From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought
This poetic novel is a marvelous look at the suffering of a lovely young girl who quickly becomes addicted to meth. After the loss of her mother and grandmother in a hurricane, she seems to be doing well two years later until a boyfriend gives her the drug. The writing here is beautiful and captures her descent powerfully.
How does a nice, popular, pretty cheerleader from a loving family become a homeless meth head? All it takes is the wrong boy and a past hurt that hasn't healed. This is Laurel's story, told with ache and beauty by one of the most talented authors writing today.
I expected more violence and gore, but the story is almost gentle in its tragedy. Laurel slowly but surely slips into this awful life. I just kept thinking, "Oh my God, this is how it happens," because it's always been hard for me to wrap ...more
I expected more violence and gore, but the story is almost gentle in its tragedy. Laurel slowly but surely slips into this awful life. I just kept thinking, "Oh my God, this is how it happens," because it's always been hard for me to wrap ...more
Oh, did this make me cry. Grief is such a powerful thing and Woodson shows how it can change the whole shape of lives. It did seem very much a sketch, but that made sense to me for the conceit of the book - that Laurel is writing an elegy for her dead family members and for the months of her life she's lost, for the relationships she may never be able to fully repair.
...more
Not the kind of book one "likes", but well-written. One hopes teachers and librarians are handing around books like this these days and we don't have any more use for GO ASK ALICE. Except for entertainment/amusement, I mean.
...more
Every parents worst nightmare but such a well written and important read. I couldn't put it down.
...more
I love Jacqueline Woodson's writing, which makes reading any subject matter, no matter how challenging, enjoyable. This story is about a girl whose life takes a tragic turn when her family loses two members to Katrina in 2005, when she is eleven. When we meet her at 15, she has discovered meth, which gives her a welcome escape from her grief.
...more
Jackie Woodson's writing is like butta. I only wish that this would have been longer.
...more
Mar 17, 2012
Barbara A.
marked it as to-read
Apr 15, 2012
Michelle
marked it as to-read
May 20, 2012
Donalyn
marked it as to-read
Aug 19, 2012
Annisha Jeffries
marked it as to-read
Jan 07, 2013
Rachel
marked it as to-read
Nov 21, 2014
Beth Knight
marked it as to-read
