jayoder16's review against another edition
5.0
A glimpse into the heart, body, and mind of a young girl who is changed in a traumatic instant and then left to fend for herself in the midst of the reeling. I particularly noticed the way the author connected the emotional feelings with physical symptoms. Such an important element for youth even when they cannot put words to the pain and grief they are feeling. LaFleur beautifully unfolded the process of healing for a young girl without giving the unrealistic feeling of "happily ever after" at the end, which the book so much better to me.
I think this book could be a great one to read for young adults who have experienced losses similar to Aubrey. Perhaps it can be a gateway into honest dialogue to bring some healing and relief. Recommend!
I think this book could be a great one to read for young adults who have experienced losses similar to Aubrey. Perhaps it can be a gateway into honest dialogue to bring some healing and relief. Recommend!
kiperoo's review against another edition
5.0
Finally got around to reading this book after reading that so many people have loved it, and WOW, were they right. LaFleur put us right there in Aubrey's head, feeling her pain as she grieves the loss of her father and sister, while at the same time trying to get back to living with Gram at her home up in Vermont. All of Aubrey's choices and reactions seem remarkably authentic, from going to the store to get cans of spaghetti-os by herself after her mother abandons her to keeping her new best friend Bridget at a distance until she's ready to share everything. The voice in her letters, first to her sister's imaginary friend, and eventually to her father and sister, and finally to her mom, is raw and real and totally amazing. Can't wait to read more books by LaFleur.
nglofile's review against another edition
1.0
So much wrong. I appreciate the overall theme of what happens when one is "stuck" and how to move beyond, but this was punishing to read. A bit of context: I respond quite well to first person narrative voice, especially when it is a young protagonist. This, however, was not successful. It had no ring of authenticity. It seemed instead to be adult perceptions and agendas superimposed onto a child character, and inelegantly at that.
audiobook note: Becca Battoe wasn't terrible, but neither did she add much to the reading experience. This was by far one of the longest 6-hour books I've ever heard. I would have said it took at least twice that long to finish, and that is never a mark in an audiobook's favor.
audiobook note: Becca Battoe wasn't terrible, but neither did she add much to the reading experience. This was by far one of the longest 6-hour books I've ever heard. I would have said it took at least twice that long to finish, and that is never a mark in an audiobook's favor.
crystal_reading's review against another edition
4.0
Really 4.5* I am not quite sure why I can't quite give it a 5 except maybe that this isn't the type of book I typically read. I try to stay away from tear-jerkers. This one was fantastic though. The author really let us in on the everyday grind of grieving and the hard work that it is. It's a very serious book, but isn't heavy handed. The characters were living and breathing for me.
domi1913's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
fatimamahate's review against another edition
4.0
2010
This book was one of my absolute favourites but weirdly I forgot about until it just randomly came into my head. It definitely is a book I recommend to people. I can't wait to re-read this book as re-reading allows me to notice the parts I might have missed before.
23/02/17
A day after finishing this book once again, reminded me of so much I forgot about this book, the smaller, lovable characters like Marcus and Mabel (Bridget's little sister.) One of the characters I did remember (albeit not her name) the counsellor (Amy) who always had a jar of M and M's. When I first read this book, I felt that she was a little bit annoying, butting her way into Aubrey's life and making her do *extra homework* (I was in Primary School when I first read this) and so I imagined her voice to be annoying as well. Whilst the physique of the counsellor and many other characters remained the same the second time round (even Mabel and Danny as it seemed as if I'd simply need reminding of them but I never remembered who Marcus was and what he looked like so I don't know if what I remember him as is the same as what I imagined he looked like now)- anyway back to the main point- the way Amy spoke in my head was different. She was calmer and to me sounded as if she wanted to be there for Aubrey (like a proper counsellor) rather than annoy her. I felt rather the same with Gram. When I first started reading the book back in 2010 I felt as if she was being there for her granddaughter (although deep down I kind of wanted to know what Aubrey would do had she carried on living on her own) just like a normal grandmother but when she got slightly angry, I felt I was on Aubrey's side and that she shouldn't have gotten angry also when she kept on telling Amy about what was going on in Aubrey's life. But now in 2017 (it still feels weird to say that) I felt that everything she did, she did with good reason and in the end, even she wasn't the annoying Grandmother I envisioned when I was younger.
To me it just shows how much I've grown over the years. How I view the world more realistically and in a more *adult* way. To me it shows that actually, despite me thinking I knew it all because I was at the top of primary school, I'd actually known very little. This book made me realise that maybe one day if or possibly when I re-read this book, I still barely knew anything and that in the future I will read it in some other way. Maybe I've learnt so much i read it in another voice. This book symbolises so much now because I learnt a lot from this book like when i was younger i learnt to try and be aware a little bit more, and now I've learnt how much I've grown over the years.
