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Treadwell Academy #2
The Believer's Daughter
Things Grace Mathison did her sophomore year of high school that she never expected to do in her lifetime:
1.) Run away with her brother to New York City
2.) Tattoo a unicorn on a pop star’s back
3.) Fall in love with a Russian graffiti artist
At the age of 15, Grace Mathison has been sheltered most of her life. Her father is a successful television evangelist, famous for starting headline-grabbing feuds with the fathers of Grace’s classmates at the Treadwell Academy over lyrics in rap music and risqué catalog covers. Unlike her classmates at Treadwell, she prefers riding her horse, True Heart, and sketching in her drawing pad, over gossiping and shopping for fancy clothes.
When Grace’s beloved older brother, Aaron, makes international headlines with a romantic relationship gone wrong, Grace finds out that her father doesn’t practice forgiveness as he preaches. Aaron is disowned, and begs Grace to run away with him to start a new life. Delving head-first into a personal examination of the difference between right and wrong, Grace grapples with everything in which she has been raised to believe.
She and Aaron find themselves in New York City, struggling to meet adult challenges like paying rent and holding down jobs. To make matters worse, their parents’ troubles are only beginning. Grace learns that they are being investigated for financial fraud, and their entire empire is in danger. And then there’s Felix, the cute tattoo artist who dabbles in graffiti. Incredibly, in a city inhabited by millions, he and Grace keep crossing paths.
Grace starts to realize what she’s really made of… she’s a lot tougher and smarter than the mean girls at Treadwell ever knew. In the face of losing everything she cherishes, she closely examines what she believes in and discovers what she least expected to find: that she believes in herself.
1.) Run away with her brother to New York City
2.) Tattoo a unicorn on a pop star’s back
3.) Fall in love with a Russian graffiti artist
At the age of 15, Grace Mathison has been sheltered most of her life. Her father is a successful television evangelist, famous for starting headline-grabbing feuds with the fathers of Grace’s classmates at the Treadwell Academy over lyrics in rap music and risqué catalog covers. Unlike her classmates at Treadwell, she prefers riding her horse, True Heart, and sketching in her drawing pad, over gossiping and shopping for fancy clothes.
When Grace’s beloved older brother, Aaron, makes international headlines with a romantic relationship gone wrong, Grace finds out that her father doesn’t practice forgiveness as he preaches. Aaron is disowned, and begs Grace to run away with him to start a new life. Delving head-first into a personal examination of the difference between right and wrong, Grace grapples with everything in which she has been raised to believe.
She and Aaron find themselves in New York City, struggling to meet adult challenges like paying rent and holding down jobs. To make matters worse, their parents’ troubles are only beginning. Grace learns that they are being investigated for financial fraud, and their entire empire is in danger. And then there’s Felix, the cute tattoo artist who dabbles in graffiti. Incredibly, in a city inhabited by millions, he and Grace keep crossing paths.
Grace starts to realize what she’s really made of… she’s a lot tougher and smarter than the mean girls at Treadwell ever knew. In the face of losing everything she cherishes, she closely examines what she believes in and discovers what she least expected to find: that she believes in herself.
371 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2012
33 people are currently reading
694 people want to read
About the author
Caitlyn Duffy
8 books164 followersCaitlyn Duffy is a Brooklyn-dwelling, chihuahua-lovin' freelance writer, who is currently developing a series of YA novels for Lovestruck Literary around the celebutante students of a fictitious boarding school.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 11, 2013
Lame, lame, and more lame.
I initially really liked the idea behind Caitlyn Duffy's series -- instead of being about one character in particular, each book focuses on a student at the prestigious boarding school of Treadwell Academy. In this one, a Christian TV/magazine evangelist's daughter Grace ends up running away with her brother when he falls into trouble.
I liked Grace -- she experienced a lot of growth, going from a sheltered little 15-year-old to awesome hipster who stays true to herself. I was surprised that she held onto her faith after all that she went through; I expected her to renounce it.
What made this book lame was that Duffy kept telling us what was going to happen next. Not even foreshadowing; just straight-out telling. Several times, Grace buys stuff slightly frivolously and then notes that she's going to regret that later, when money gets increasingly tight. Grace meets a girl and tells the reader that "she didn't know it yet, but this person is going to become my best friend." She bumps into a guy and she tells the reader "oh yeah, this is going to be the love of my life." What's the point of reading the book if you're just going to tell us how it ends?
Even the climax was ridiculous. Why does Heather show up at the apartment? Why is she wearing one of Grace's T-shirts and nothing else? She shows up long enough for the the plot to close down, and is never mentioned again. We're not going to talk about Aaron's infatuation with this girl?
Thumbs-down.
I finished reading it because I wanted to hear about Grace's dad's comeuppance, but we readers don't even get that! Her mom is described in prison gear, but the father is nowhere to be seen...
Just... dissatisfactory.
I initially really liked the idea behind Caitlyn Duffy's series -- instead of being about one character in particular, each book focuses on a student at the prestigious boarding school of Treadwell Academy. In this one, a Christian TV/magazine evangelist's daughter Grace ends up running away with her brother when he falls into trouble.
I liked Grace -- she experienced a lot of growth, going from a sheltered little 15-year-old to awesome hipster who stays true to herself. I was surprised that she held onto her faith after all that she went through; I expected her to renounce it.
What made this book lame was that Duffy kept telling us what was going to happen next. Not even foreshadowing; just straight-out telling. Several times, Grace buys stuff slightly frivolously and then notes that she's going to regret that later, when money gets increasingly tight. Grace meets a girl and tells the reader that "she didn't know it yet, but this person is going to become my best friend." She bumps into a guy and she tells the reader "oh yeah, this is going to be the love of my life." What's the point of reading the book if you're just going to tell us how it ends?
