What do you think?
Rate this book
Waiting to Forget
South Carolina's Junior Book Award Master List for 2013/2014
Best YA Fiction Titles for 2011 -- Pennsylvania School Library Association
The Best Books of the Year, 2012 edition -- Bank Street College
T.J. has always looked out for his little sister, Angela. When Momma used to go out and leave them home alone, he'd lock the door so they'd be safe, keep Angela entertained, and get out the cereal and milk for her. When Momma's boyfriend got angry at them, he'd try to protect Angela. Later, at their foster homes, T.J. was the only one who knew how to coax his little sister out of her bad moods. The only one who understood why she made origami paper cranes and threw them out the window.
But now T.J. is sitting in the waiting room at the hospital, wondering if Angela, unconscious after a fall, will ever wake up. Wondering, too, if he will ever feel at home with his and Angela's new parents—Marlene, who insists on calling him Timothy, and Dan, who seems to want a different son.
Going back and forth between Now and Then, weaving the uncertain present with the painful past, T.J.'s story unfolds, and with the unfolding comes a new understanding of how to move forward.
Best YA Fiction Titles for 2011 -- Pennsylvania School Library Association
The Best Books of the Year, 2012 edition -- Bank Street College
T.J. has always looked out for his little sister, Angela. When Momma used to go out and leave them home alone, he'd lock the door so they'd be safe, keep Angela entertained, and get out the cereal and milk for her. When Momma's boyfriend got angry at them, he'd try to protect Angela. Later, at their foster homes, T.J. was the only one who knew how to coax his little sister out of her bad moods. The only one who understood why she made origami paper cranes and threw them out the window.
But now T.J. is sitting in the waiting room at the hospital, wondering if Angela, unconscious after a fall, will ever wake up. Wondering, too, if he will ever feel at home with his and Angela's new parents—Marlene, who insists on calling him Timothy, and Dan, who seems to want a different son.
Going back and forth between Now and Then, weaving the uncertain present with the painful past, T.J.'s story unfolds, and with the unfolding comes a new understanding of how to move forward.
172 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2011
3 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Sheila Kelly Welch
20 books37 followersSheila Kelly Welch writes and illustrates for children of all ages. Her story, “The Holding-On Night,” published in Cricket, won the International Reading Association’s Short Story Award. Her most popular books are Little Prince Know-It-All and A Horse for All Seasons. Her middle-grade novel, The Shadowed Unicorn, was short-listed for the Prairie Pasque Award and was likened to Paterson’s Bridge to Terabithia in a Booklist review. Her most recent novel, Waiting to Forget, was on Bank Street College and PA School Library Association Best Books lists. She also has two picture books published by the digital company, MeeGenius.
Sheila and her husband live in Illinois where they raised five sons and two daughters. Four of the children were adopted when they were of school age. Although she has two degrees from Temple University, she has learned more from her children than from any college course.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
January 12, 2012
I was honestly surprised by how much I ended up liking this book especially considering the subject matter. Waiting to Forget is a well written story about two young children who have been neglected by their selfish, sometimes abusive, mother. It is a touching, heart-breaking read. Written in an alternating Then, Now and Between Then and Now format this book hooked me from the beginning. The author shared just enough details to let you know about their struggles without being too graphic or overdone.
Although this book is quite different from my usual reads I was glad I read it. The ultimate message was one more than just survival, it was about second chances and moving beyond the past to a better future.
Recommended to those who enjoy contemporary, realistic fiction that deals with something other than teen romance.
Rating: 4 Stars - Great Book
Content: a couple swear words
Source: Ebook from Author
Although this book is quite different from my usual reads I was glad I read it. The ultimate message was one more than just survival, it was about second chances and moving beyond the past to a better future.
Recommended to those who enjoy contemporary, realistic fiction that deals with something other than teen romance.
Rating: 4 Stars - Great Book
Content: a couple swear words
Source: Ebook from Author
September 13, 2011
Meet T.J., also known as Timothy, also known as Terry Jerry, and “it’s not unusual” for him to be referred to as Tom Jones (cracking myself up this week). But he prefers T.J. (for most of the story) and he’s an eleven-year-old kid with an adult’s problems because there is no adult to handle his problems for him. When we first encounter T.J., he’s sitting in a hospital waiting room, which is an appropriate place for him to be given the title of the book. T.J. is waiting to find out whether or not his little sister Angela is going to die or not.
It’s a good hook, one we’ve seen before and one we’ll see again because some things just work and always will. Even before we know anything about the characters, we are at least somewhat curious about what’s going to happen. Just knowing a little girl might die and her big brother will have to be told about it is inherently suspenseful.
Welch can’t leave it here, of course. She still has to tell us what happened and who this little boy and little girl are to really draw us in, and she does, but it takes some pages and this premise will catch us on page one. Better yet, Welch doesn’t tell us the fate of the little girl until the very end, so to have your natural curiosity satisfied, you’ll have to read the whole book. And as we learn more about these children and come to love them as characters, the question of Angela’s fate becomes all the more compelling and pulls us right through the story. That’s why they call it a hook.
Another thing in Welch’s favor is that the tone of Waiting to Forget allows us to believe in the possibility that Angela could die, and that’s very important. Imagine, if you will, a television special in which one of those stupid care bears is critically injured (I would actually tune in if this ever happened) and the other care bears waited in the hospital to find out if Fuzzy Fluffington (I don’t know what their actual names are) is going to bite it. There’s no real suspense here because we all know by the end of the episode they’re going to gather together and do their deus-ex-machina care-bear stare that makes everything better like they always do and Fuzzy Fluffington will come back to life (please, please let him have acquired an unnatural appetite for the flesh of other care bears).
What I’m getting at is in order for the old will-one-of-the-main-characters-die-by-the-end-of-this-story hook to work, we have to believe the writer is willing to shoot her hostage. For this reason (among others), this hook is not appropriate for every story. But Welch has a crazy look in her eye. She’ll do it, man. The tone of Waiting to Forget is somber and realistic. A lot of very sad things happen before the end and the death of a little girl would, in some ways, be par for the course.
Esteemed Reader, you know I would never tell you whether the little girl dies or not, so let’s move on. Waiting to Forget is broken into two sections called “Now” and “Then.” Now is T.J. in the hospital with his new foster parents, but most of the novel is concerned with Then, which is everything that happened prior to Now. T.J.’s mother is, or was... well, I’ll let T.J. tell you:
Momma wanted to get out. She wanted to go have some fun. T.J. thought he understood. Momma was like the fragile green bug with transparent wings that had wandered into the living room one night. It had circled the lamp next to the couch where he and Angela were supposed to be sleeping. The little bug tried to get closer and closer to the light, which T.J. finally turned off, despite Angela's squeals of protest, just so he wouldn't hear the incessant ping, ping, ping of the bug hitting the bulb. In the morning, the insect was gone. Nightlife--bars and men and music--were like a lamp to Momma, drawing her away from home when night came.
Momma is a frustrating character. What makes a bad parent? Having been contemplating parenthood, this is a question I find myself asking myself often. Mrs. Ninja and I know a couple who allowed their little brat to run around yelling and making a mess during dinner and who only laughed when the punk kicked me in the face. Never have I been so tempted to spank someone else’s kid—he could use it, but Daddy just laughed, and it was his call. Now that’s bad parenting, but all things being relative, I wouldn’t recommend social services take away junior. Dad’s a jerk and he’s raising a little jerk, but this is America, and with so many kids homeless and/or abused, the kid’s better off than many.
Momma is the sort of mixed-up person your heart goes out to, but who you probably wouldn’t want to know. Welch shares enough of Momma’s back-story to make her briefly empathetic, but in the end she and her endless string of no-good boyfriends is the problem. Unfortunately, some of the best people in the word aren’t able to have children and some of the worst of humanity breeds like the inhabitants of Watership Down. This means the popularity of Larry the Cable Guy and Tyler Perry will only increase in future generations (shakes head sadly).
This story isn’t about Momma, or I would have stopped reading it after a few chapters. I have an old friend whose phone calls I dread because she has been on a path to destroy her life for a while and every time I talk to her, she’s a little further along. It isn’t any fun hearing what she’s been up to, I can’t live her life for her, and whatever she tells me, I know it’s not going to be good, because of the way she’s chosen to live. I try to miss her phone calls and I wouldn’t read a book about her. But my old friend doesn’t have children. She makes me sad, but I don’t want to shake her the way I wanted to shake Momma as I read Waiting to Forget.
Thankfully, this story is about T.J. and Angela. T.J. has to become Angela’s parent because otherwise she would have none. As much as I hated Momma, I liked her kids. I wanted to find out what happened to them. T.J. is a character who’s as relatable as he is because of the conflict that surrounds him. His goal is a happy home for he and his sister—what reader wouldn’t relate to that goal? The opposition against him is tremendous. This is a story worth reading and immediately interesting. What greater opposition can an eleven-year-old face than his own mother and her abusive boyfriends?
