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4.68 AVERAGE
4.68 AVERAGE
What a powerful book. 10 year old Della and her 16 year old sister Suki have not had it easy. Their mother was taken away to a psychiatric hospital when they were still young and their mother’s boyfriend, Clifton, took custody of the girls. Their life isn’t perfect but at least they have food, shelter, and each other.
One night Suki comes home to witness Clifton doing something unspeakable to Della and they flee. The girls spend a few days in emergency housing before they’re placed with Francine, a foster mother who gives the girls a real loving home for the first time.
Della gets in trouble in school for saying snow at school (she uses this word in place of curse words 86 times within the books pages) and a therapist helps her learn to use her words more productively.
A major turning point in the book is when Suki attempts suicide and Della learns about her own sister’s struggles as well as how to stand on her own two feet.
This novel was extremely well done and written at a level appropriate for 10 year olds. Unfortunately, we have readers who experience similar abusive situations and they need to know that they are not alone and where to seek help.
One night Suki comes home to witness Clifton doing something unspeakable to Della and they flee. The girls spend a few days in emergency housing before they’re placed with Francine, a foster mother who gives the girls a real loving home for the first time.
Della gets in trouble in school for saying snow at school (she uses this word in place of curse words 86 times within the books pages) and a therapist helps her learn to use her words more productively.
A major turning point in the book is when Suki attempts suicide and Della learns about her own sister’s struggles as well as how to stand on her own two feet.
This novel was extremely well done and written at a level appropriate for 10 year olds. Unfortunately, we have readers who experience similar abusive situations and they need to know that they are not alone and where to seek help.
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury
Trigger warning: sexual assault of children and suicide attempt
Sobbed through this awful, painful, beautifully written story of two sisters navigating the foster care world after a series of horrific events.
Sobbed through this awful, painful, beautifully written story of two sisters navigating the foster care world after a series of horrific events.
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Bradley is just amazing at telling stories about hard things (really hard) in a way that allows the reader to truly understand characters' behaviors. This book does it again and even though it's written for a middle grade audience with a youngish main character, I believe it belongs in a YA collection as well - partially because it's so well-written, partially because the secondary character is her older teenage sister and partially because it deals with really difficult subject matter even though it does it in a very "clean" manner. In fact, the main character early on says they just use the word "snow" instead of cursing and that approach brings some humor to a very difficult subject. And the audio version was excellent.
This was such a great story and despite it being about so many really horrible things, it was very hopeful. This book tackles a lot of issues of childhood trauma, but does so through the eyes of young Della who has seen a lot in her short 10 years. Della was just a delightful character and I found myself smiling more than not during the narration of this audiobook. I hope this story is found by all the children who need it most, but I think anyone in middle school and up should read it.
The author's notes at the end should be read.
The author's notes at the end should be read.
Wow. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is a warrior for telling this story. A middle grade novel that talks openly and explicitly about childhood sexual abuse? Yes yes yes. This book is incredible. I am absolutely certain that it has, and will continue to, save young people's lives. Children are never too young to learn about consent and to learn that they are NOT ALONE in their experience of childhood sexual abuse. I am so thankful that this book exists and I hope more authors start speaking out about this incredibly important issue.
For the 2/3 of kids that need this book, please buy it for your library. I laughed, I cried, I cringed at the teacher that didn’t take the time to earn her trust. It was a great book about trauma, guilt, pain and resiliency. The narrator read it wonderfully!
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No