Even the climax was ridiculous. Why does Heather show up at the apartment? Why is she wearing one of Grace's T-shirts and nothing else? She shows up long enough for the the plot to close down, and is never mentioned again. We're not going to talk about Aaron's infatuation with this girl?
Thumbs-down.
I finished reading it because I wanted to hear about Grace's dad's comeuppance, but we readers don't even get that! Her mom is described in prison gear, but the father is nowhere to be seen...
Just... dissatisfactory.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2020
Another brilliant novel by Caitlyn Duffy, this time about Grace and her brother Aaron who flee Arizona in the wake of their parents financial disgrace and Aaron's affair with a deceitful girl.
Duffy paints a realistic portrait of Grace Matheson evolving from an uncertain young girl sheltered by boarding school - but targeted by bullies - into a resilient young woman, capable of surviving in tough New York. Certainly, I realize that she would not have been as lucky if this was true and Grace a real-life runaway, but this is fiction and there has to be a satisfactory plot, right?
Her friendship with Felix, a young man she keeps meeting in unlikely places, blossoms into a tender, innocent romance. Grace's new found skills as a tattoo designer and her determination to finish high school is endearingly revealed.
I was so hooked into the lives of Grace, Aaron, Felix and Jacinda (Grace's hairdresser mate) that I found myself hoping that Caitlyn Duffy is right now penning another story in which, somehow I will find out how they are getting on!
Ms Duffy skillfully draws the reader totally into the lives of her charming main characters - but not sugary sweet! They are cranky, sad, happy - just normal people dealing with an appalling situation.
Highly recommended.
Duffy paints a realistic portrait of Grace Matheson evolving from an uncertain young girl sheltered by boarding school - but targeted by bullies - into a resilient young woman, capable of surviving in tough New York. Certainly, I realize that she would not have been as lucky if this was true and Grace a real-life runaway, but this is fiction and there has to be a satisfactory plot, right?
Her friendship with Felix, a young man she keeps meeting in unlikely places, blossoms into a tender, innocent romance. Grace's new found skills as a tattoo designer and her determination to finish high school is endearingly revealed.
I was so hooked into the lives of Grace, Aaron, Felix and Jacinda (Grace's hairdresser mate) that I found myself hoping that Caitlyn Duffy is right now penning another story in which, somehow I will find out how they are getting on!
Ms Duffy skillfully draws the reader totally into the lives of her charming main characters - but not sugary sweet! They are cranky, sad, happy - just normal people dealing with an appalling situation.
Highly recommended.
March 31, 2013
"The Believer's Daughter" is the second in Caitlyn Duffy's "Treadwell Academy" Series. It's an interesting idea for a series. Unlike many YA series, where you follow the same large core of characters through book after book, the "Treadwell" series takes a different tack. Each novel is self-contained, with the common thread being that the protagonist is a student at Treadwell Academy, a posh New England girls boarding school.
"The Believer's Daughter" is named Grace Mathison. Her father, Chuck Mathison, is one of America's wealthiest, most-successful TV evangelists. Reverend Mathison and his wife have given their two kids--Grace, age 15, and her brother Aaron, 18--a tremendous childhood. The kids grew up in a palatial Arizona home, with their own stables, swimming pools, even a little train that circled the family compound.
One night at Treadwell, Grace finds her roommate packing her bag and leaving their dorm. When Grace asks what's the matter, the girl responds brusquely that she'll know soon enough. It turns out her roommate's father has just been indicted for bilking billions from investors in a huge Ponzi Scheme. Bad news for her.
Very soon, Grace finds herself in an almost identical situation. Her brother, a student in a Massachusetts boys school, has made headlines. It seems he knocked-up his girlfriend. She had an abortion, and her family has gone to the tabloids, saying that Aaron was the one who demanded she abort their child. He wasn't, but the story was out.
Aaron decides to disappear, and convinces Grace--who's unhappy at Treadwell--to join him. The two hop a train to New York City, where they begin setting up new identities and trying to survive. On the train into the city, a strange boy with spidery tattoos on his hands smiles at Grace. She's intrigued, but doesn't give him another thought.
The siblings get fake ID's made with their new names, then set about finding jobs. They sublet a tiny two-bedroom apartment for $1800 a month. Aaron finds a job waiting tables at an upscale Manhattan bistro, where he makes tons in tip money. Grace gets a job in an art supply store. Everything seems stable, till Aaron suffers a fall at work and breaks his leg. He used his fake ID at the hospital, who couldn't find his insurance information, so he sneaks out, hobbling without even a pair of crutches.
He can't work, and soon Grace has her own job problems. Along the way, she makes a friend--Jacinta, a senior at a beauty academy, where she can fix Grace's hair (and dye it all kinds of bright colors). Grace also runs into the boy from the train. His name is Felix, and he and Grace become friends, then boyfriend and girlfriend. Eventually, he even gets Grace a job at the tattoo parlor where he works. She uses her artistic skills and training, and begins making good money designing custom tattoos for the shop's customers.
Oh, yeah: when news of Aaron's abortion controversy broke, certain government agencies began investigating the good Reverend Mathison, and his ministry's finances. They find some most definitely un-Christian fraud going on, and soon Grace and Aaron's parents are on the lam, too.
"The Believer's Daughter" is a really good story. Grace suffers a crisis of faith, feeling that God has abandoned her, so she decides to abandon Him right back. It's funny: Grace stops going to church, and takes off her Cross necklace, but her values don't change: she still goes out of her way to help others as best she can.
Grace and Aaron scrimp to extremes, learning how to stretch ramen noodles, and where to buy a cheap bagel for breakfast. Their tiny apartment has roaches, and they have no furniture. It's a struggle, a far cry from the life of privilege to which they're accustomed.
