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megancrusante's review
2.0
The 2 rating is kind of unfair, because it is very well written and realistic, but the subject matter is so miserable! Not one happy moment in the entire thing- it was like lovely bones but even more depressing. However, it is a fascinating story- it was hard to put down once I started. Just too sad for me.
kricketa's review against another edition
4.0
a great pick for ferndale reads 2012! this is the story of what happens to lydia pasternak, her parents, and their community when her popular older brother, danny, goes missing. lydia was always more studious and less athletic than danny and, although they were close as children, at the time danny disappeared they weren't getting along. lydia tries to make up for her guilt in this by assisting the private detective hired by her parents. although the story is heartbreaking, there are wonderful moments of black humor and gershow's writing in general is beautiful. i really liked what she has to say about community grief, why some people are so drawn to tragedies that don't really involve them.
annakmeyer's review
3.0
Actually wasn't as sad as I was expecting, but that may be because I've just marathoned almost the entire first season of SVU, so perhaps I'm desensitized. And I would have liked it more without that last section - it kind of felt tacked on. I would have preferred it to stay when she was sixteen.
redroofcolleen's review
3.0
What happens when an uncompromising, unattractive, not particularly kind girl with a wicked tongue loses her outwardly brutish dumb jock of a brother? Well, not a whole lot, but the more I think about this, maybe it is appropriate, honest. One's life would be overtaken, the mundane being what gets a person through something so awful. Anyway, it was compelling and I read further, even as Lydia said horrible things about her parents and the very few people, her so called friends, with whom she spends her time. It is fascinating and repellent at the same time, an interesting look at a young woman coming of age just as the world around her has been turned upside down.
sandeestarlite's review
3.0
How one family copes with a missing teen, from the perspective of the sister who didn't like him all that much. Not many likeable characters and a nice story arc.
robinsbooks's review
4.0
This is by a Eugene author and appears to be an interesting story of family dynamics.
Update: I would give this book five stars for discussion group purposes, especially if we could get the auther to join the group, and four stars for the final "readability" and character development. I'll expand on all this later.
Update: I would give this book five stars for discussion group purposes, especially if we could get the auther to join the group, and four stars for the final "readability" and character development. I'll expand on all this later.
nichole_of_numenor's review
4.0
I couldn't put this book down for a number of reasons, but the main one was the narrating character herself. Magnetic, intelligent, and far above the drama (created by others or not) in which she constantly found herself. This was the author's first novel; I can't wait to see what her next work is like.
quietjenn's review
3.0
three and a half, maybe ... i'd expected more, because i've read a lot of hype and it is fairly well-written. and i disagree with those who felt the book last focus with the big reveal. in some ways, it reminded me a lot of "what was lost" although i liked that tons more. the last section of the book (high school reunion) was entirely superflous; overall it could have been edited better. but, i think the protagonists characterization was really strong and the voice entirely fitting. it's certainly an uncomfortable read at times, but the story and characters do having staying power.
farkle's review against another edition
3.0
As if navigating the social strata of high school wasn't already hard enough.