Waiting to Forget is an exciting read that has some very sad parts, but a few laughs as well, and leaves the reader with a sense of triumph among tragedy. I’m not going to say anything more as I don’t want to spoil the whole book, but pick up a copy. You’ll be glad you did. And when you do, ask yourself “what is the significance of T.J. telling us that his mother is dead,” which sounds like a craft point I probably should have discussed. But I’m not sure how to do it without ruining the novel. So, instead, I’ll leave you with some of my favorite passages from Waiting to Forget:
T.J. watched Momma leave, swinging her hips and her purse as she went down the front walk. Her reddish hair looked alive, almost like flames, licking at her shoulders. He knew she wasn't getting her hair done. She'd met a new man.
By the time T.J. got home from school that day, the dog had made a couple of puddles on the rug that were bigger than the dog.
Then he squints down at the sun picture, wishing it gave off heat like the real sun. The waiting room is chilly, the air clammy and stale, and he thinks he can taste disinfectant on his lips.
T.J. wished he were Spider-Man and could climb out a window and up the side of the building to the roof.
The day felt endless and dreary like the dark spring sky.
It’s a good hook, one we’ve seen before and one we’ll see again because some things just work and always will. Even before we know anything about the characters, we are at least somewhat curious about what’s going to happen. Just knowing a little girl might die and her big brother will have to be told about it is inherently suspenseful.
Welch can’t leave it here, of course. She still has to tell us what happened and who this little boy and little girl are to really draw us in, and she does, but it takes some pages and this premise will catch us on page one. Better yet, Welch doesn’t tell us the fate of the little girl until the very end, so to have your natural curiosity satisfied, you’ll have to read the whole book. And as we learn more about these children and come to love them as characters, the question of Angela’s fate becomes all the more compelling and pulls us right through the story. That’s why they call it a hook.
Another thing in Welch’s favor is that the tone of Waiting to Forget allows us to believe in the possibility that Angela could die, and that’s very important. Imagine, if you will, a television special in which one of those stupid care bears is critically injured (I would actually tune in if this ever happened) and the other care bears waited in the hospital to find out if Fuzzy Fluffington (I don’t know what their actual names are) is going to bite it. There’s no real suspense here because we all know by the end of the episode they’re going to gather together and do their deus-ex-machina care-bear stare that makes everything better like they always do and Fuzzy Fluffington will come back to life (please, please let him have acquired an unnatural appetite for the flesh of other care bears).
What I’m getting at is in order for the old will-one-of-the-main-characters-die-by-the-end-of-this-story hook to work, we have to believe the writer is willing to shoot her hostage. For this reason (among others), this hook is not appropriate for every story. But Welch has a crazy look in her eye. She’ll do it, man. The tone of Waiting to Forget is somber and realistic. A lot of very sad things happen before the end and the death of a little girl would, in some ways, be par for the course.
Esteemed Reader, you know I would never tell you whether the little girl dies or not, so let’s move on. Waiting to Forget is broken into two sections called “Now” and “Then.” Now is T.J. in the hospital with his new foster parents, but most of the novel is concerned with Then, which is everything that happened prior to Now. T.J.’s mother is, or was... well, I’ll let T.J. tell you:
Momma wanted to get out. She wanted to go have some fun. T.J. thought he understood. Momma was like the fragile green bug with transparent wings that had wandered into the living room one night. It had circled the lamp next to the couch where he and Angela were supposed to be sleeping. The little bug tried to get closer and closer to the light, which T.J. finally turned off, despite Angela's squeals of protest, just so he wouldn't hear the incessant ping, ping, ping of the bug hitting the bulb. In the morning, the insect was gone. Nightlife--bars and men and music--were like a lamp to Momma, drawing her away from home when night came.
Momma is a frustrating character. What makes a bad parent? Having been contemplating parenthood, this is a question I find myself asking myself often. Mrs. Ninja and I know a couple who allowed their little brat to run around yelling and making a mess during dinner and who only laughed when the punk kicked me in the face. Never have I been so tempted to spank someone else’s kid—he could use it, but Daddy just laughed, and it was his call. Now that’s bad parenting, but all things being relative, I wouldn’t recommend social services take away junior. Dad’s a jerk and he’s raising a little jerk, but this is America, and with so many kids homeless and/or abused, the kid’s better off than many.
Momma is the sort of mixed-up person your heart goes out to, but who you probably wouldn’t want to know. Welch shares enough of Momma’s back-story to make her briefly empathetic, but in the end she and her endless string of no-good boyfriends is the problem. Unfortunately, some of the best people in the word aren’t able to have children and some of the worst of humanity breeds like the inhabitants of Watership Down. This means the popularity of Larry the Cable Guy and Tyler Perry will only increase in future generations (shakes head sadly).
This story isn’t about Momma, or I would have stopped reading it after a few chapters. I have an old friend whose phone calls I dread because she has been on a path to destroy her life for a while and every time I talk to her, she’s a little further along. It isn’t any fun hearing what she’s been up to, I can’t live her life for her, and whatever she tells me, I know it’s not going to be good, because of the way she’s chosen to live. I try to miss her phone calls and I wouldn’t read a book about her. But my old friend doesn’t have children. She makes me sad, but I don’t want to shake her the way I wanted to shake Momma as I read Waiting to Forget.
Thankfully, this story is about T.J. and Angela. T.J. has to become Angela’s parent because otherwise she would have none. As much as I hated Momma, I liked her kids. I wanted to find out what happened to them. T.J. is a character who’s as relatable as he is because of the conflict that surrounds him. His goal is a happy home for he and his sister—what reader wouldn’t relate to that goal? The opposition against him is tremendous. This is a story worth reading and immediately interesting. What greater opposition can an eleven-year-old face than his own mother and her abusive boyfriends?
Waiting to Forget is an exciting read that has some very sad parts, but a few laughs as well, and leaves the reader with a sense of triumph among tragedy. I’m not going to say anything more as I don’t want to spoil the whole book, but pick up a copy. You’ll be glad you did. And when you do, ask yourself “what is the significance of T.J. telling us that his mother is dead,” which sounds like a craft point I probably should have discussed. But I’m not sure how to do it without ruining the novel. So, instead, I’ll leave you with some of my favorite passages from Waiting to Forget:
T.J. watched Momma leave, swinging her hips and her purse as she went down the front walk. Her reddish hair looked alive, almost like flames, licking at her shoulders. He knew she wasn't getting her hair done. She'd met a new man.
By the time T.J. got home from school that day, the dog had made a couple of puddles on the rug that were bigger than the dog.
Then he squints down at the sun picture, wishing it gave off heat like the real sun. The waiting room is chilly, the air clammy and stale, and he thinks he can taste disinfectant on his lips.
T.J. wished he were Spider-Man and could climb out a window and up the side of the building to the roof.
The day felt endless and dreary like the dark spring sky.
November 1, 2014
I read this book as part of a package with Hatchet for our reading club. Both are survival stories, yet very, very different. This one is far the more literary and realistic.
As the parent of six adopted children, this book often made me feel like I was looking in a mirror or reliving the past through the eyes of my kids. The frustrating social workers and counselors who just don't get it, the perspective from the children who are sure that "we " don't get it and the impact bad choices of both adoptive and birth parents make on the kids who are caught in the middle.
The story begins in the waiting room of a hospital where Angela, T.J.'s sister, has been taken, unconscious, and presumably suffering from a serious concussion; we're not sure why. The scenes shift between "now", "then", and "in-between" as T.J. looks through his lifebook (a scrapbook of memories prospective adoptive children are urged to create before adoption) and the pictures conjure up memories: his birth mother's problems with responsibility and life, some happy times, many difficult periods, and the protective relationship that T.J. develops for his younger sister. We see everything through the filter of T.J.'s memory: his conflicts within himself, torn between the love for his birth-mother and his loyalty to her and his protectiveness toward his little sister whose difficulty in coping we also view through T.J.'s eyes. Each child develops his own coping mechanisms, Angela's being origami paper cranes that she symbolically links to her desire for a parakeet, but an uncaged one, and that the paper cranes can never die. There are some very vivid and intense scenes that portray the fear and anxiety children must feel.
Among the many very positive reviews are a few who were disappointed by the book's realism. I find that interesting. If anything, the book isn't realistic enough. I guess we all like happy endings; yet we argue, especially in fiction aimed at teens, that what they read should be less gritty, less dark, and, in other words, less real. As someone once noted, we forbid our children to read about the lives they live.
One might argue I'm biased, especially since I sleep with the author. Well perhaps I am a bit too close to the story, but as I have noted elsewhere, my general policy with regard to books I don't like or which I don't feel are worth reading is not to review them. This book is definitely worth reading.