But they do struggle on, and with a fortuitous break here and there, they eke out an existence, growing as people, and learning about love and friendship--hard lessons not taught in posh boarding schools.
"The Believer's Daughter" is also not a realistic portrayal of what teenaged runaways experience upon moving to New York. The story hardly glamorizes their life, and admittedly the two overcome plenty of obstacles and real-world misfortunes as they survive. But they were able to find a relatively cheap sublet. Nobody got mugged, and their crappy apartment was never burgled. They were able to find decent jobs that enabled them to pay their rent, and though their accommodations were scarcely luxurious, they never spent even one night on the street.
Normally, presenting a story like this would annoy me, thinking it almost glamorizes the runaways' lives, and downplays their struggles.
The reason this doesn't bother me in "The Believer's Daughter" is that author Caitlyn Duffy writes a lengthy preface, disclaiming that her story is just that--a story--and that real runaways often face unspeakable horrors on the streets. She gives sound advice for teens thinking about running away, as well as for friends of potential runaways. She provides phone and internet contact information for organizations who help runaways. Ms Duffy's story involved a brother and sister running away from their previous lives, but she sets up the tale by emphatically saying that this is fiction, and that running away is a bad idea.
Kudos to her for doing that.
When I read "The Rock Star's Daughter," the first of the "Treadwell Academy" series, I didn't understand that the novels would all be independent, yet tangential to one another through the school. This is a beautiful idea for a YA series, in that it opens up so many possibilities for storylines, without tying the action to one specific location or group of characters. In the "Beautiful Creatures" series, you knew every novel would be about the same cast doing the same things in the same little town. The "Treadwell" series offers virtually unlimited options.
In "The Rock Star's Daughter," we never even set foot on Treadwell's campus. The protagonist mentioned the school, and shared memories from Treadwell, or apprehensions about returning to Treadwell, but nothing real-time. In "The Believer's Daughter," we're on campus for the first couple of chapters.
Another thing I liked in "The Believer's Daughter" was the way two characters from the first novel were worked in. This was done in a natural, effortless way; if you hadn't read the first book, you wouldn't notice these little mentions at all, nor would not knowing these characters in any way impede your understanding of this book.
Despite being set in NYC, this novel--to me at least--had less objectionable material than did the first (which was fine, except for some teenaged drinking). The book is intended for ages 12 & up, and that seems about right. (As previously noted, I have no kids of my own, so if your kid ends up warped from reading this, don't blame me.)
I jest.
"The Believer's Daughter" tackles some tough moral issues along its journey: faith, familial loyalty, right vs wrong, prejudging people, and abortion. I think Ms Duffy handles these nicely, without being ham-handed or overbearing. They blend pretty seamlessly into the plot.
As I said in my review of "The Rock Star's Daughter," I have no idea how that book ended up on my Kindle. I know how this one and the third installment ("The Vicount's Daughter") did, though. I was intrigued by this world Caitlyn Duffy created, and I happily bought them and downloaded them, same as I'll do when #4 comes out. This is a good series.
"The Believer's Daughter" is named Grace Mathison. Her father, Chuck Mathison, is one of America's wealthiest, most-successful TV evangelists. Reverend Mathison and his wife have given their two kids--Grace, age 15, and her brother Aaron, 18--a tremendous childhood. The kids grew up in a palatial Arizona home, with their own stables, swimming pools, even a little train that circled the family compound.
One night at Treadwell, Grace finds her roommate packing her bag and leaving their dorm. When Grace asks what's the matter, the girl responds brusquely that she'll know soon enough. It turns out her roommate's father has just been indicted for bilking billions from investors in a huge Ponzi Scheme. Bad news for her.
Very soon, Grace finds herself in an almost identical situation. Her brother, a student in a Massachusetts boys school, has made headlines. It seems he knocked-up his girlfriend. She had an abortion, and her family has gone to the tabloids, saying that Aaron was the one who demanded she abort their child. He wasn't, but the story was out.
Aaron decides to disappear, and convinces Grace--who's unhappy at Treadwell--to join him. The two hop a train to New York City, where they begin setting up new identities and trying to survive. On the train into the city, a strange boy with spidery tattoos on his hands smiles at Grace. She's intrigued, but doesn't give him another thought.
The siblings get fake ID's made with their new names, then set about finding jobs. They sublet a tiny two-bedroom apartment for $1800 a month. Aaron finds a job waiting tables at an upscale Manhattan bistro, where he makes tons in tip money. Grace gets a job in an art supply store. Everything seems stable, till Aaron suffers a fall at work and breaks his leg. He used his fake ID at the hospital, who couldn't find his insurance information, so he sneaks out, hobbling without even a pair of crutches.
He can't work, and soon Grace has her own job problems. Along the way, she makes a friend--Jacinta, a senior at a beauty academy, where she can fix Grace's hair (and dye it all kinds of bright colors). Grace also runs into the boy from the train. His name is Felix, and he and Grace become friends, then boyfriend and girlfriend. Eventually, he even gets Grace a job at the tattoo parlor where he works. She uses her artistic skills and training, and begins making good money designing custom tattoos for the shop's customers.
Oh, yeah: when news of Aaron's abortion controversy broke, certain government agencies began investigating the good Reverend Mathison, and his ministry's finances. They find some most definitely un-Christian fraud going on, and soon Grace and Aaron's parents are on the lam, too.
"The Believer's Daughter" is a really good story. Grace suffers a crisis of faith, feeling that God has abandoned her, so she decides to abandon Him right back. It's funny: Grace stops going to church, and takes off her Cross necklace, but her values don't change: she still goes out of her way to help others as best she can.
Grace and Aaron scrimp to extremes, learning how to stretch ramen noodles, and where to buy a cheap bagel for breakfast. Their tiny apartment has roaches, and they have no furniture. It's a struggle, a far cry from the life of privilege to which they're accustomed.
