If she were going to lie, why not stick to one? I'm curious. (hide spoiler)]

I'm not sure why Trent (view spoiler)[doesn't want to draw a picture for Fallon. Truth is if she hadn't "saved" him from what could have been a disaster, he might be hurt or worse. I think he could have been a little more grateful. (hide spoiler)]

I really like the camaraderie among (view spoiler)[the brothers. It is so typical of siblings, and while it can be frustrating as a mother, it's something that I miss years later now that they are grown. LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Finished Ch. 10

Wow! I just love how (view spoiler)[Trent's and Fallon's relationship is developing. She is an amazing little girl with good wisdom for her age! She is pretty darn good at finding the errors in movies. I can't do that very well, but I have a daughter that catches those things all the time. (hide spoiler)]

Trent really needs to (view spoiler)[forgive his dad and build a relationship with him, I think. I don't think Trent cares at all about a little baby sister, at least not at this point. (hide spoiler)]

The pranks (view spoiler)[are bad! The one with the hot sauce is one that I'd hate to see what ramifications it caused because that stuff is BAD in quantities like that. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Finished Ch. 15 and my (view spoiler)[heart is broken for Trent. I can't imagine feeling so unwanted and having your own father and stepmother tell you that you can't hold your little sister. I'd act out too. (hide spoiler)]

Jeremiah's father (view spoiler)[sure isn't helping anything. He needs to take a good look at his son!! Jeremiah and his little minions are just awful! I could never understand how anyone could derive any pleasure out of hurting someone's feelings or making a person, especially one with no control over their looks (such as Fallons' scar) feel ugly and bad and like they don't even deserve common decency from others. I cannot STAND personalities like that! I'm glad Fallon is strong against people like him, but I hope that's not just a front she's putting on. (hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

Finished Ch. 5

I 100% agree with your thoughts on Trent. Even though he understands that there's no reason for him to feel so much guilt, all these emotions are bottled up inside him with no way to express them, leading him to 'shoot himself in the foot'. He really is a great character though that I sympathize with so much and really feel for!

Fallon is a very interesting character to me because as a reader with all this outside perception of a situation at hand we can tell she's very troubled by her scar (which she tries to keep hidden by stories) but Trent doesn't perceive it that way, and see's her as a carefree happy girl even if that couldn't be farther from the truth. There's such an interesting dynamic between the two and I'm interested in what lessons Graft writes to build their characters.

[Megan]

Finished Chapter 15

Oh Trent, I knew things would have to get worse for him before they got any better but it's just so hard reading about everything he's going through! Ms. Emerson though is a very interesting character and I love the double message behind Trent watering her plants.

From my experience many realistic fiction books centered around a friendship are geared toward younger readers, while junior high aged kids are just left to fend for themselves and either read above or below their maturity level so it's so refreshing to see such a thought provoking book I would hand to a twelve year old.

I'm curious to see how Graft handles the story of Fallon's scar, right now my bet is that she never reveals the truth to us readers proving the message that there's more to define a person than one moment of their life.

I don't know about you, but reading about Fallon's error catching in movies really made me want to look for the continuity errors she described in Field of Dreams and Sandlot, lol!

Such a great book, hopefully I'll finish later today and update you on my final thoughts!

[Megan]

I finished, absolutely adored it! I think all junior high teachers should make this part of their curriculum, because this is exactly the kind of book I would have loved reading at that age.

[Vicki]

Megan, I am so sorry I didn't notice your posts or I'd have discussed with you!

I felt the same way about the continuity errors! But I'm not very good at catching them.

I'm really glad you enjoyed this book too!