Considered one of the 2012 Best Books of the Year for ages 9-12 by the Bank Street College of Education. http://www.bnkst.edu/cbc/best-books-y...
As the parent of six adopted children, this book often made me feel like I was looking in a mirror or reliving the past through the eyes of my kids. The frustrating social workers and counselors who just don't get it, the perspective from the children who are sure that "we " don't get it and the impact bad choices of both adoptive and birth parents make on the kids who are caught in the middle.
The story begins in the waiting room of a hospital where Angela, T.J.'s sister, has been taken, unconscious, and presumably suffering from a serious concussion; we're not sure why. The scenes shift between "now", "then", and "in-between" as T.J. looks through his lifebook (a scrapbook of memories prospective adoptive children are urged to create before adoption) and the pictures conjure up memories: his birth mother's problems with responsibility and life, some happy times, many difficult periods, and the protective relationship that T.J. develops for his younger sister. We see everything through the filter of T.J.'s memory: his conflicts within himself, torn between the love for his birth-mother and his loyalty to her and his protectiveness toward his little sister whose difficulty in coping we also view through T.J.'s eyes. Each child develops his own coping mechanisms, Angela's being origami paper cranes that she symbolically links to her desire for a parakeet, but an uncaged one, and that the paper cranes can never die. There are some very vivid and intense scenes that portray the fear and anxiety children must feel.
Among the many very positive reviews are a few who were disappointed by the book's realism. I find that interesting. If anything, the book isn't realistic enough. I guess we all like happy endings; yet we argue, especially in fiction aimed at teens, that what they read should be less gritty, less dark, and, in other words, less real. As someone once noted, we forbid our children to read about the lives they live.
One might argue I'm biased, especially since I sleep with the author. Well perhaps I am a bit too close to the story, but as I have noted elsewhere, my general policy with regard to books I don't like or which I don't feel are worth reading is not to review them. This book is definitely worth reading.
Considered one of the 2012 Best Books of the Year for ages 9-12 by the Bank Street College of Education. http://www.bnkst.edu/cbc/best-books-y...
November 3, 2011
I had a feeling about this book just by looking at that cover. It's simply gorgeous, memorable, powerful, intriguing. I know, the cover isn't always a good way to pick a book, but chances are, when the cover gives you that special vibe, it means the book has something very special to give as well. It's this unwritten universal law of book vibes, don't give me that look!
As the blurb tells you, this is a story told from a kid's point of view; segmented in Now, Then, and Between now and then, it's a recall of his and his sister's life up to the point of present events. I'm not generally a fan of this sort of divided story telling, segmented by time frames or reality/dream/memory, but in this particular case, I feel it was a stroke of genius. The kid's point of view is presented fabulously, with all the emotion and understanding a kid of that age would have, a smart, sensible kid. A very young adult, in fact; the way he takes his role as Angela's big brother and his beautiful attempts to keep her safe throughout the book are incredibly touching, I mean I was teary-eyed a lot while reading this beautiful work.
True, on an emotional level, it may prove to be slightly overwhelming. I was overwhelmed with the desire to choke Celia, a lot. It is incomprehensible to me how monstrous a person one should be, in order to leave their kids for some bozo or the lazy pleasure of shopping on someone else's budget, and before that submit your kids, that you chose to have, to horrible treatments so you can get your shopping on and get your jollies. I find that despicable beyond a human measure of description, it's beyond revolting. Of course, we could go into that whole discussion of, yeah, but I need to have a life too, and I wanna have it easy, and laze around and have someone else do all the work while I just take credit for being me, and the circumstances that were so difficult, bla bla bla. There is no excuse, no matter how many reasons you'd excavate for. Celia is the poster girl for almost everything I despise; as you can clearly see, kids-related topics have a special place in my heart. So it was very hard for me, on many levels, to go through all of Celia's nonsense and despicable behavior and general ineptitude, and no, I'm not going to cut her some slack on any account. She abandons her kids without any support (except some food in the fridge, yeah, wow Celia, how thoughtful of you, you really went out of your way to take care of your kids...) to go to Vegas with a moronic, aggressive little creep of a criminal, for God's sakes. Being a part of the human beings club shouldn't be a given, it should be a merit, you should earn such a title. I'm thinking Celia would definitely flunk that class. Sorry, I got carried away. Can't help it. Anyways...
The story is beautiful, and I felt very happy that though it could have gone terribly, terribly wrong, on all kinds of levels, it has a happy ending. Well, as happy as it could be, given the circumstances. I loved T.J. and Angela unbearably much, and I went all maternal instinct on them from the very first pages. The characters in this book are so well built, I feel odd to talk about them as anything else but kids, real kids, kids I know and care about.
The writing is incredibly good, and the ability the author has to glide through very strong emotions and tense, horrible situations is superb. The whole book is superb, I cannot speak highly enough about it.
This is one of the best books I've read this year, really high up there on that list, and I highly recommend this to anyone that likes solid substance to go with all the rest of the entertainment.
As the blurb tells you, this is a story told from a kid's point of view; segmented in Now, Then, and Between now and then, it's a recall of his and his sister's life up to the point of present events. I'm not generally a fan of this sort of divided story telling, segmented by time frames or reality/dream/memory, but in this particular case, I feel it was a stroke of genius. The kid's point of view is presented fabulously, with all the emotion and understanding a kid of that age would have, a smart, sensible kid. A very young adult, in fact; the way he takes his role as Angela's big brother and his beautiful attempts to keep her safe throughout the book are incredibly touching, I mean I was teary-eyed a lot while reading this beautiful work.
True, on an emotional level, it may prove to be slightly overwhelming. I was overwhelmed with the desire to choke Celia, a lot. It is incomprehensible to me how monstrous a person one should be, in order to leave their kids for some bozo or the lazy pleasure of shopping on someone else's budget, and before that submit your kids, that you chose to have, to horrible treatments so you can get your shopping on and get your jollies. I find that despicable beyond a human measure of description, it's beyond revolting. Of course, we could go into that whole discussion of, yeah, but I need to have a life too, and I wanna have it easy, and laze around and have someone else do all the work while I just take credit for being me, and the circumstances that were so difficult, bla bla bla. There is no excuse, no matter how many reasons you'd excavate for. Celia is the poster girl for almost everything I despise; as you can clearly see, kids-related topics have a special place in my heart. So it was very hard for me, on many levels, to go through all of Celia's nonsense and despicable behavior and general ineptitude, and no, I'm not going to cut her some slack on any account. She abandons her kids without any support (except some food in the fridge, yeah, wow Celia, how thoughtful of you, you really went out of your way to take care of your kids...) to go to Vegas with a moronic, aggressive little creep of a criminal, for God's sakes. Being a part of the human beings club shouldn't be a given, it should be a merit, you should earn such a title. I'm thinking Celia would definitely flunk that class. Sorry, I got carried away. Can't help it. Anyways...
The story is beautiful, and I felt very happy that though it could have gone terribly, terribly wrong, on all kinds of levels, it has a happy ending. Well, as happy as it could be, given the circumstances. I loved T.J. and Angela unbearably much, and I went all maternal instinct on them from the very first pages. The characters in this book are so well built, I feel odd to talk about them as anything else but kids, real kids, kids I know and care about.
The writing is incredibly good, and the ability the author has to glide through very strong emotions and tense, horrible situations is superb. The whole book is superb, I cannot speak highly enough about it.
This is one of the best books I've read this year, really high up there on that list, and I highly recommend this to anyone that likes solid substance to go with all the rest of the entertainment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2011
Waiting to Forget is a powerful novel. I found myself twisted in knots as I read it...had to put it down...then had to pick it up again. The emotion conveyed in the writing is so real it hurts. I found myself reaching for those children on more than one occasion.
The story is told in a series of time periods, then, now, and between then and now. We are with T.J., the older brother of the siblings who are the focus of the story, in the hospital. He is waiting for word of his sister, Angela, who has fallen from the stairs.
As he waits alone, T.J. remembers their life. As T.J. states, "..it's impossible to choose which things to forget and which things to remember." And so he walks us through a childhood fraught with worry and change and a mother who cared more about herself than her children. You can feel T.J.'s feelings of isolation in sadly beautiful lines like this. "But Momma's bright eyes swept right over him as if she had been talking to the air, not to him or his sister."
There is a tension throughout the book as we wait along with T.J. I found that tension believable. The push pull of hope and tragedy kept me reading, and it ended in a way that felt right.
The story is told in a series of time periods, then, now, and between then and now. We are with T.J., the older brother of the siblings who are the focus of the story, in the hospital. He is waiting for word of his sister, Angela, who has fallen from the stairs.
As he waits alone, T.J. remembers their life. As T.J. states, "..it's impossible to choose which things to forget and which things to remember." And so he walks us through a childhood fraught with worry and change and a mother who cared more about herself than her children. You can feel T.J.'s feelings of isolation in sadly beautiful lines like this. "But Momma's bright eyes swept right over him as if she had been talking to the air, not to him or his sister."