But they do struggle on, and with a fortuitous break here and there, they eke out an existence, growing as people, and learning about love and friendship--hard lessons not taught in posh boarding schools.
"The Believer's Daughter" is also not a realistic portrayal of what teenaged runaways experience upon moving to New York. The story hardly glamorizes their life, and admittedly the two overcome plenty of obstacles and real-world misfortunes as they survive. But they were able to find a relatively cheap sublet. Nobody got mugged, and their crappy apartment was never burgled. They were able to find decent jobs that enabled them to pay their rent, and though their accommodations were scarcely luxurious, they never spent even one night on the street.
Normally, presenting a story like this would annoy me, thinking it almost glamorizes the runaways' lives, and downplays their struggles.
The reason this doesn't bother me in "The Believer's Daughter" is that author Caitlyn Duffy writes a lengthy preface, disclaiming that her story is just that--a story--and that real runaways often face unspeakable horrors on the streets. She gives sound advice for teens thinking about running away, as well as for friends of potential runaways. She provides phone and internet contact information for organizations who help runaways. Ms Duffy's story involved a brother and sister running away from their previous lives, but she sets up the tale by emphatically saying that this is fiction, and that running away is a bad idea.
Kudos to her for doing that.
When I read "The Rock Star's Daughter," the first of the "Treadwell Academy" series, I didn't understand that the novels would all be independent, yet tangential to one another through the school. This is a beautiful idea for a YA series, in that it opens up so many possibilities for storylines, without tying the action to one specific location or group of characters. In the "Beautiful Creatures" series, you knew every novel would be about the same cast doing the same things in the same little town. The "Treadwell" series offers virtually unlimited options.
In "The Rock Star's Daughter," we never even set foot on Treadwell's campus. The protagonist mentioned the school, and shared memories from Treadwell, or apprehensions about returning to Treadwell, but nothing real-time. In "The Believer's Daughter," we're on campus for the first couple of chapters.
Another thing I liked in "The Believer's Daughter" was the way two characters from the first novel were worked in. This was done in a natural, effortless way; if you hadn't read the first book, you wouldn't notice these little mentions at all, nor would not knowing these characters in any way impede your understanding of this book.
Despite being set in NYC, this novel--to me at least--had less objectionable material than did the first (which was fine, except for some teenaged drinking). The book is intended for ages 12 & up, and that seems about right. (As previously noted, I have no kids of my own, so if your kid ends up warped from reading this, don't blame me.)
I jest.
"The Believer's Daughter" tackles some tough moral issues along its journey: faith, familial loyalty, right vs wrong, prejudging people, and abortion. I think Ms Duffy handles these nicely, without being ham-handed or overbearing. They blend pretty seamlessly into the plot.
As I said in my review of "The Rock Star's Daughter," I have no idea how that book ended up on my Kindle. I know how this one and the third installment ("The Vicount's Daughter") did, though. I was intrigued by this world Caitlyn Duffy created, and I happily bought them and downloaded them, same as I'll do when #4 comes out. This is a good series.
August 28, 2020
I really like the premise for the Treadwell Academy series by Caitlyn Duffy. Each book in the series is about a different girl who attends the prestigious Treadwell Academy.
I loved the first book in the series- the Rock Star's Daughter ...
This being the second book, I expected more than what was delivered. In fact, I began to think this was the first book in the series, and the previous book was the second.
Basically the storyline is that Grace and Aaron's parents are big evangelists -(think Billy Graham/Jim Jones) complete with tv shows, and money pouring in from donations from people all over the world.
Grace and Aaron are homeschooled until it is time for them to start high school. Suddenly, Rev. Mathieson (Grace's dad) is embroiled in a fraud charge and/or money laundering scheme.
Grace and Aaron have decided to never speak to their parents again and run off to NYC to live the rest of their lives.
This storyline was so unbelievable that it was boring. There was a lot of backstory included for example on how Grace was picked on during her first year at Treadwell- and how she stood out from the usual gang.
I hated the ending. Grace's mom returns to the U.S. and takes the fall for the whole money laundering/ fraud scheme and is sentenced to prison but Grace's dad is never heard from again. He just abandons his whole family.
I dont know if I dare try book 3 or not. But this was a waste of time reading.
I loved the first book in the series- the Rock Star's Daughter ...
This being the second book, I expected more than what was delivered. In fact, I began to think this was the first book in the series, and the previous book was the second.
Basically the storyline is that Grace and Aaron's parents are big evangelists -(think Billy Graham/Jim Jones) complete with tv shows, and money pouring in from donations from people all over the world.
Grace and Aaron are homeschooled until it is time for them to start high school. Suddenly, Rev. Mathieson (Grace's dad) is embroiled in a fraud charge and/or money laundering scheme.
Grace and Aaron have decided to never speak to their parents again and run off to NYC to live the rest of their lives.
This storyline was so unbelievable that it was boring. There was a lot of backstory included for example on how Grace was picked on during her first year at Treadwell- and how she stood out from the usual gang.
I hated the ending. Grace's mom returns to the U.S. and takes the fall for the whole money laundering/ fraud scheme and is sentenced to prison but Grace's dad is never heard from again. He just abandons his whole family.
I dont know if I dare try book 3 or not. But this was a waste of time reading.
June 4, 2023
Is the story a little unrealistic? Sure, but I still enjoyed it. Probably my favourite book of the whole series.
February 26, 2013
Spoiler alert, FYI
This was definitely a very difficult life to live. You parents raise you very strictly religious, your best friend leaves you, and then your brother is caught in a scandal that leads you to run away from your posh boarding school to New York City.