23/07/2023 -edits above
This book was one of my absolute favourites but weirdly I forgot about until it just randomly came into my head. It definitely is a book I recommend to people. I can't wait to re-read this book as re-reading allows me to notice the parts I might have missed before.
23/02/17
A day after finishing this book once again, reminded me of so much I forgot about this book, the smaller, lovable characters like Marcus and Mabel (Bridget's little sister.) One of the characters I did remember (albeit not her name) the counsellor (Amy) who always had a jar of M and M's. When I first read this book, I felt that she was a little bit annoying, butting her way into Aubrey's life and making her do *extra homework* (I was in Primary School when I first read this) and so I imagined her voice to be annoying as well. Whilst the physique of the counsellor and many other characters remained the same the second time round (even Mabel and Danny as it seemed as if I'd simply need reminding of them but I never remembered who Marcus was and what he looked like so I don't know if what I remember him as is the same as what I imagined he looked like now)- anyway back to the main point- the way Amy spoke in my head was different. She was calmer and to me sounded as if she wanted to be there for Aubrey (like a proper counsellor) rather than annoy her. I felt rather the same with Gram. When I first started reading the book back in 2010 I felt as if she was being there for her granddaughter (although deep down I kind of wanted to know what Aubrey would do had she carried on living on her own) just like a normal grandmother but when she got slightly angry, I felt I was on Aubrey's side and that she shouldn't have gotten angry also when she kept on telling Amy about what was going on in Aubrey's life. But now in 2017 (it still feels weird to say that) I felt that everything she did, she did with good reason and in the end, even she wasn't the annoying Grandmother I envisioned when I was younger.
To me it just shows how much I've grown over the years. How I view the world more realistically and in a more *adult* way. To me it shows that actually, despite me thinking I knew it all because I was at the top of primary school, I'd actually known very little. This book made me realise that maybe one day if or possibly when I re-read this book, I still barely knew anything and that in the future I will read it in some other way. Maybe I've learnt so much i read it in another voice. This book symbolises so much now because I learnt a lot from this book like when i was younger i learnt to try and be aware a little bit more, and now I've learnt how much I've grown over the years.
23/07/2023 -edits above
lorathelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
This is the story of an eleven year old girl who has just lost everything. Her little sister and her father were killed in a car accident and her mother has just disappeared because she is sick with guilt, for she was the one driving the car. Now Aubrey moves from Virginia to Vermont to live with her grandmother.
What follows is Aubrey's journey of healing. She writes letters to her little sister's imaginary friend as her way of coping with the grief of losing her father and sister and the feeling of abandonment from her mother. Aubrey slowly develops a strong relationship with her grandmother, finds a best friend next door, and discovers that talking and writing about her grief actually helps to let it go.
I sat down and read this book in one day. Now, that's not saying a lot because it is a children's book. This is a very sad story, but through Aubrey the reader begins to heal just as she does. I cried a lot because LaFleur does an excellent job of conveying the feelings Aubrey and her grandmother have from losing ones they loved so dearly.
I would recommend this book to children dealing with their own grief. But besides that I think many children could use this book to understand a fraction of what it is like to lose someone close to them.
It was a fast paced story that was very well written. I would say it is one of the best children's book I've read all year and definitely one of the best for 2009 so far.
What follows is Aubrey's journey of healing. She writes letters to her little sister's imaginary friend as her way of coping with the grief of losing her father and sister and the feeling of abandonment from her mother. Aubrey slowly develops a strong relationship with her grandmother, finds a best friend next door, and discovers that talking and writing about her grief actually helps to let it go.
I sat down and read this book in one day. Now, that's not saying a lot because it is a children's book. This is a very sad story, but through Aubrey the reader begins to heal just as she does. I cried a lot because LaFleur does an excellent job of conveying the feelings Aubrey and her grandmother have from losing ones they loved so dearly.
I would recommend this book to children dealing with their own grief. But besides that I think many children could use this book to understand a fraction of what it is like to lose someone close to them.
It was a fast paced story that was very well written. I would say it is one of the best children's book I've read all year and definitely one of the best for 2009 so far.
mallorykjorgensen's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! I stayed up half the night reading, as I couldn't put Aubrey's story down. In this book the main character is 11, but deals with some very real issues. The book begins with her living on her own after her mom abandons her. Aubrey struggles to cope with the loss of her mother, as well as the tragic deaths of her father and sister. In the process, Aubrey learns a lot about herself as she attempts to rebuild her life. Aubrey's story is not for the lighthearted!
babwans's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Car accident, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, and Mental illness
lubleu's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0