Tag: trauma

REVIEW: The Lost Things Club by J. S. Puller

REVIEW: The Lost Things Club by J. S. Puller

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free print review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Every summer, Leah travels an hour south to Chicago to stay with her aunt and uncle for three weeks while her mother travels for work. It’s usually a fun trip filled with sights to see for Leah and her younger cousin, TJ. But this summer is going to be different. Leah’s mom has already warned her that TJ is different this year. Ever since the school shooting, TJ has stopped talking.

Leah is stunned by the difference in TJ since she last saw him just a few months ago. But they’ve always been close. She’s convinced she can get through to him, help him when no one else has been able to.

But the surprise of the change in TJ is nothing compared to Leah’s discovery that 8-year-old TJ is sneaking out of the house at night and walking to a laundromat. He’s even talking to a stranger,  a man he sees every night when he sneaks out on his nightly jaunt.

Leah has to wonder what is so special, so important, for TJ to sneak out. And why he seems like his old self there with strangers rather than at home with his family.

Review

This second novel by the author of the incredible Captain Superlative is a lovely story about family and friendship, trauma and triumph. I adored Leah. While she looks for answers to TJ’s silence at home and his engagement at an area laundromat – the eventual home of the Lost Things Club – she’s also trying to find her niche, her identity, what makes her special. I liked how this broadened her story. TJ is still the focus, but this is another layer to the story that most readers will be able to connect to.

I was impressed by how the story dealt with a really serious topic – a school shooting and TJ’s story of what happened that day – in a kid-appropriate way. Every piece – from TJ’s parents’ desperation to Leah’s thoughtful observations and questions to TJ’s need for the Land of Lost Things to be real – felt true and honest while at the same time never feeling like “too much.” Especially for readers who will be in 3rd or 4th grade (or higher).

I imagine some sensitive readers might struggle with the seriousness of the story, but I think that most kids will feel like Leah – an outside observer who loves TJ and wants to understand him. And I think those readers will be caught up in the eventual solution. Don’t miss this one! (TW: grief and loss, references to a school shooting, but no description of the event itself. Mostly focuses on the impact of the event.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Unleaving by Melissa Ostrom

REVIEW: Unleaving by Melissa Ostrom

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Feiwel & Friends in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Maggie’s mother calls it a “sabbatical.” Instead of starting her sophomore year at Carlton College, Maggie is going to live in western New York with her Aunt Wren. In some ways, it’s a welcome change of scenery. Maggie’s memories of Carlton are tainted by what happened – and by the reaction of the community when she accused their favorite football star and his friends. A change of scenery may be just what she needs.

Maggie falls into a routine at her aunt’s – time on the beach, reading, cleaning up around the house, avoiding any reminders of Carlton. That includes avoiding her phone, texts and emails. All too often they were nasty attacks and reminders of all she endured. Then she finds the email from a girl at Carlton. Jane says she’s gone through the same thing Maggie did. She’s looking for an empathetic ear and maybe some advice – things Maggie’s not sure she can offer. But when Jane goes silent, Maggie worries she might be in trouble, and she feels compelled to get involved after all.

Review

This is a very good story. But I didn’t like it. At first I was concerned that the assault flashbacks might be detailed and upsetting. While what is there could be triggering for survivors and some other readers, the author did a good job of giving just enough information to convey what happened and how Maggie is struggling. The story works without a lot of troubling details.

Maggie finds a small community where she lives with her aunt. She’s smack in the middle of the drama of another family. But those folks are also a safe place for Maggie to be herself and not have to hide her story. There’s also some major things going on between Maggie’s mom and her estranged sister, Wren. This layers some additional weight onto the themes of the book.

I was curious about how things were going to come together, so I kept reading where I might not have otherwise. There are several major threads weaving through the book – Maggie’s recovery, her connection with Jane, the things going on with Aunt Wren, and then the family drama with Wren’s neighbors. I wanted to know how things would play out. But there weren’t any characters I especially liked. This is a book full of broken people, just trying to get through the day as best they can. It’s a dark story in some ways – heavy themes, struggling people.