To me, this would be the ultimate scare. As quoted from the book: "Friends come and go, riches are earned and lost, jobs stop and start. Only family is forever." I think that rings true lots of times. I know I would be lost without my family to fall back when something upset me enough to do something drastic (like running away). When your running away from what you should be running towards, it can be more than disorienting I bet. Her parents, seemingly charitable, have been skimming money from funds or creating fake charities to glean money from the church. All in viewing if the public eye. Why? Her day's a televangelist, and when crimes or scandals are unraveled, this all comes out into the open.
What I could really relate to somewhat was the feeling of leaving behind a life, things and people you care about, and moving on to something you have no clue how to handle. When I moved far away from my old home, it was hard to start over and make new friends, try not to cry as I walked through the halls of my home from childhood, barren as a blank piece of paper. Walking into a school where you knew not one person, not one teacher.
Now you have that in extremes: you have to come up with a new identity, a new face, and instead of just making new friends, you have to make yourself three years older so you can get a job and rent An apartment. At least when you move or change schools your parents give you food and shelter.
What if it was just you, roughing it in New York City, with a brother who just broke his leg? You were fired with no leave pay from your job, and you needed to scrape up nearly a thousand dollars all by yourself in just a week at christmastime? What would you do?
Grace Mathison did just this: she made herself Gigi Martin, got herself an apartment with her brother, got herself a job, and dyed her hair pink or rainbow, depending on how she felt. She pounced on life and found all she could make for herself.
Felix, her tattoo artist boyfriend, definitely turned her life around. He got her a job at the tattoo studio after getting fired from her last job, taught her to tattoo, and let her enjoy life again. He really turned her life around, and asked for nothing in return.
The lowest of lows is when their little girl neighbor, Quian, gets hit by a taxi. Her brother, Feng, moves in with them and lifts her brother, Aaron, out of his depression. Even when it seemed bad, something good happened because of it. (In the end, Quian is okay and Gigi was able to raise money for her hospital bills.
And even when God seemed to have turned on her and her faith was shaking, she prevailed and realized in the end that no matter what had happened in their lives, he was still there working thing out. Everything happens for a reason, and now "Gigi" knows those reasons. As she said goodbye to her old life once and for all, she whispers to God, "I've missed you."
Even if she never felt it, on her roller coaster life and spiritual journey, God was still always there.
This was definitely a very difficult life to live. You parents raise you very strictly religious, your best friend leaves you, and then your brother is caught in a scandal that leads you to run away from your posh boarding school to New York City.
To me, this would be the ultimate scare. As quoted from the book: "Friends come and go, riches are earned and lost, jobs stop and start. Only family is forever." I think that rings true lots of times. I know I would be lost without my family to fall back when something upset me enough to do something drastic (like running away). When your running away from what you should be running towards, it can be more than disorienting I bet. Her parents, seemingly charitable, have been skimming money from funds or creating fake charities to glean money from the church. All in viewing if the public eye. Why? Her day's a televangelist, and when crimes or scandals are unraveled, this all comes out into the open.
What I could really relate to somewhat was the feeling of leaving behind a life, things and people you care about, and moving on to something you have no clue how to handle. When I moved far away from my old home, it was hard to start over and make new friends, try not to cry as I walked through the halls of my home from childhood, barren as a blank piece of paper. Walking into a school where you knew not one person, not one teacher.
Now you have that in extremes: you have to come up with a new identity, a new face, and instead of just making new friends, you have to make yourself three years older so you can get a job and rent An apartment. At least when you move or change schools your parents give you food and shelter.
What if it was just you, roughing it in New York City, with a brother who just broke his leg? You were fired with no leave pay from your job, and you needed to scrape up nearly a thousand dollars all by yourself in just a week at christmastime? What would you do?
Grace Mathison did just this: she made herself Gigi Martin, got herself an apartment with her brother, got herself a job, and dyed her hair pink or rainbow, depending on how she felt. She pounced on life and found all she could make for herself.
Felix, her tattoo artist boyfriend, definitely turned her life around. He got her a job at the tattoo studio after getting fired from her last job, taught her to tattoo, and let her enjoy life again. He really turned her life around, and asked for nothing in return.
The lowest of lows is when their little girl neighbor, Quian, gets hit by a taxi. Her brother, Feng, moves in with them and lifts her brother, Aaron, out of his depression. Even when it seemed bad, something good happened because of it. (In the end, Quian is okay and Gigi was able to raise money for her hospital bills.
And even when God seemed to have turned on her and her faith was shaking, she prevailed and realized in the end that no matter what had happened in their lives, he was still there working thing out. Everything happens for a reason, and now "Gigi" knows those reasons. As she said goodbye to her old life once and for all, she whispers to God, "I've missed you."
Even if she never felt it, on her roller coaster life and spiritual journey, God was still always there.
September 17, 2012
Okay, I'm going to be honest here and say that I flubbed up and read book #3 before book #2. That being said, the stories in this series are so seamless, that I didn't lose anything by reading the third book before the second, so bravo to the author for that. So, let's get to the review.
Actual Rating: 4.25
The Believer's Daughter follows the story of Grace Mathison, the daughter of a beloved and respected (and let's not forget, wealthy) televangelist. Grace is not ashamed of her God. She loves her family and the work that they do. There are some things that she doesn't understand, but she believes that her family knows what is best. She isn't immune to the taunts from the girls at her school, the prestigious Treadwell Academy.
After a mission trip that saw her in Colombia, she arrives home to learn that her brother has committed what her father considers an unspeakable crime against the family and he disowns Aaron, making Grace wonder what would make her father do such a thing. When she finally talks to her brother, he convinces her to come on the run with him to New York City, leaving behind everything and everyone she ever knew. But in losing the old, she discovers a new and tougher part of herself that she never thought possible. And through the betrayal of her family, she discovers that love and honor go much deeper than what is on the surface.
