maryam162424's review against another edition
4.0
I really really liked this book because at times I found myself relating to how Gem felt as the older sibling. This was a touching book that showed those small struggles and hardships one can face at home can have a life long impact on an individual. I also loved how Gem wanted to always look out for Dixie but in the end she also saw how she needed to take of herself too. Great read!
sbdabbit's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sc104906's review against another edition
4.0
Gem (the older sister) has always taken care of her younger sister, Dixie. Their parents have been completely checked out since they were young, with their dad abandoning them and their mom becoming a barely functioning alcoholic. Their father decides to blow into town and try to get back together with his happy family, or is he? Either way, he brings a bunch of money with him and Gem and Dixie see it as a possible way out. The two must come to terms with their relationship and with their connection to their parents.
The emotions in this novel felt real and I fell in love with this sister duo.
The emotions in this novel felt real and I fell in love with this sister duo.
melindagallagher's review against another edition
4.0
Gem is a very strong female character but she doesn't know it until the end. This is a sad book, but you it is ultimately a story of hope. I cheered for Gem throughout, but I didn't know whether to like or dislike Dixie. The story of two sisters taking care of each other is bittersweet, and something that happens all too often in society.
dipali17's review against another edition
3.0
This is a moving and poignant portrayal of 2 sisters from a dysfunctional family. You can't help but feel for Gem and Dixie. The ending is rather rushed though, which is why I didn't rate this higher.
alexblackreads's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this because I really do quite like Sara Zarr, but it wasn't the book for me. I feel weird reviewing it even because the main reason was just that I didn't like the story. The characters were well crafted, the setting incredible, Zarr's writing style great as always, but it literally just came down to the story.
The teenage main character finds a bag of money and takes it with her sister, then they proceed to have a variety of adventures. (It's done in a much more realistic way than it sounds, but that's the general gist.) That whole premise just makes me really uncomfortable. There's a whole worry throughout the book that they'll lose the money or get taken advantage of, and that rubbed my anxiety the wrong way. My fault for going into a book without reading literally a single word of description.
I did enjoy quite a few of the other aspects of the story, though. Zarr has a wonderful way of crafting these really quiet, down to earth stories about people who feel real, and the reader just gets to experience their lives. A lot of the book focuses on Gem's home situation and how she's neglected. I really enjoyed Gem as a character.
I don't have too much to say on this one. I think if you like low key contemporaries that sound like this, it might be worthwhile. There's nothing I felt that was poorly done, it just wasn't for me.
The teenage main character finds a bag of money and takes it with her sister, then they proceed to have a variety of adventures. (It's done in a much more realistic way than it sounds, but that's the general gist.) That whole premise just makes me really uncomfortable. There's a whole worry throughout the book that they'll lose the money or get taken advantage of, and that rubbed my anxiety the wrong way. My fault for going into a book without reading literally a single word of description.
I did enjoy quite a few of the other aspects of the story, though. Zarr has a wonderful way of crafting these really quiet, down to earth stories about people who feel real, and the reader just gets to experience their lives. A lot of the book focuses on Gem's home situation and how she's neglected. I really enjoyed Gem as a character.
I don't have too much to say on this one. I think if you like low key contemporaries that sound like this, it might be worthwhile. There's nothing I felt that was poorly done, it just wasn't for me.
emjrasmussen's review against another edition
Quite possibly my favorite Sara Zarr book yet. Gem & Dixie is a beautifully written portrayal of family, sisterhood, poverty, loneliness, and self-discovery. It's bittersweet yet satisfying, with characters who will steal your heart, and I absolutely loved it.
jonezeemcgee's review against another edition
5.0
4.5
“Alicia says dealing with people that were sometimes good to you in the midst of being bad is like digging through piles of dog shit with your bare hands to find a couple of tiny nuggets of gold and no one wants to do that.”
This book was heart wrenching in its reality. It is a story of sisterly love, commitment to family and how it conflicts with your commitment to yourself and your own happiness. Though the writing is simple, behind it there is so much complexity. I think readers who lived in or can empathize with life in these types of households will find something to relate to.
“Alicia says dealing with people that were sometimes good to you in the midst of being bad is like digging through piles of dog shit with your bare hands to find a couple of tiny nuggets of gold and no one wants to do that.”
This book was heart wrenching in its reality. It is a story of sisterly love, commitment to family and how it conflicts with your commitment to yourself and your own happiness. Though the writing is simple, behind it there is so much complexity. I think readers who lived in or can empathize with life in these types of households will find something to relate to.