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cojack's review
4.0
This story of neglected teen sisters trying to cope with an unstable upbringing is both sobering and sweet. Read my full review at Common Sense Media:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/gem-dixie
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/gem-dixie
scythefranz's review
4.0
Not her best work, for me, having read all of her novels but it was good all the same.
Gem & Dixie has the same emotional tone with Sara Zarr's other novels.
Which I like.
Which always gets me.
No wonder I consider her one of my favourite authors.
Gem & Dixie is about the complex relationship between two sisters from a broken home. It is about Gem, in particular, as she steps up for her family amidst her jealousy for Dixie, her personal problems and her issues with her parents. It shouldn't be like that but Gem has no choice.
It is a well-written novel that shows how strong and mature Gem was and also shows the opposite. Her uncertainty and indecisiveness. Her petty actions and impulsiveness.
More importantly so, I loved how realistic this novel feels from the setup to emotional stress it brings. I think it shows and even captures one of the possibilities of how life goes in a broken home, in a broken family.
Gem & Dixie has the same emotional tone with Sara Zarr's other novels.
Which I like.
Which always gets me.
No wonder I consider her one of my favourite authors.
Gem & Dixie is about the complex relationship between two sisters from a broken home. It is about Gem, in particular, as she steps up for her family amidst her jealousy for Dixie, her personal problems and her issues with her parents. It shouldn't be like that but Gem has no choice.
It is a well-written novel that shows how strong and mature Gem was and also shows the opposite. Her uncertainty and indecisiveness. Her petty actions and impulsiveness.
More importantly so, I loved how realistic this novel feels from the setup to emotional stress it brings. I think it shows and even captures one of the possibilities of how life goes in a broken home, in a broken family.
kielirose's review
4.0
really enjoyed the story. it was interesting to read a young adult novel without a love story.Only a sister bond and no boys allowed.
hall852's review
3.0
Its always been Gem and Dixie against the world.They grew up without their father after he left and with their mom that was always out or working. But when their dad shows out of nowhere it changes everything for the two of they. It makes Gem realize this isn how she wants to live her life anymore and for Dixie it slowly opens her eyes to see that their family isn't as good as she thought it was. So together they runaway and they learn more about each other.
A really good story that really depicts a sister to sister relationship and how family is always going to be there for you in the hardest of times. This isn't a happy book but it just showed how life can be at times and how you can push through it.
A really good story that really depicts a sister to sister relationship and how family is always going to be there for you in the hardest of times. This isn't a happy book but it just showed how life can be at times and how you can push through it.
jennifermreads's review
3.0
Gem has never known the reliability and security of having a parent. Her mother tries: a roof is over their head but food is rarely in the refrigerator. Gem’s sister Dixie has been the one stable part of her life. But now they are growing apart and, when their father returns after a long absence, Gem wonders if she’ll have to let go of the one piece of her life she has held onto the mostly tightly.
“What does it take to be really in danger?” (p. 260). This is a profound statement that should give readers pause. Gem was continually called upon to be the adult in their family dynamic. That is a big burden to put on a teen – much less on someone much younger as Gem was when she first was tasked with caring for her sister. This is a wonderful illustration of showing how blurred the line can be in determining a safe place for children to be raised. Gem & Dixie illustrate a beautiful dynamic between sisters and the struggle for what to do next, for Gem, was real and apparent.
I stumbled a bit when I got to the last chapter. Maybe it should have just been labeled “Epilogue” and it would have been less jarring. The voice changed, the tempo altered. I was glad for the “wrapping up” feel of what was conveyed but it felt out of place and extra.
All in all, this was a good “sister story” but there wasn’t anything that really pushed it out and made it different. I doubt the story will stick with me.
“What does it take to be really in danger?” (p. 260). This is a profound statement that should give readers pause. Gem was continually called upon to be the adult in their family dynamic. That is a big burden to put on a teen – much less on someone much younger as Gem was when she first was tasked with caring for her sister. This is a wonderful illustration of showing how blurred the line can be in determining a safe place for children to be raised. Gem & Dixie illustrate a beautiful dynamic between sisters and the struggle for what to do next, for Gem, was real and apparent.
I stumbled a bit when I got to the last chapter. Maybe it should have just been labeled “Epilogue” and it would have been less jarring. The voice changed, the tempo altered. I was glad for the “wrapping up” feel of what was conveyed but it felt out of place and extra.
All in all, this was a good “sister story” but there wasn’t anything that really pushed it out and made it different. I doubt the story will stick with me.
rennegade's review against another edition
3.0
I would probably put this somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. It went down as the story went on.
I really enjoyed [b:Story of a Girl|33906|Story of a Girl|Sara Zarr|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1436244825s/33906.jpg|2420507] by this author, so I was excited to see another book of hers available to check out on my local library's Overdrive.
