A review by allmadhere106
Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn

4.0

A true coming of age story. Cyd is mature in many ways, already having had experience with drugs and sex at a young age. She knows how to manipulate people to get what she wants and she understands most people’s motives. Regardless, she is very selfish and hides behind her childhood memories of her father who remains with his “real” family on the other side of the United States. Cyd doesn’t feel like she fits with her own family and instead entertains the idea that life would be much better with her real father. In an effort to help her, her mother sends her to spend the summer with her father. Here, Cyd learns that she and her father are very alike-—in a bad way-—and through this she begins to take a look at herself. Deals with mature themes such as drugs, abortion, sex, etc. Has a constant humor/sarcastic tone throughout that help the reader enjoy the character even though she makes questionable decisions. There is a sense of growth within the arc of the story, yet still leaves a feeling of incompleteness. Two more books follow this one so the character may continue to grow throughout.