There is a tension throughout the book as we wait along with T.J. I found that tension believable. The push pull of hope and tragedy kept me reading, and it ended in a way that felt right.
October 8, 2014
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a month long online discussion of the book. I had no prior knowledge of or association with the author.
I recently finished reading "Waiting to Forget". I love how the children were finally going to be OK by the end of the book. I wanted to read it straight through, but life interrupted and I had to put it down from time to time. Throughout the entire book, my heart ached for TJ and Angela. More so for TJ as he was the one waiting alone for news of his sister while he was re-living his life up to that point. Billy was truly a monster. I was so relieved when he moved out. As a mother myself, I could not fathom choosing any man over my children. Choosing a man like Billy who was so incredibly awful to the children and Celia shows how badly Celia needed professional psychological help.
The book was very well written and the characters were fully developed. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read "Waiting to Forget". Thank you Shiela for the book and for a job well done. I'll give it 5 stars.
I recently finished reading "Waiting to Forget". I love how the children were finally going to be OK by the end of the book. I wanted to read it straight through, but life interrupted and I had to put it down from time to time. Throughout the entire book, my heart ached for TJ and Angela. More so for TJ as he was the one waiting alone for news of his sister while he was re-living his life up to that point. Billy was truly a monster. I was so relieved when he moved out. As a mother myself, I could not fathom choosing any man over my children. Choosing a man like Billy who was so incredibly awful to the children and Celia shows how badly Celia needed professional psychological help.
The book was very well written and the characters were fully developed. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read "Waiting to Forget". Thank you Shiela for the book and for a job well done. I'll give it 5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2012
The story is told from T.J.'s POV, a twelve year old boy. I have to say this is one of the saddest, yet beautiful stories I've ever read. It opens up with T.J sitting in the hospital's waiting room, anxious to know his sister's condition. The story tells about the kind of life T.j and his sister have lived, moving from one foster home to another. One minute their life's going so well, you can feel the joy spreading through T.J through his thoughts, and the next, that life is yanked from under his feet, and him and sister are spiralling to direction.
The really enjoyed Ms. Welch unsual writing style. The chapters begin with the words "then, between, now". Ms. Welch tells the story about T.J.'s past life, flits back to the present and in between, all the while maintaining the suspense on what really happened to T.J's little sister, Angela. I cannot really express how much I loved this book. One has to really read it and find the gems within, experience the emotional rollercoaster.
I highly recommend this book. I really look forward to reading more work from the author.
May 25, 2016
As T.J. sits in the hospital waiting room, anxious for news about his sister Angela, who has suffered a fall, he reflects on their life. "Now" they are adjusting to being recently adopted and fitting in with their new parents, but "then," they lived with their mother and her series of boyfriends, with T.J. acting much more like an adult than his mother as he tried to keep himself and his sister safe. As he reflects on his life and worries about his sister, T.J. comes to realize what he wants from life.
This is a touching, thought-provoking story. Told alternately between "now" and "then," it takes readers through the children's lives, as they craved their mother's love and attention but could never quite rely on her, and their struggles to fit into a new family. While it deals with difficult topics, such as abandonment and neglect, it does so in a gentle, caring way that invites readers to join T.J. on his emotional journey without being overwhelmed.
This is a touching, thought-provoking story. Told alternately between "now" and "then," it takes readers through the children's lives, as they craved their mother's love and attention but could never quite rely on her, and their struggles to fit into a new family. While it deals with difficult topics, such as abandonment and neglect, it does so in a gentle, caring way that invites readers to join T.J. on his emotional journey without being overwhelmed.
September 7, 2011
I loved this book. The situation is heart-wrenching, of a young boy who has had so little stability and love in his life that he’s never learned how to let down his guard and trust someone. Now his little sister’s life is in danger, and his loneliness, fear, and guilt (was he partly responsible?) are finely portrayed.
Alternating between past and present (chapters are simply titled Now and Then), the narrative clues us in on TJ and Angela’s abandonment by their unstable mother and their upbringing in a series of foster homes, while keeping us in suspense as to what exactly has put Angela in the hospital.
The writing is quiet and restrained, which makes it all the more powerful. We keep hoping that TJ will open his heart even just a little to his new adoptive parents. I won’t spoil the ending, but I found it moving and emotionally true.
Alternating between past and present (chapters are simply titled Now and Then), the narrative clues us in on TJ and Angela’s abandonment by their unstable mother and their upbringing in a series of foster homes, while keeping us in suspense as to what exactly has put Angela in the hospital.
The writing is quiet and restrained, which makes it all the more powerful. We keep hoping that TJ will open his heart even just a little to his new adoptive parents. I won’t spoil the ending, but I found it moving and emotionally true.
October 27, 2011
Story Description:
T.J. has always looked out for his little sister, Angela. When Momma used to go out and leave them home alone, he'd lock the door so they'd be safe, keep Angela entertained, and get out the cereal and milk for her. When Momma's boyfriend got angry at them, he'd try to protect Angela. Later, at their foster homes, T.J. was the only one who knew how to coax his little sister out of her bad moods. The only one who understood why she made origami paper cranes and threw them out the window. But now T.J. is sitting in the waiting room at the hospital, wondering if Angela, unconscious after a fall, will ever wake up. Wondering, too, if he will ever feel at home with his and Angela's new parents--Marlene, who insists on calling him Timothy, and Dan, who seems to want a different son. Going back and forth between Now and Then, weaving the uncertain present with the painful past, T.J.'s story unfolds, and with the unfolding comes a new understanding of how to move forward.
My Review:
T.J. is sitting in the hospital emergency room waiting. His little sister Angela had already been brought in by ambulance ahead of them. Marlene and Dan were in with her now, but he was told to wait and that’s just what he’s doing.
Angela had fallen twelve feet. Marlene and Dan Westel had become T.J. and Angela’s ‘adoptive parents’ a year ago. T.J. was 12 and Angela was 8.
When T.J. was quite young, his mother Celia left him and Angela with her friend Tanya, he had just begun kindergarten and little Angela was still stumbling around in smelly diapers. Celia told Tanya that she was just going to get her hair done but T.J. knew that was a lie. He’d heard his Mom on the phone talking to a man making arrangements to meet at a bar. However, Celia did not return to pick up T.J. and Angela that night or the next morning. Tanya was angry as she had a job interview that morning and didn’t know what she was going to do with Celia’s kids.
Tanya decides to leave 5-year-old T.J. alone to look after baby Angela and leaves the apartment. He tried to get Angela cereal but she spilled it and began to cry. She pooped in her diaper so T.J. took if off to try and clean it in the bathroom as there were no more clean ones left. While he was doing that, Angela sat down with her bare bottom on the scratchy living room carpet and began crying louder because it hurt her diaper rash so badly. Then she began banging her feet and fists on the floor which was interrupted by a banging on the apartment door. T.J. was sure it would be his Mom so he opened the door to find a neighbour standing there: “Are you kids all alone here?” The older woman came in, used the phone, then collected up Angela and gave her a bath. Next thing T.J. knows is that two police officers are in the apartment just as Tanya returns home. Tanya tells police that Celia often left the kids alone. T.J. and Angela are put into the police car and driven to a “blue house” where they lived about a year. Thus begins their life of foster home jumping.
As T.J. sits and waits in the waiting room of the emergency department he looks through his “life book” and reminisces about his and Angela’s lives so far. T.J. had a lot of responsibility for a little boy while living with his mother, always feeling responsible for his sister and worrying about his mother. The constant worry ate him alive.
I was so enamoured with little T.J. He was yet a little boy in many ways yet a strong, independent young man at other times. I loved this book for its endearing qualities, good writing and good characterizations. I would highly recommend it to anyone!
T.J. has always looked out for his little sister, Angela. When Momma used to go out and leave them home alone, he'd lock the door so they'd be safe, keep Angela entertained, and get out the cereal and milk for her. When Momma's boyfriend got angry at them, he'd try to protect Angela. Later, at their foster homes, T.J. was the only one who knew how to coax his little sister out of her bad moods. The only one who understood why she made origami paper cranes and threw them out the window. But now T.J. is sitting in the waiting room at the hospital, wondering if Angela, unconscious after a fall, will ever wake up. Wondering, too, if he will ever feel at home with his and Angela's new parents--Marlene, who insists on calling him Timothy, and Dan, who seems to want a different son. Going back and forth between Now and Then, weaving the uncertain present with the painful past, T.J.'s story unfolds, and with the unfolding comes a new understanding of how to move forward.
My Review:
T.J. is sitting in the hospital emergency room waiting. His little sister Angela had already been brought in by ambulance ahead of them. Marlene and Dan were in with her now, but he was told to wait and that’s just what he’s doing.