What I loved:
I loved (of course) watching Grace's transformation. For me, there was a personal touch to it that I could relate to, growing up in a very religious household and then gaining the freedom of being out from under that thumb. Watching her discover that things aren't always what they seem to be and finding the strength and courage to do what's right was really powerful to me.
What I liked:
I liked the friendship that developed between Grace (Gigi) and the reporter, Tony. It was cool to see someone who was reporting one side of the story give the time and credit to a kid who might otherwise not be listened to. Some might say that it's not really believable that a kid would be a credible source, but nothing is impossible. And through this friendship, Grace was able to get a clearer picture of her family.
What I didn't like:
There wasn't much that I didn't like about this book, as with the other books in the series. I would say that the runaway life was not as realistic as it could have been, but I can't say that because the author prefaced that part in her book saying that being a runaway is much more difficult. So I have to give credit there. There were points in the story where Aaron bothered me because I felt like he relied far too much on Grace, but I believe that was the point of the character.
All in all, I thought the book was fabulous. Not everything about wealth and luxury is glittering gold. It shows that people, no matter their status, have problems and can be miserable. This book does touch on some dark and controversial issues, but it's well-written with a strong voice and I really enjoyed it.
Actual Rating: 4.25
The Believer's Daughter follows the story of Grace Mathison, the daughter of a beloved and respected (and let's not forget, wealthy) televangelist. Grace is not ashamed of her God. She loves her family and the work that they do. There are some things that she doesn't understand, but she believes that her family knows what is best. She isn't immune to the taunts from the girls at her school, the prestigious Treadwell Academy.
After a mission trip that saw her in Colombia, she arrives home to learn that her brother has committed what her father considers an unspeakable crime against the family and he disowns Aaron, making Grace wonder what would make her father do such a thing. When she finally talks to her brother, he convinces her to come on the run with him to New York City, leaving behind everything and everyone she ever knew. But in losing the old, she discovers a new and tougher part of herself that she never thought possible. And through the betrayal of her family, she discovers that love and honor go much deeper than what is on the surface.
What I loved:
I loved (of course) watching Grace's transformation. For me, there was a personal touch to it that I could relate to, growing up in a very religious household and then gaining the freedom of being out from under that thumb. Watching her discover that things aren't always what they seem to be and finding the strength and courage to do what's right was really powerful to me.
What I liked:
I liked the friendship that developed between Grace (Gigi) and the reporter, Tony. It was cool to see someone who was reporting one side of the story give the time and credit to a kid who might otherwise not be listened to. Some might say that it's not really believable that a kid would be a credible source, but nothing is impossible. And through this friendship, Grace was able to get a clearer picture of her family.
What I didn't like:
There wasn't much that I didn't like about this book, as with the other books in the series. I would say that the runaway life was not as realistic as it could have been, but I can't say that because the author prefaced that part in her book saying that being a runaway is much more difficult. So I have to give credit there. There were points in the story where Aaron bothered me because I felt like he relied far too much on Grace, but I believe that was the point of the character.
All in all, I thought the book was fabulous. Not everything about wealth and luxury is glittering gold. It shows that people, no matter their status, have problems and can be miserable. This book does touch on some dark and controversial issues, but it's well-written with a strong voice and I really enjoyed it.
September 27, 2014
This is the second book in the young adult fiction Treadwell Academy series. Its an easy read (finished it during one plane ride) but I did not enjoy this one as much as the first in the series. I'm sure I didn't like this one as much because of the subject...just too much for me to warm up to.
All of the books in this series center around one teenage girl (usually 14-16 years old) who attends the prestigious boarding school Treadwell Academy. The Believer's Daughter is a very unbelievable fairy tale experience of Grace. Her father is a famous television evangelist. After Grace's brother causes a scandal that rocks the family and her father's empire, the siblings run away to New York City. If not for the author's note in the beginning of the book I probably wouldn't have finished the story because the kids' life in NYC is so fantastical that it leans toward the dangerous temptation for other kids thinking about running.
Not my favorite but still and easy read and I enjoy the author's character development and writing style. These books are a great distraction in the middle of a hectic schedule.
All of the books in this series center around one teenage girl (usually 14-16 years old) who attends the prestigious boarding school Treadwell Academy. The Believer's Daughter is a very unbelievable fairy tale experience of Grace. Her father is a famous television evangelist. After Grace's brother causes a scandal that rocks the family and her father's empire, the siblings run away to New York City. If not for the author's note in the beginning of the book I probably wouldn't have finished the story because the kids' life in NYC is so fantastical that it leans toward the dangerous temptation for other kids thinking about running.
Not my favorite but still and easy read and I enjoy the author's character development and writing style. These books are a great distraction in the middle of a hectic schedule.
August 18, 2013
The title of this book is so misleading. It should've been called _The Giant Strawman_. It was very obviously designed to expose the hypocrisy of Christians. This is much easier to do if you _create_ the hypocritical characters, and then have them in absurdly hypocritical situations doing horrible things.
The author appears to have read a few articles about Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker and then based her characters on that. The supposedly-Evangelical characters do things that most evangelical Christians avoid: wine with communion, crossing oneself after prayer.
The titular character--their fifteen year old daughter--is the first-person narrator of the story. Her tourism through poverty is meant to be moving and educational but it really is tourism, as it lacks the real anxiety of actual poverty.
Stories about rich people who play poor to Learn From The Poor are sheer exploitation.
The author appears to have read a few articles about Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker and then based her characters on that. The supposedly-Evangelical characters do things that most evangelical Christians avoid: wine with communion, crossing oneself after prayer.
The titular character--their fifteen year old daughter--is the first-person narrator of the story. Her tourism through poverty is meant to be moving and educational but it really is tourism, as it lacks the real anxiety of actual poverty.