The first half of this book is good. Two sisters are struggle with a dad who left years ago and a mother who is a recovering/occasionally backsliding drug user who struggles to put food on the table. Both parents had this grand dream of opening a club and living this exciting life, but addiction and poor decisions ended up with the dad gone and their two teen/pre-teen kids struggling to get by. These two sisters were incredibly close when they were younger but as time goes on the younger sister, Dixie, pulls away from her quiet and shy older sister Gem.
The setup for this book was great. I was fascinated to see what happened to make the sister relationship between Gem and Dixie go the way it had. It was interesting seeing things from Gem's perspective - the awkward older sister watching her popular younger sister outshine her socially in school. Her conversations with the school guidance counselor were intense, and it was so sad to see this poor kid trying to justify and explain her parents' shittiness.
The author lost me in the second half, though. The trip the girls take was odd, and I found the ending to be fairly unsatisfactory. I cannot really put my finger on what bothered me about it, but I just was not nearly as captivated for the second half.
I really enjoyed [b:Story of a Girl|33906|Story of a Girl|Sara Zarr|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1436244825s/33906.jpg|2420507] by this author, so I was excited to see another book of hers available to check out on my local library's Overdrive.
The first half of this book is good. Two sisters are struggle with a dad who left years ago and a mother who is a recovering/occasionally backsliding drug user who struggles to put food on the table. Both parents had this grand dream of opening a club and living this exciting life, but addiction and poor decisions ended up with the dad gone and their two teen/pre-teen kids struggling to get by. These two sisters were incredibly close when they were younger but as time goes on the younger sister, Dixie, pulls away from her quiet and shy older sister Gem.
The setup for this book was great. I was fascinated to see what happened to make the sister relationship between Gem and Dixie go the way it had. It was interesting seeing things from Gem's perspective - the awkward older sister watching her popular younger sister outshine her socially in school. Her conversations with the school guidance counselor were intense, and it was so sad to see this poor kid trying to justify and explain her parents' shittiness.
The author lost me in the second half, though. The trip the girls take was odd, and I found the ending to be fairly unsatisfactory. I cannot really put my finger on what bothered me about it, but I just was not nearly as captivated for the second half.
sierra_color's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a wonderful read!
I have some little complaints about it, like how Dixie’s character would go back and forth between being mad at her parents and Gem, but that was expected. I’ve been through that confusing anger myself.
I’d definitely recommend this book, it was so relatable and it felt so.. refreshing to have a character like Gem, who was done with the bull but didn’t know how to scrape herself out. Plus, I love the message of the book, you aren’t responsible for everybody. It’s a great thing to say, and it’s not something I see a lot in YA. Speaking of YA, this book isn’t a romance book! Woo!
Plus, it isn’t overly philosophical or pessimistic, it’s just real. That’s what really hooked me, the writing isn’t anything too descriptive, but it’s brutally honest. You really see how Gem feels in the book and understand her frustrations and feeling trapped in that type of household. It’s really remarkable to see this sort of life represented, because it isn’t seen a lot in literature (unless it’s a memoir or a romance), but with this book, it’s none of those things! As I said before! I just love how Gem doesn’t need to be saved by anyone but herself. So congrats to the author on that!
But, even though this book is great, I feel like the portrayal of the mom wasn’t so realistic, mostly because I’ve been around people who get drunk and become ballistic, plus I’ve been around high people, and let me tell you, they don’t just pass out.
Other than that though, the book was fine, and a pretty good read. I would read again!
I have some little complaints about it, like how Dixie’s character would go back and forth between being mad at her parents and Gem, but that was expected. I’ve been through that confusing anger myself.
I’d definitely recommend this book, it was so relatable and it felt so.. refreshing to have a character like Gem, who was done with the bull but didn’t know how to scrape herself out. Plus, I love the message of the book, you aren’t responsible for everybody. It’s a great thing to say, and it’s not something I see a lot in YA. Speaking of YA, this book isn’t a romance book! Woo!
Plus, it isn’t overly philosophical or pessimistic, it’s just real. That’s what really hooked me, the writing isn’t anything too descriptive, but it’s brutally honest. You really see how Gem feels in the book and understand her frustrations and feeling trapped in that type of household. It’s really remarkable to see this sort of life represented, because it isn’t seen a lot in literature (unless it’s a memoir or a romance), but with this book, it’s none of those things! As I said before! I just love how Gem doesn’t need to be saved by anyone but herself. So congrats to the author on that!
But, even though this book is great, I feel like the portrayal of the mom wasn’t so realistic, mostly because I’ve been around people who get drunk and become ballistic, plus I’ve been around high people, and let me tell you, they don’t just pass out.
Other than that though, the book was fine, and a pretty good read. I would read again!
hereisenough's review against another edition
4.0
really loved this. gem and dixie is about these title characters, sisters in a dysfunctional family of addict and absent parents. i loved the way the focus was on the sisters... no romance that took the stage, no saving the world... it felt real. i also enjoyed how introspective of a novel it was. i personally enjoyed this, but i know it's not for everyone.
lavaplant's review
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
Audio, by Julia Whelan
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!