Angela had fallen twelve feet. Marlene and Dan Westel had become T.J. and Angela’s ‘adoptive parents’ a year ago. T.J. was 12 and Angela was 8.
When T.J. was quite young, his mother Celia left him and Angela with her friend Tanya, he had just begun kindergarten and little Angela was still stumbling around in smelly diapers. Celia told Tanya that she was just going to get her hair done but T.J. knew that was a lie. He’d heard his Mom on the phone talking to a man making arrangements to meet at a bar. However, Celia did not return to pick up T.J. and Angela that night or the next morning. Tanya was angry as she had a job interview that morning and didn’t know what she was going to do with Celia’s kids.
Tanya decides to leave 5-year-old T.J. alone to look after baby Angela and leaves the apartment. He tried to get Angela cereal but she spilled it and began to cry. She pooped in her diaper so T.J. took if off to try and clean it in the bathroom as there were no more clean ones left. While he was doing that, Angela sat down with her bare bottom on the scratchy living room carpet and began crying louder because it hurt her diaper rash so badly. Then she began banging her feet and fists on the floor which was interrupted by a banging on the apartment door. T.J. was sure it would be his Mom so he opened the door to find a neighbour standing there: “Are you kids all alone here?” The older woman came in, used the phone, then collected up Angela and gave her a bath. Next thing T.J. knows is that two police officers are in the apartment just as Tanya returns home. Tanya tells police that Celia often left the kids alone. T.J. and Angela are put into the police car and driven to a “blue house” where they lived about a year. Thus begins their life of foster home jumping.
As T.J. sits and waits in the waiting room of the emergency department he looks through his “life book” and reminisces about his and Angela’s lives so far. T.J. had a lot of responsibility for a little boy while living with his mother, always feeling responsible for his sister and worrying about his mother. The constant worry ate him alive.
I was so enamoured with little T.J. He was yet a little boy in many ways yet a strong, independent young man at other times. I loved this book for its endearing qualities, good writing and good characterizations. I would highly recommend it to anyone!
Read
November 1, 2011 Ms. Welch spins an intriguing story in Waiting to Forget. It is like a train wreck reading about these children and all they went through, but I know that I for one could not look away. TJ and Angela evoke sympathy, and I couldn't help but be invested in their stories.
Sometimes the jumps in narrative from one time in the story to another can be jarring and confusing, but it was done very well in Waiting to Forget. The use of TJ's life book-pictures and drawings to help him remember his life before adoption assist in bringing back memories, and then it ties well back into the plot when he comes to the present.
TJ and Angela are so strong and resilient, it makes me love them even more. I can see how they grow, how they were hurt, and ultimately how they heal and accept a new and better life, and it blossoms out in the story.
Ms. Welch seems to make everything very realistic, from their emotions to the details of how the world around them might see them--from teachers, social workers, momma, the boyfriends, and the world outside. But I didn't feel like I was in the outside world, I felt like I was given a front seat to their life.
If you like realistic, contemporary, or tough issues (or even if you don't but the description intrigues you) I recommend you pick up Waiting to Forget and give it a try.
Sometimes the jumps in narrative from one time in the story to another can be jarring and confusing, but it was done very well in Waiting to Forget. The use of TJ's life book-pictures and drawings to help him remember his life before adoption assist in bringing back memories, and then it ties well back into the plot when he comes to the present.
TJ and Angela are so strong and resilient, it makes me love them even more. I can see how they grow, how they were hurt, and ultimately how they heal and accept a new and better life, and it blossoms out in the story.
Ms. Welch seems to make everything very realistic, from their emotions to the details of how the world around them might see them--from teachers, social workers, momma, the boyfriends, and the world outside. But I didn't feel like I was in the outside world, I felt like I was given a front seat to their life.
If you like realistic, contemporary, or tough issues (or even if you don't but the description intrigues you) I recommend you pick up Waiting to Forget and give it a try.
November 7, 2011
Waiting To Forget is a very fast and emotional read. Since there mother left them alone when she went to Vegas with her boyfriend, TJ and Angela have been in foster care. Their mother was only supposed to go for the weekend, but when she didn't come home a week later, TJ called their social worker. TJ has always taken care of his baby sister and now he is waiting in an emergency room with their adoptive family waiting to see if she is ever going to wake up.
While he is waiting for news, TJ is looking through his life book, a scrapbook that his social worker had him make before the adoption and we learn about their mom, her boyfriends, foster care, and eventually what led them to this day in the ER.
Waiting To Forget is a very touching story. We see how TJ is adjusting to his life with his new family. He doesn't feel like he fits in with them, and he feels that he is a disappointment to his new dad. He misses his mom. He doesn't ever open up to anyone and talk about his feelings. Everything about him screams sad and lonely. It broke my heart because the kid is only 12 years old.
The ending was beautiful! I could not have asked for a better ending. I think it fit perfectly and I loved watching TJ heal and gain the strength to move on from his heartbreaks.
While he is waiting for news, TJ is looking through his life book, a scrapbook that his social worker had him make before the adoption and we learn about their mom, her boyfriends, foster care, and eventually what led them to this day in the ER.
Waiting To Forget is a very touching story. We see how TJ is adjusting to his life with his new family. He doesn't feel like he fits in with them, and he feels that he is a disappointment to his new dad. He misses his mom. He doesn't ever open up to anyone and talk about his feelings. Everything about him screams sad and lonely. It broke my heart because the kid is only 12 years old.
The ending was beautiful! I could not have asked for a better ending. I think it fit perfectly and I loved watching TJ heal and gain the strength to move on from his heartbreaks.
March 5, 2012
T.J. is stuck in a hospital waiting room while his sister is in the ICU with his foster parents. To pass the time, he looks through the "My Life" scrapbook he made with his social worker, remembering his mother. From his very earliest memories, T.J.'s mother was neglectful and selfish and relied on men to provide for her. T.J. and Angela learned to cover for their mother's - or her abusive boyfriends' - mistakes... until they could keep it a secret anymore.
Reading this book sent me back to the days when I used to work with kids in DSS custody. It was so sad to see kids blaming themselves or lying so that their parents would not get in trouble, kids who need a home so badly but that home cannot be provided by their biological parents. T.J. and Angela each handled their mother's abuse (because neglect is abuse) in different ways, but ways that I have seen over and over. The way the story switches from past to present kept the tension going and made this a fast read.
The writing was such that this book could be used for kids anywhere from 9 or 10 and up - there is little to no swearing and much is hinted at rather than stated explicitly, although adults will know what was going on.
Reading this book sent me back to the days when I used to work with kids in DSS custody. It was so sad to see kids blaming themselves or lying so that their parents would not get in trouble, kids who need a home so badly but that home cannot be provided by their biological parents. T.J. and Angela each handled their mother's abuse (because neglect is abuse) in different ways, but ways that I have seen over and over. The way the story switches from past to present kept the tension going and made this a fast read.
The writing was such that this book could be used for kids anywhere from 9 or 10 and up - there is little to no swearing and much is hinted at rather than stated explicitly, although adults will know what was going on.
January 1, 2016
Waiting to Forget is very well-written. I enjoyed it more than I’d anticipated. I didn’t expect to not like it. I just wasn’t sure.
I will be honest and say that the story itself felt kinda bland to me. I did feel sorry for these kids – especially T.J. – but not heartbroken. I did find myself hating their mother, though. For me the worst part is knowing that there really are people like that out there. Anyway, the writing is fantastic. Welch weaves the story together very well, seamlessly switching from “then” to “now” and “between then and now.” It was very easy to follow, and I never once forgot what part I was in.
The book was a quick read. It is heavy, but not so heavy it’ll leave you grumpy and bothered by it for hours later. I kinda like that. There are enough books out there that haunt me once I’m done. It’s nice to have finished the book, and enjoyed the journey, and be able to not carry it around with me. I love books that make me think – and this one does. It makes me think about the unfortunate children stuck in situations like the children in this book. – but I appreciate that this didn’t leave me in a bad mood. (I’ve had that happen. LOL)
I will be honest and say that the story itself felt kinda bland to me. I did feel sorry for these kids – especially T.J. – but not heartbroken. I did find myself hating their mother, though. For me the worst part is knowing that there really are people like that out there. Anyway, the writing is fantastic. Welch weaves the story together very well, seamlessly switching from “then” to “now” and “between then and now.” It was very easy to follow, and I never once forgot what part I was in.