Stories about rich people who play poor to Learn From The Poor are sheer exploitation.
November 14, 2013
This review first appeared on my blog
http://loriscreativity.blogspot.com/2...
After I read the first book in the series I wasn't really sure if I was going to continue on with the others. But after about a week, I finally caved in, I was really anxious, and I just wanted to know what else was going to happen.
I actually think I enjoyed this book better than the first book. When I read the first book, I can remember skipping pages, because it just kept going on and on, but with this book I didn't, I just kept turning the page.
I read this book in about 5 hours, and I was running on about an hour of sleep. I knew I wasn't going to be able to get a good nights sleep, or a good nap, until I finished this book.
Just like the first book in the series, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, even though it's a YA novel, I think people of all ages would enjoy it.
http://loriscreativity.blogspot.com/2...
After I read the first book in the series I wasn't really sure if I was going to continue on with the others. But after about a week, I finally caved in, I was really anxious, and I just wanted to know what else was going to happen.
I actually think I enjoyed this book better than the first book. When I read the first book, I can remember skipping pages, because it just kept going on and on, but with this book I didn't, I just kept turning the page.
I read this book in about 5 hours, and I was running on about an hour of sleep. I knew I wasn't going to be able to get a good nights sleep, or a good nap, until I finished this book.
Just like the first book in the series, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, even though it's a YA novel, I think people of all ages would enjoy it.
March 25, 2016
I liked this part the least. I know the author said that she didn't want to over-glamourize main characters running away but I don't think that she achieved her goal. The whole "New York Struggle" seemed to me like "New York Adventure". Ok, they were struggling, they had to find a way to earn money to pay for food, rent, clothes etc. everything went ok. If they didn't have money for rent there was a small miracle and the money appeard. No apartment? That's ok, they miraculously found it. Even the journalist guy turned to be a good guy with kind heart. What are the odds?. This whole story seemed unrealistic. I know, the author said so in the note at the beggining, but still it all seemed unfair fo kids reading it and maybe thinking that if Grace and Aaron could do it, they could do it.
Besides all of that I really like the Author's style of writing and I wish there were some other books I could read.
Besides all of that I really like the Author's style of writing and I wish there were some other books I could read.
December 22, 2012
i'm really enjoying this series of books. i think rockstars daughter was my favourite of the two so far, but i think that's because, although i've been brought up religious, i've never had it drilled into me that god is the be all and end all of everything, and my parents accept the fact that i do what i want. which in all means i probably relate more to the rockstars daughter. i loved how the characters developed in this story, and it shows that deep down, it's your own heart that matters, not money or expectations. i like to live my life that way, so it was good to read about.
one thing i was slightly disappointed with was how felix reacted when gigi told the truth. i thought it could have been more elongated; it just seemed to happen and that was that.
i'm looking forward to reading the third book, and have recommended this series to a few people now.
one thing i was slightly disappointed with was how felix reacted when gigi told the truth. i thought it could have been more elongated; it just seemed to happen and that was that.
i'm looking forward to reading the third book, and have recommended this series to a few people now.
October 8, 2012
I received this book from the publisher, Lovestruck Literary, through firstreads.
I was slow to warm up to this one because Treadwell Academy was just too superficial for me. There were also a few "would that happen in real life?" moments and a handful of typos. BUT--once Grace became Gigi and moved to New York, things started getting good. I liked her struggle with her strict Christian upbringing and her feeling that she turned her back on God. I also liked the contrast between the horribly rich Treadwell lifestyle and her concern in Chinatown for minor expenses like buying toilet paper and washing clothes. The other characters were fun companions on Grace's road to self-discovery, responsibility, and an authentic relationship with God.
I was slow to warm up to this one because Treadwell Academy was just too superficial for me. There were also a few "would that happen in real life?" moments and a handful of typos. BUT--once Grace became Gigi and moved to New York, things started getting good. I liked her struggle with her strict Christian upbringing and her feeling that she turned her back on God. I also liked the contrast between the horribly rich Treadwell lifestyle and her concern in Chinatown for minor expenses like buying toilet paper and washing clothes. The other characters were fun companions on Grace's road to self-discovery, responsibility, and an authentic relationship with God.
September 17, 2012
I read the first book in this series, The Rock Star's Daughter, without any expectations and was so surprised, delighted and refreshed by it. However, The Believer's Daughter, the second book in the series, is even better. Grace is such a likable character that is complex, realistic and well-developed in the book. The writing and development of the story really make this book such a compelling read and I love that the issues in the book are not black and white. The honesty and struggle of Grace and her brother within the book work to develop the story and the plot points are so well developed and written. You will not be disappointed if you read this book! Cannot wait to read The Viscount's Daughter next!
March 9, 2015
When on scandal leads to a criminal investigation for their televangelist father, Grace and her brother, Aaron run away to NYC. Grace has always been sheltered and believed in her family and their ministry without question. With everything she knew falling down around her, she builds a new life in the real world of NYC.
I loved this book. I lived Grace's adventure in the Big Apple. Everything is not roses, they have problems but they pull through and build real relationships with the people they meet there. There were a few things that were a bit unbelievable (I don't think it is that easy to get fake ID) but for the most part, I felt that the story was really happening. Grace has to face reality about her family but its a good thing in the end.
I loved this book. I lived Grace's adventure in the Big Apple. Everything is not roses, they have problems but they pull through and build real relationships with the people they meet there. There were a few things that were a bit unbelievable (I don't think it is that easy to get fake ID) but for the most part, I felt that the story was really happening. Grace has to face reality about her family but its a good thing in the end.
