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patke's review against another edition
2.0
Full review on Sniff Books, Not Drugs: http://tinyurl.com/63op6q7
To Sum It Up
A light read that dealt with the theme of forgiveness and acceptance.
Relatable characters and understandable situations.
*THANK YOU GALLEY GRAB! Much love <3
To Sum It Up
A light read that dealt with the theme of forgiveness and acceptance.
Relatable characters and understandable situations.
*THANK YOU GALLEY GRAB! Much love <3
minty's review against another edition
1.0
Far too much exposition and random descriptions, boring narrative--and really, no point. What a convoluted and random plot. Seems someone had intimate knowledge of a court case and wanted to educate kids on it? But why?
chrissymcbooknerd's review against another edition
5.0
**Disclosure: I received this novel as a free e-book from S&S Galley Grab. Although I am highly smitten with free books, all opinions are my own and are uninfluenced by the price I paid for the reading experience.**
Getting right down to business -- starting with the plot. ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE centers around Carly, a preteen with a pretty glamorous life. She goes to a ritzy private school, courtesy of her mom's high-profile job as a fashionista on a well known soap opera. Carly is no stranger to high end clothes or superstar diva celebrities -- so what more could a young girl want out of life, right?
One day Carly overhears a strange conversation between her mother and her mother's boss. Although she doesn't particularly take notice, she hears something about things "going too far" and "needing to stop". Only later when her mother is arrested on charges of embezzlement and conspiracy does Carly realize just how much can suddenly go wrong.
Now, Carly's best friend has abandoned her, refusing to mingle with the daughter of a criminal. And Carly is having a rough time growing up as it is -- so now, growing up without her mom? How will she ever get by?
Only when she really learns the meaning of forgiveness will Carly learn how to truly get on with her life.
I'd never heard of ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE, nor am I familiar with Courtney Sheinmel, but wow, I'm definitely glad I got a chance to read this through Galley Grab! I was drawn in right from the start! The author does a fabulous job with telling her story in a way that feels simplistic but wonderful -- just enough detail to keep things moving but not enough to really bog things down. The narrator's perspective was fresh, innocent, and youthful, which definitely kept things feeling genuine and age appropriate. The plot was interesting, and I definitely found myself invested in the character of Carly, which can be a bit harder to accomplish in a YA novel, I think.
I definitely enjoyed this novel, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet, kind-hearted coming-of-age story.
Getting right down to business -- starting with the plot. ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE centers around Carly, a preteen with a pretty glamorous life. She goes to a ritzy private school, courtesy of her mom's high-profile job as a fashionista on a well known soap opera. Carly is no stranger to high end clothes or superstar diva celebrities -- so what more could a young girl want out of life, right?
One day Carly overhears a strange conversation between her mother and her mother's boss. Although she doesn't particularly take notice, she hears something about things "going too far" and "needing to stop". Only later when her mother is arrested on charges of embezzlement and conspiracy does Carly realize just how much can suddenly go wrong.
Now, Carly's best friend has abandoned her, refusing to mingle with the daughter of a criminal. And Carly is having a rough time growing up as it is -- so now, growing up without her mom? How will she ever get by?
Only when she really learns the meaning of forgiveness will Carly learn how to truly get on with her life.
I'd never heard of ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE, nor am I familiar with Courtney Sheinmel, but wow, I'm definitely glad I got a chance to read this through Galley Grab! I was drawn in right from the start! The author does a fabulous job with telling her story in a way that feels simplistic but wonderful -- just enough detail to keep things moving but not enough to really bog things down. The narrator's perspective was fresh, innocent, and youthful, which definitely kept things feeling genuine and age appropriate. The plot was interesting, and I definitely found myself invested in the character of Carly, which can be a bit harder to accomplish in a YA novel, I think.
I definitely enjoyed this novel, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet, kind-hearted coming-of-age story.
bre_hoeppner's review against another edition
4.0
This book was well written and it is written from a cool perspective.
Carly is a middle school student having a normal life. Being best friends with the popular girl named Annie definitely helps her until her mother gets arrested. Her life has changed since then. Annie has now broken their friendship and her faux pa is now living with his other children.
I didn't like the ending because it was a cliff hanger. Is there gonna be a second book?
Carly is a middle school student having a normal life. Being best friends with the popular girl named Annie definitely helps her until her mother gets arrested. Her life has changed since then. Annie has now broken their friendship and her faux pa is now living with his other children.