The book was a quick read. It is heavy, but not so heavy it’ll leave you grumpy and bothered by it for hours later. I kinda like that. There are enough books out there that haunt me once I’m done. It’s nice to have finished the book, and enjoyed the journey, and be able to not carry it around with me. I love books that make me think – and this one does. It makes me think about the unfortunate children stuck in situations like the children in this book. – but I appreciate that this didn’t leave me in a bad mood. (I’ve had that happen. LOL)
November 9, 2011
It's the lyrical nature of Sheila Kelly Welch's writing that kept me engaged throughout my reading of WAITING TO FORGET. I found this title hard to categorize -- flashing back and forth between a hospital waiting room, where T.J. waits with his adoptive parents to find out if his little sister is okay, and the past T.J. spent with a neglectful mother, it's definitely a bit dark for middle grade. And as a YA novel, it's hard to say whether a teen would be engaged by such a young character -- T.J. is around 13 in the waiting room, but is much younger in the memory scenes, which make up most of the story.
That said, it's a compelling book -- T.J.'s story, though often tragic, is filled with a joyful hope. The love he feels for his sister, and even the mother who has failed him so many times, radiates through the impeccable voice that Welch has written. WAITING TO FORGET is certainly an unusual book, but absolutely one that will find its audience among fans of the tenderly-written hard luck story.
That said, it's a compelling book -- T.J.'s story, though often tragic, is filled with a joyful hope. The love he feels for his sister, and even the mother who has failed him so many times, radiates through the impeccable voice that Welch has written. WAITING TO FORGET is certainly an unusual book, but absolutely one that will find its audience among fans of the tenderly-written hard luck story.
October 5, 2011
I thought this book would be a total and complete downer. Fortunately I wasn’t completely right. TJ is such a precious boy. While waiting in the hospital for his sister, he goes through his “life book” a scrapbook of his life and the different foster homes he lived in. It’s an interesting way for readers to see what happened to get TJ and Angela to this point in their lives. I also appreciated that the flashbacks were labeled … and the labels were interesting (in a good way) “then” “between now and then” and “now”. This may be harsh, but it reinforces my idea that some people shouldn’t have children. An emotional, at times edge of my seat with worry for TJ and Angela, not completely depressing book. Perfect for middle grades, and even for teens looking for a lighter version of the depressing contemporary novel.
Reviewed ARC sent by author.
Reviewed ARC sent by author.
August 15, 2011
Hmmm...An interesting read that reminded me somewhat of either a younger version of Werlin's Rules of Survival or maybe a male version of Connor's Waiting for Normal. Now, twelve-year-old T.J. sits in a hospital waiting room, waiting for his little sister to wake up after she's knocked unconscious in a fall. Then, he lived with his sister and his Momma, with Momma erratic, unable to hold a job, often gone for days at a time. Between Then and Now, he and his sister worked with a social worker to make Life Books to take to their adopted home, and Angela became obsessed with making origami cranes. Short and heartbreaking and mildly compelling; I'd love to get someone else's take on this.
November 29, 2011
This book takes an interesting look at child neglect. TJ takes care of Angela because his mom just isn't prepared to do it. The book flashes between now, then and between. I liked the format. The ending gave hope for children in foster care.
June 27, 2022
This realistic fiction novel shares the survival story of 11 year old TJ. TJ has always taken care of his younger sister, Angela, from a challenging life with their mother and her abusive boyfriend, to new struggles with foster homes and their new parents, and everything in between. Angela falls and TJ sits in the hospital, thinking about everything that has led him here. He copes with the fear of no longer having her and longs for the two of them to feel at home somewhere. This book grapples with topics that aren’t easily found in classroom libraries, including loss, homelessness, foster care, abandonment, and sickness. Reading stories like these helps inspire empathy in our students as we learn of situations that children go through that many of us adults struggle to imagine. The abuse discussed in the story makes it appropriate for older readers, ages 10-14. This book won several awards including Pennsylvania Children’s Library Association Best YA Book of the Year in 2011. Check out Teaching Books’ website for important and powerful discussion questions that can be used in the classroom to start hard conversations and get students thinking deeply about our main character’s choices.
November 6, 2017
This was a pretty good story, and I think my students who liked The Boy from the Basement and A Child Called "It" would also like this one. It was terribly sad though and frustrating as a reader to watch the kids in this story experience an absent father and a mother who didn't know how to be a mother in most senses of the word, but it was heartening to see that the foster situation at the end of the story gave hope that their lives might end up okay in the long run.
March 26, 2022
Overall, it was fine. The ending was weak and vague, but the rest of it was detailed and realistic enough, if frustrating at times, but that's to be expected.
March 22, 2012
I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I started reading Waiting to Forget but there is no doubt in my mind that it would have exceeded every single expectation that I did have. This was a truly inspiring and emotionally powerful novel which invoked in me feelings that I haven’t felt in a long while. Sheila Welch has written a beautifully moving story from the perspective of a young boy and how he witnesses and understands everything that is going on within his life. It is an absolutely charming read that really forces you to think about how everything affects people, including children, differently.
The story itself is completely compelling and page-turning and I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the journey that Sheila took me on with her words. It was interesting to see the story unfold and I especially enjoyed seeing it all from the perspective of a young boy. Generally, with these type of stories, you get an omnipresent narrator or that of the view from an adults view and it was refreshing to read something a little different. It definitely opened my eyes a little more and it also made me think about my childhood in interesting ways.
T.J was a truly lovely character and I loved hearing about the world from his view. I liked witnessing his journey, feeling his emotions and watching as he grew up and his personality changed. I loved how good of a brother he was, how protective he was of both his sister and his mother and how strong he was altogether. It is clear to see that he will grow up to be a lovely young man. While I didn’t like the personality of his “Momma”, I loved how real she felt and just how much T.L adored her. I liked how you could see this actually happening in real life and I loved all of the dynamics to her character. Angela, as well, was a lovely character to read and hear about and I felt myself wanting to reach out and hug her a lot of the time. I wanted to pull her close and never let anything harm her ever again. But, all in all, it was T.J who really got me attached to this story.
I enjoyed how this story went from past to present. It was interesting how the transitions were put together and extremely well-executed. It truly pulls the reader in and makes them want to read more. I, for one, was interested to know why that was on the page and why that spurred that memory. I loved the few twists at the end and I just thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and plot of the entire novel. I liked how it all fit together, how it all came together and how, by the end of it, the journey had come to a close and a projection of the future was given, a future full of hope and happiness and good things. It made the entire novel a worthwhile read.
This story was moving and compelling and one that I would highly recommend to many others. It is an easy-read as it is a middle grade book but that does not make it a bad read. It was powerful and rich and really gets you to think and I feel that, as Sheila admitted in her interview with me, it would be a good read for anyone ten and up. It is a gritty representation of reality and maybe too much for some younger readers but, in the eyes of a young child, it really just works well. I can definitely see it causing younger readers to think more about the world they are in. I would honestly recommend this book to anyone who likes realistic fiction and wants something new and unique to read!
* I recieved a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest reivew of the book *
The story itself is completely compelling and page-turning and I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the journey that Sheila took me on with her words. It was interesting to see the story unfold and I especially enjoyed seeing it all from the perspective of a young boy. Generally, with these type of stories, you get an omnipresent narrator or that of the view from an adults view and it was refreshing to read something a little different. It definitely opened my eyes a little more and it also made me think about my childhood in interesting ways.
T.J was a truly lovely character and I loved hearing about the world from his view. I liked witnessing his journey, feeling his emotions and watching as he grew up and his personality changed. I loved how good of a brother he was, how protective he was of both his sister and his mother and how strong he was altogether. It is clear to see that he will grow up to be a lovely young man. While I didn’t like the personality of his “Momma”, I loved how real she felt and just how much T.L adored her. I liked how you could see this actually happening in real life and I loved all of the dynamics to her character. Angela, as well, was a lovely character to read and hear about and I felt myself wanting to reach out and hug her a lot of the time. I wanted to pull her close and never let anything harm her ever again. But, all in all, it was T.J who really got me attached to this story.
I enjoyed how this story went from past to present. It was interesting how the transitions were put together and extremely well-executed. It truly pulls the reader in and makes them want to read more. I, for one, was interested to know why that was on the page and why that spurred that memory. I loved the few twists at the end and I just thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and plot of the entire novel. I liked how it all fit together, how it all came together and how, by the end of it, the journey had come to a close and a projection of the future was given, a future full of hope and happiness and good things. It made the entire novel a worthwhile read.
This story was moving and compelling and one that I would highly recommend to many others. It is an easy-read as it is a middle grade book but that does not make it a bad read. It was powerful and rich and really gets you to think and I feel that, as Sheila admitted in her interview with me, it would be a good read for anyone ten and up. It is a gritty representation of reality and maybe too much for some younger readers but, in the eyes of a young child, it really just works well. I can definitely see it causing younger readers to think more about the world they are in. I would honestly recommend this book to anyone who likes realistic fiction and wants something new and unique to read!