October 26, 2014
At the beginning, I didn't like the book, ,I thought it was boring because I just wanted to go back to Taylor's story instead of a completely different girl's story, but then, I started to find it interesting. The thing that I liked most about this book is the evolution from Grace, a fifteen-year-old girl who doesn't know how to take care of herself, to Gigi. It has been an amazing story for me to read, at first I though Grace was boring and I didn't want to continue reading, but then something changed and I couldn't put the book down. I would love to read more about Gigi's story, because I've really enjoyed reading it.
June 4, 2012
Once again Caitlyn Duffy transported me back to my teen years. Though I never ran away from home or had a media scandal rock my family, I somehow related to Grace. Her journey of self discovery along with the realization we all have about our parents not being perfect made her an incredibly real and likable character.
I fell hopelessly in love with Felix and loved how he helped Grace on her path. This book was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone but especially young girls.
Can't wait for more Treadwell!!
April 9, 2013
I've read all of the books in the series, and to be honest, I just LOVED this one.
This book just showed that you are able to do something if you really want to, and is exactly what Gigi did.
The rare encounters Gigi had with Felix made my heart skip a beat. I just loved how they lived their normal lifes and then just found each other in random places...
I AM WAITING FOR A SQUEAL TO THIS BOOK! i need to know what happens with Gigi and Felix! Aaron (Gigi's brother) and Jacinda.
I highly recomend it.
This book just showed that you are able to do something if you really want to, and is exactly what Gigi did.
The rare encounters Gigi had with Felix made my heart skip a beat. I just loved how they lived their normal lifes and then just found each other in random places...
I AM WAITING FOR A SQUEAL TO THIS BOOK! i need to know what happens with Gigi and Felix! Aaron (Gigi's brother) and Jacinda.
I highly recomend it.
August 25, 2013
Entertaining YA fiction, I downloaded this to my Kindle for some long-haul flights I was taking.
Duffy does preface the book that the characters' experience of running away to New York City is terribly unrealistic, but another facet of the book that was hard to swallow was the protagonist's family's version of Christianity. Of course any sort of radical religion doesn't make for easy youth reading but this was too bland to swallow.
Regardless it was a fun read and my few dollars were well spent.
Duffy does preface the book that the characters' experience of running away to New York City is terribly unrealistic, but another facet of the book that was hard to swallow was the protagonist's family's version of Christianity. Of course any sort of radical religion doesn't make for easy youth reading but this was too bland to swallow.
Regardless it was a fun read and my few dollars were well spent.
June 21, 2012
I did not enjoy this book as much as the first one of this series, but probably because I could not relate to it as much. I enjoyed following Grace and her brother through their difficulties with the controversy of their parents and how they resolved to solve their problems by themselves. I admire their independence. I love the descriptions of Treadwell Academy, probably since it seems like a close description to my own school.
January 8, 2013
Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. I read this is about 3 hours and I was actually sad it was ending. It is one of the best Young Adult novels i've read. I wish there was like another part to it. The character Grace was brilliant. She was bright and strong. Duffy made her relatable for alot of teenage girls, runaways especially (even though most don't have rich fathers).I highly recommend this book, to anyone who is looking for a nice, relaxing yet intriguing book to stick their noses into. :)
August 13, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, as I have all the Treadwell stories thus far. I found some of the writing very moving, the struggles that Grace & Aaron had when they had no money or food and Grace's meetings with Felix particularly.
This is one of those books that pulls you right in...I felt like I was in New York with Grace, feeling all those emotions and confusion at her parents deceptions.
Absolutely loved this book. Hoping to read more by Caitlyn Duffy very soon.
This is one of those books that pulls you right in...I felt like I was in New York with Grace, feeling all those emotions and confusion at her parents deceptions.
Absolutely loved this book. Hoping to read more by Caitlyn Duffy very soon.
October 24, 2012
This book was very slow at the beginning and in my opinion too easy to put down. It did get a little better and the characters were well developed and believable. It wasn't really a book to inspire me to run out to get every book by this author. I will say though, that it was definitely worth picking back up
October 26, 2012
This book was very entertaining and I can't wait to read more by this author! I'm not a teen, but I enjoyed it and recommended it to my sisters. It was fun imagining what boarding school is like, as well as what it could be like living and working in New York City. It was a very non-preachy Christian book.
February 18, 2013
This book surprised me. I'd liked the first book in this series well enough that I bought the second. This book was considerably better. The characters were more rounded and interesting, the source of conflict in the book was also a lot more interesting I thought. I'm off to buy the 3rd book in the series now.
July 19, 2013
As is typical of this series I had to wait out the good bits but when I was in, I loved it. As a teenage runaway myself I found her portrayal of Gigi's more difficult parts of her journey honest. I appreciate the characters' strength though and a balance between holding on to her true values and standing up for what she believes though the price was so high.
March 24, 2014
Better than you think...
I started this book because I needed a silly, light teen romance-type book. By the time I realized that that's not what I was reading, I was completely hooked. I read the entire book on a rainy Sunday. A great lesson in a gripping story. Read it for yourself!
I started this book because I needed a silly, light teen romance-type book. By the time I realized that that's not what I was reading, I was completely hooked. I read the entire book on a rainy Sunday. A great lesson in a gripping story. Read it for yourself!
April 11, 2012
I love this book, it has such great characters personalities and plot, I can't wait for the continuation of this book (as far as I know it will be a while as the author is in the middle of book 3 in the series)
And Grace and Felix are a cute couple I can't help but adore them
And Grace and Felix are a cute couple I can't help but adore them
August 31, 2013
This book comes from an excellent series of books. Tells of how young people have to face up and deal with problems and realities of life. A fantastic read. Author is really in touch with young people.
January 22, 2014
I liked this better than the first. It was interesting...lots of fairly unrealistic things, but overall I enjoyed it. It was a good story about leaving things behind to be a better person and about learning from parent's lives/mistakes. Lots of good stuff in this one.
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