I didn't like the ending because it was a cliff hanger. Is there gonna be a second book?
amdame1's review against another edition
3.0
Carly's dad died when she was 6 weeks old. Mom re-married a man that Carly calls Faux Pa (a nice play on words). He has 2 children from a previous marriage that spend quite a bit of time with Carly and her family. All this seeming tranquility is brought to an abrupt halt when mom is arrested for embezzling! Carly struggles to deal with the loss of friendships, resulting trust issues with her mom, and basically trying to re-adjust to a new world view.
The story is well-written but the emotions seem a bit flat.
The story is well-written but the emotions seem a bit flat.
mrskatiefitz's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book I've read by my new favorite author, Courtney Sheinmel. (The first was My So-Called Family.) Each of Sheinmel's books focuses on a particular contemporary issue. In All the Things You Are, which is for a middle grade audience, she explores the ramifications of a mother's criminal activity, and her subsequent arrest.
At the start of the book, Carly and her best friend Annie are on a special visit to the set of a popular soap opera called Lovelock Falls, where Carly's mom works as the cast's stylist. As they visit with different cast members and wander from office to office, the two girls overhear a conversation between Leigh, Carly's mom and her friend and boss, Vivette, that sounds somewhat suspicious. Though Carly tries to ignore it, she is troubled when Vivette is arrested the next day for embezzling money from the show. Carly is sure her mom had no part in the stealing, until the FBI comes for her as well. Then everything starts to fall apart. Everyone at school sees the sordid details of Carly's mom's crime on the news and even Annie won't hang out with Carly anymore. And though Carly loves her mom, she finds it hard to forgive her for lying to her family.
This was such a fast-paced read, and there was truly never a dull moment. The legal details of Leigh's case were so interesting, and the emotions Carly experienced as she realized her mom would have to do some time in jail felt so real to me that I could really put myself in Carly's place and imagine the story from her point of view. I've read one other duo of books having to do with an incarcerated parent (Sunny Holiday and Sweet and Sunny by Coleen Murtagh Paratore), but this one focused on a scenario I've never read in children's literature before.
Like Sheinmel's other books, this one also does a great job of portraying a loving and supportive stepfather. This is a recurring theme in Sheinmel's novels, which I believe must be inspired by a great stepdad in her own life.
Finally, I thought the title really reflected what this book is truly about. Yes, Carly's mother committed a crime, but she is much more than a criminal, and it's because of Carly's ability to see all aspects of her mother that she is ultimately able to forgive. I really enjoyed this one. Recommended especially to middle school girls who like contemporary stories about real-life issues and family dynamics.
At the start of the book, Carly and her best friend Annie are on a special visit to the set of a popular soap opera called Lovelock Falls, where Carly's mom works as the cast's stylist. As they visit with different cast members and wander from office to office, the two girls overhear a conversation between Leigh, Carly's mom and her friend and boss, Vivette, that sounds somewhat suspicious. Though Carly tries to ignore it, she is troubled when Vivette is arrested the next day for embezzling money from the show. Carly is sure her mom had no part in the stealing, until the FBI comes for her as well. Then everything starts to fall apart. Everyone at school sees the sordid details of Carly's mom's crime on the news and even Annie won't hang out with Carly anymore. And though Carly loves her mom, she finds it hard to forgive her for lying to her family.
This was such a fast-paced read, and there was truly never a dull moment. The legal details of Leigh's case were so interesting, and the emotions Carly experienced as she realized her mom would have to do some time in jail felt so real to me that I could really put myself in Carly's place and imagine the story from her point of view. I've read one other duo of books having to do with an incarcerated parent (Sunny Holiday and Sweet and Sunny by Coleen Murtagh Paratore), but this one focused on a scenario I've never read in children's literature before.
Like Sheinmel's other books, this one also does a great job of portraying a loving and supportive stepfather. This is a recurring theme in Sheinmel's novels, which I believe must be inspired by a great stepdad in her own life.
Finally, I thought the title really reflected what this book is truly about. Yes, Carly's mother committed a crime, but she is much more than a criminal, and it's because of Carly's ability to see all aspects of her mother that she is ultimately able to forgive. I really enjoyed this one. Recommended especially to middle school girls who like contemporary stories about real-life issues and family dynamics.
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