* I recieved a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest reivew of the book *
March 16, 2012
My Blog's Review
In a Nutshell
Twitter summary: "Prognosis: reflective of troubled childhood"
Novel Size: just shy of novel-length
Target Audience: 10-14 years old
Genre: Fictional drama
Swearing: Mild
Violence: Mild
Reflection on past: High
Plot
The story follows the reflections of a teenage boy named T.J. (Timothy James) as he waits for news of his sister's emergency surgery in the hospital. Through a life book he created during his time in foster care, he reflects on the experiences that he and his sister went through leading to this present moment.
Initially I thought the writing was simplistic, but this was because it was written from the perspective of TJ. The opening paragraph didn't exactly sell me. As I summarised: 'gritty kitty sand in the eyes.' Not exactly the greatest of hooks :) The story is written consistently, although I think the characters were a little flat. The mother was a complete waste of space, Billy was evil, Ray was good, the sister was cute and the protagonist was not particularly insightful. The author used a few good ploys to keep the story interesting: How did Angela get injured? How did their mother die? Who was the protagonist? It worked for the most part and kept me reading through the less-compelling points.
Pro's
The life book is a nice tool for framing the story, the book is competently written, Angela is likeable, the angelese words she uses are cute, deals with abusive family environments (I will explain later)
Con's
TJ is not particularly interesting, the mother is thoroughly unlikeable, the punches are pulled (especially with Billy), the symbology is a little crude, TJ's turning point seems a little abrupt.
Summary
I think the first third of the book was written well, although it started to move into 'Hollywood territory,' with unnecessary turmoil and a heist (yes, really). If the story had remained focused on TJ's reflection of his life and love for his sister, it would have had a far greater emotional weight. Even with the 'Hollywood effect' in place, it maintains an even keel. The highs and lows never quite reach a point where the reader becomes emotionally invested. Considering the relatively young intended audience, this is fine. It is sufficiently dramatic for someone of that age and covers a number of important issues, such as single-parent families, child abuse, foster programs and the responsibilities and failings of parents.
A book such as this teaches a child consideration of others different or less fortunate or, if they are in an abusive environment, to speak up and not accept an unacceptable situation as normal. For the important issues that are covered and the intended audience, I recommend this.
In a Nutshell
Twitter summary: "Prognosis: reflective of troubled childhood"
Novel Size: just shy of novel-length
Target Audience: 10-14 years old
Genre: Fictional drama
Swearing: Mild
Violence: Mild
Reflection on past: High
Plot
The story follows the reflections of a teenage boy named T.J. (Timothy James) as he waits for news of his sister's emergency surgery in the hospital. Through a life book he created during his time in foster care, he reflects on the experiences that he and his sister went through leading to this present moment.
Initially I thought the writing was simplistic, but this was because it was written from the perspective of TJ. The opening paragraph didn't exactly sell me. As I summarised: 'gritty kitty sand in the eyes.' Not exactly the greatest of hooks :) The story is written consistently, although I think the characters were a little flat. The mother was a complete waste of space, Billy was evil, Ray was good, the sister was cute and the protagonist was not particularly insightful. The author used a few good ploys to keep the story interesting: How did Angela get injured? How did their mother die? Who was the protagonist? It worked for the most part and kept me reading through the less-compelling points.
Pro's
The life book is a nice tool for framing the story, the book is competently written, Angela is likeable, the angelese words she uses are cute, deals with abusive family environments (I will explain later)
Con's
TJ is not particularly interesting, the mother is thoroughly unlikeable, the punches are pulled (especially with Billy), the symbology is a little crude, TJ's turning point seems a little abrupt.
Summary
I think the first third of the book was written well, although it started to move into 'Hollywood territory,' with unnecessary turmoil and a heist (yes, really). If the story had remained focused on TJ's reflection of his life and love for his sister, it would have had a far greater emotional weight. Even with the 'Hollywood effect' in place, it maintains an even keel. The highs and lows never quite reach a point where the reader becomes emotionally invested. Considering the relatively young intended audience, this is fine. It is sufficiently dramatic for someone of that age and covers a number of important issues, such as single-parent families, child abuse, foster programs and the responsibilities and failings of parents.
A book such as this teaches a child consideration of others different or less fortunate or, if they are in an abusive environment, to speak up and not accept an unacceptable situation as normal. For the important issues that are covered and the intended audience, I recommend this.
July 26, 2012
I always have such a hard time rating books that deal with tough subject matter. I settled on three hearts because it was well written, the characters well developed, and because the story was one worth telling. The thing that held it back from a higher rating for me was just how upsetting and sometimes depressing the storyline was.
The book opens with the main character T.J, sitting in a hospital waiting room wondering if his little sister Angela is going to survive. We know she fell but we don’t know how or why.
The book included three main timelines: Now, Then, and Between Then & Now, with a few additional sections (Between, Almost Now…) near the end. I found this writing style to be very affective for this story.
T.Js time at the hospital are the “Now” pieces. The author uses these parts to create tension and suspense as to what happened to Angela and if she is going to be okay. It’s not until the last few pages that we get the answers.
In the “Between” sections, T.J. and his sister Angela have just been adopted by a couple named Marlene & Dan. This is yet another smaller mystery because in the “Then” the kids are still living with their birth mother, so the whole-time you’re also wondering what happens to her that lands the kids in the foster care system.
My biggest issue with this book was that it was upsetting to read about a mother who cared so little about her own children. The mother (Celia) is a single mom who can’t hold a job (not because she can’t get one, but because she always quits), and she goes through many boyfriends (most of which are bad news). The thing that upset me most was when one of her boyfriends would treat the kids like dirt and she just stood there and watched. At one point, I was so angry I wanted to jump into the book and shake some sense into her! The boyfriend has just flushed her 7-year-olds head down the toilet repeatedly and she blames the daughter for misbehaving, not her brute of a boyfriend! (There was practically steam coming out of my ears at this point.)
In the end, I’m glad I read this book. Despite it’s upsetting subject matter it was a good story, but I say that as a 21-year-old. However, this is meant to be a middle grade book for ages 10-15. I guess it all depends on the person, but this is definitely not the kind of book I was reading at 10 OR 15. It’s some heavy stuff for a 10 year old to handle in my opinion. I would recommend if for the oldest end of that and say 15 +.
The book opens with the main character T.J, sitting in a hospital waiting room wondering if his little sister Angela is going to survive. We know she fell but we don’t know how or why.
The book included three main timelines: Now, Then, and Between Then & Now, with a few additional sections (Between, Almost Now…) near the end. I found this writing style to be very affective for this story.
T.Js time at the hospital are the “Now” pieces. The author uses these parts to create tension and suspense as to what happened to Angela and if she is going to be okay. It’s not until the last few pages that we get the answers.
In the “Between” sections, T.J. and his sister Angela have just been adopted by a couple named Marlene & Dan. This is yet another smaller mystery because in the “Then” the kids are still living with their birth mother, so the whole-time you’re also wondering what happens to her that lands the kids in the foster care system.
My biggest issue with this book was that it was upsetting to read about a mother who cared so little about her own children. The mother (Celia) is a single mom who can’t hold a job (not because she can’t get one, but because she always quits), and she goes through many boyfriends (most of which are bad news). The thing that upset me most was when one of her boyfriends would treat the kids like dirt and she just stood there and watched. At one point, I was so angry I wanted to jump into the book and shake some sense into her! The boyfriend has just flushed her 7-year-olds head down the toilet repeatedly and she blames the daughter for misbehaving, not her brute of a boyfriend! (There was practically steam coming out of my ears at this point.)
In the end, I’m glad I read this book. Despite it’s upsetting subject matter it was a good story, but I say that as a 21-year-old. However, this is meant to be a middle grade book for ages 10-15. I guess it all depends on the person, but this is definitely not the kind of book I was reading at 10 OR 15. It’s some heavy stuff for a 10 year old to handle in my opinion. I would recommend if for the oldest end of that and say 15 +.
January 23, 2012
As this story begins, a 13 year old boy named TJ sits in the waiting room of a hospital anxiously waiting for any news about his little sister. His sister, Angela, has had a fall and was rushed to the ER. As TJ waits, he looks through an album about his life and remembers the important events that brought he and his sister to their new adoptive parents' home.
TJ has always taken care of Angela, because sometimes it was hard for their mom to take care of them while she worked--or spent time with strange men. Their mother often leaves them alone overnight. There are good times and bad, but mostly bad. TJ's mom is just not fit to take care of them, and all they want is to be loved.
I'm not really sure how I felt about this book. I am a mom, so the events that occurred in this story are heartbreaking and unimaginable to me. I could see how the children were each stuck in their roles. TJ was always the mature, stoic caretaker. Angela was the baby, and acted like it. Both children were severely affected by their mother's emotional abuse. It was so sad to read about the way TJ adored the very few hugs and praises he ever got from his mother.
I was glad to see that the children eventually moved on to a better life, but overall I found this quite a depressing read. As I read and finished this book, it made me think of all the other children in the world who are probably going through similar predicaments, perhaps right under our noses. It has opened my eyes. I'm not quite sure if that's what the author was trying to accomplish, but that's the only thing I got out of this book.