As I said, this is a good story. It’s well written and engaging. But it’s too dark for me. Other readers will be a better fit for this than I was. (Language, Trigger Warning for sexual assault/abuse)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: When We Found Home by Susan Mallery

REVIEW: When We Found Home by Susan Mallery

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Jerry Carlesso was a salesman for his father’s company, Alberto’s Alfresco. As he traveled around the country, he had “a woman in every port” so to speak. Jerry loved the ladies. But when a few of those ladies got pregnant, Jerry was long gone.

Malcolm’s mother sought out Alberto Carlesso when Malcolm was twelve. She was dying and knew Malcolm would need someone to care for him when she was gone. Jerry was completely disinterested, but Alberto welcomed his grandson with open arms.

When Jerry died many years later, Alberto discovered two granddaughters he didn’t know existed. Keira was twelve and living in foster care in LA. Alberto found her and moved her into their enormous Seattle home. Callie, who was closer to Malcolm’s age, was harder to find.

With a felony on her record from a moment of idiocy at eighteen, Callie stayed under the radar. Her record made it hard to find steady work. When Alberto’s lawyer showed up, she was skeptical but hardly in a a position to refuse the offer of a home.

Now these three people, linked by biology but world’s apart, are trying to negotiate what it means to be family. It’s possible that a DNA connection won’t be enough to hold them together.

Review

This was fantastic! I was hooked right from the start watching 34-year-old Malcolm try to figure out how to integrate a pre-teen into his life. I expected him to be the arrogant, aloof, workaholic type. But he was genuinely motivated to care for Keira but entirely clueless about how to do that. Malcolm was my favorite character in the book. But Callie and Keira were close seconds. I loved how Callie, so used to protecting herself and being alone, connected with Keira immediately.

There are two romantic side plots to this – one for Callie and one for Malcolm – which were great. Both of those had things to contribute to the story about family as well. There were two detailed romantic scenes that were unexpected  with the tone and focus of the rest of the story. It almost felt like they were there out of obligation – I have to throw these in so this can be a “romance” – rather than part of the flow of the book. They are a small part of the larger story.

Susan Mallery is a prolific author, but this is the first book of hers I have read. I will absolutely be checking out the rest of the collection to see if there are more stories with characters like these. And if she decides to write more with the stars of this book, I will be first in line for a sequel.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

REVIEW: That’s Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Three years ago on March 15, there was a shooting at Virgil County High School. Nine people were killed. Six students survived their encounter with the shooter.

The story is that Lee’s best friend, Sarah, died proclaiming her faith to the shooter. Lee was with Sarah when she died. And she knows Sarah never talked to him. However that rumor got started, the faith community in Virgil County, and Sarah’s parents are really attached to the story of Sarah’s martyrdom. In fact, Sarah’s parents are writing a book about Sarah. And they plan to include the story about the shooting in the book.

Lee loved Sarah like a sister. She can’t stomach the thought that the thing everyone wants to remember about her best friend is a lie. Sarah should be remembered as she really was.

So Lee asks the other survivors to write up their experiences from the shooting. Not everyone is eager to dig deeper into their memories of that awful day. And one of the six has left town and doesn’t want to be found. But her story is the one people need to hear most of all.

Review

Wow! This was stunningly good. I loved the emphasis on the survivors and the aftermath of the shooting. Most of the active shooter stories I have read have focused on the event itself. The focus here was on how the survivors are dealing with the trauma. I’m fascinated by the research the author must have done. I can’t help but think of the kids who have experienced a real school shooting this year and how they might be coping or struggling.

The hook for me was the martyrdom piece of this. The story started innocently, but the people were so attached to that narrative, they became awfully un-Christian to anyone who questioned it. This whole piece of the story was captivating.

As Lee pursued the whole story from all of the survivors, she also had to wrestle with WHY she needed to know. What was she willing to risk to have the whole story? What were the others willing to risk to share their truth? This would be an amazing book club book – for teens or for adults. SO many great details and characters to discuss. I highly recommend this book!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