TJ has always taken care of Angela, because sometimes it was hard for their mom to take care of them while she worked--or spent time with strange men. Their mother often leaves them alone overnight. There are good times and bad, but mostly bad. TJ's mom is just not fit to take care of them, and all they want is to be loved.
I'm not really sure how I felt about this book. I am a mom, so the events that occurred in this story are heartbreaking and unimaginable to me. I could see how the children were each stuck in their roles. TJ was always the mature, stoic caretaker. Angela was the baby, and acted like it. Both children were severely affected by their mother's emotional abuse. It was so sad to read about the way TJ adored the very few hugs and praises he ever got from his mother.
I was glad to see that the children eventually moved on to a better life, but overall I found this quite a depressing read. As I read and finished this book, it made me think of all the other children in the world who are probably going through similar predicaments, perhaps right under our noses. It has opened my eyes. I'm not quite sure if that's what the author was trying to accomplish, but that's the only thing I got out of this book.
May 7, 2012
*Copy provided by Net-Galley*
What I Liked: Normally I am not a fan of stories that go back and forth between time periods but with Waiting to Forget it seemed to work in a way I don't really understand. Having the three different time periods mix and mingle made the story much more emotional. Going back between now and then gave both situations more urgency for me. T.J. is a kid who had to grow up fast because Momma leaves him in charge a lot. It's his responsibility to take care of his younger sister Angela and much of the time he's the only one who can bring her out of her moods. He protects her when Momma's boyfriends get violent. It was a powerful and hard book to read. There are lots of books that deal with abuse and abandonment but Waiting to Forget is one that stayed with me long after I put it down. T.J. has a powerful and honest voice.
What I Didn't Like: Sometimes it was hard to believe that T.J. was as responsible as Welch portrays him. I understand that he was forced to grow up fast but sometimes his reasoning seems beyond his years. Angela seemed much younger than she actually was but that was much easier to buy. It wasn't enough to detract from the story.
Verdict: I would give this to fans of A Child Called It. There seems to be a lot of them in middle school. While the book deals with abuse and abandonment issues it is mild enough that I would feel comfortable putting it in my 5-8 library.
What I Liked: Normally I am not a fan of stories that go back and forth between time periods but with Waiting to Forget it seemed to work in a way I don't really understand. Having the three different time periods mix and mingle made the story much more emotional. Going back between now and then gave both situations more urgency for me. T.J. is a kid who had to grow up fast because Momma leaves him in charge a lot. It's his responsibility to take care of his younger sister Angela and much of the time he's the only one who can bring her out of her moods. He protects her when Momma's boyfriends get violent. It was a powerful and hard book to read. There are lots of books that deal with abuse and abandonment but Waiting to Forget is one that stayed with me long after I put it down. T.J. has a powerful and honest voice.
What I Didn't Like: Sometimes it was hard to believe that T.J. was as responsible as Welch portrays him. I understand that he was forced to grow up fast but sometimes his reasoning seems beyond his years. Angela seemed much younger than she actually was but that was much easier to buy. It wasn't enough to detract from the story.
Verdict: I would give this to fans of A Child Called It. There seems to be a lot of them in middle school. While the book deals with abuse and abandonment issues it is mild enough that I would feel comfortable putting it in my 5-8 library.
January 20, 2012
The Deal: T. J. is waiting at the hospital. Waiting on news about his little sister Angela, who was rushed in a few hours before. His new adoptive parents - Marlene and Dan - told him to wait outside.
So, he's waiting, feeling a little forgotten, and remembering how everything came to be the way it is.
It had always been T.J,'s job to look after and take care of Angela, he remembers that. He remembers life with his mother and her boyfriends and trying to protect Angela then. And he remembers the foster homes that followed, and how now they are trying to adapt to their new family.
My Thoughts: Waiting to Forget was a surprising read. I guessed going in that it wasn't going to be a walk in the park and it wasn't. I admit that I struggled a little with the narrative since it went back and forth between the present and different points of the past. In the end, this worked well but for me it was hard to get into.
T.J.'s voice is both young and jaded, having gone though so many things in his short life, and I think that's the biggest asset of the book because it was very well done, but at the same time I struggled a bit because of the way the story is told.
If you like unusual narrative styles, I think that this might be the book for your, but though I don't belong to that camp, I still found the book very engrossing.
So, he's waiting, feeling a little forgotten, and remembering how everything came to be the way it is.
It had always been T.J,'s job to look after and take care of Angela, he remembers that. He remembers life with his mother and her boyfriends and trying to protect Angela then. And he remembers the foster homes that followed, and how now they are trying to adapt to their new family.
My Thoughts: Waiting to Forget was a surprising read. I guessed going in that it wasn't going to be a walk in the park and it wasn't. I admit that I struggled a little with the narrative since it went back and forth between the present and different points of the past. In the end, this worked well but for me it was hard to get into.
T.J.'s voice is both young and jaded, having gone though so many things in his short life, and I think that's the biggest asset of the book because it was very well done, but at the same time I struggled a bit because of the way the story is told.
If you like unusual narrative styles, I think that this might be the book for your, but though I don't belong to that camp, I still found the book very engrossing.
September 29, 2014
Sheila Kelly Welch's realistic fiction book will definitely interest middle schoolers, high school students, and adult readers. Welch does a great job of sinking the reader into the chaotic lives of TJ and his sister, Angela, in the Now/Then format employed in this thin, gripping read. As TJ waits in the emergency room of a hospital, waiting to find out if Angela will live; we visit the Then part of TJ's life which is a horror to say the least. TJ and Angela love their mother but she is not a good mother. She leaves TJ in charge when she goes out and many nights does not return home. TJ and Angela live very tumultuous lives with their mother and later in various foster homes. It is when they are adopted and living with Dan and Marlene that TJ continues to struggle with his life day to day. Still afraid to hope and move on, TJ vacillates between anxiety and his horrendous past as he remembers, while perusing the Life Book he created for his new life with Dan and Marlene. Your heart aches for these two children and you root for this brother and sister to find happiness and peace in their forever home. Compelling, with realistic writing that pulls you in; you will enjoy TJ and Angela's saga.
December 31, 2011
As T.J. sits in the waiting room, waiting to hear if his sister is even alive, he is reflecting back on his and Angela's difficult life. Their mother neglected them often, at times was physically abusive, and often put them in dangerous situations. As I read this, I had to keep reminding myself that this was a work of fiction, and not a memoir. This was difficult as Welch writes in a way that makes it feel very real. It might seem like a depressing story, and I'll admit, it IS a sad story - the life that T.J. and Angela lived. But, it is also an uplifting story - the love between brother and sister, and the promise of a better life when they are adopted by Marlene and Dan.
I truly enjoyed Welch's writing style - I was pulled into the story from the beginning, and I was emotional through the whole book - heartbroken when these kids were treated so poorly and triumphant when they found a "forever home." In my opinion, it is a sign of an excellent book when I have such strong feelings for characters. I highly recommend this book.
I truly enjoyed Welch's writing style - I was pulled into the story from the beginning, and I was emotional through the whole book - heartbroken when these kids were treated so poorly and triumphant when they found a "forever home." In my opinion, it is a sign of an excellent book when I have such strong feelings for characters. I highly recommend this book.
December 27, 2012
This book made for a short and interesting read. It took me some time to get into the book because of its different presentation of now, then, and between then and now. But later I adapted to it.
I liked the concept behind the book and could see so many psychological aspects to the characters. I was almost analyzing and diagnosing them as I read.
The story is a bit sad but also a reality for many children. The narrative is told as seen through the eyes of 12 year old T.J. who reminisces his past and alternates between being present in the ‘present’ as he sits in the hospital waiting room. His innocence but also a keen perception of what goes around him is stunning. At times, he is shown ignorant as a 12 year old is but at other times, he is shown thinking like an adult.
There is a line from the book that I really liked – “T.J. tried to imagine what it would be like to have a piece of quiet. He pictured it being pale blue with swirls of mint green.”
Overall, this is a beautiful, heart-touching book and you will end up loving T.J.
I liked the concept behind the book and could see so many psychological aspects to the characters. I was almost analyzing and diagnosing them as I read.
The story is a bit sad but also a reality for many children. The narrative is told as seen through the eyes of 12 year old T.J. who reminisces his past and alternates between being present in the ‘present’ as he sits in the hospital waiting room. His innocence but also a keen perception of what goes around him is stunning. At times, he is shown ignorant as a 12 year old is but at other times, he is shown thinking like an adult.
There is a line from the book that I really liked – “T.J. tried to imagine what it would be like to have a piece of quiet. He pictured it being pale blue with swirls of mint green.”
Overall, this is a beautiful, heart-touching book and you will end up loving T.J.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews