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Three Little Words
Sixteen-year-old Sid barely remembers his birth mother and has no idea who his father was. Raised on an idyllic island by loving foster parents, Sid would be content to stay there forever, drawing, riding his bike, hanging out with his friend Chloe and helping out with Fariza, a newly arrived foster child. But when a stranger named Phil arrives on the island with disturbing news about his birth family―including a troubled younger brother―Sid leaves all that is familiar to help find the sibling he didn't know existed. What he discovers is a family fractured by mental illness, but also united by strong bonds of love and compassion. As Sid searches for his brother, gets to know his grandmother, and worries about meeting his biological mother, he realizes that there will never be a simple answer to the question, Am I my brother's keeper?
224 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 7, 2021
This started out decent with an interesting premise, but did not deliver. The "relationship" between Sid and Wain is pretty much nonexistent even after they meet. There is a lot of travel: back and forth between islands, to and from Vancouver, in rowboats and charter boats, on ferries, and by car and bike, but neither the characters nor the story seems to get much of anywhere. My disappointment left me open to even more than my usual annoyance at the repeated use of homophobic slurs without any acknowledgement that they are anything other than name-calling, and the complete failure to address the race issues thrown gratuitously into the story. Also, the child psychology underlying some elements in the story is dubious at best.
November 7, 2016
i think the book is good
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October 12, 2012From the Publisher:
Sixteen-year-old Sid barely remembers his birth mother and has no idea who his father was. Raised on an idyllic island by loving foster parents, Sid would be content to stay there forever, drawing, riding his bike, hanging out with his friend Chloe and helping out with Fariza, a newly arrived foster child. But when a stranger named Phil arrives on the island with disturbing news about his birth family - including a troubled younger brother - Sid leaves all that is familiar to help find the sibling he didn't know existed.
What he discovers is a family fractured by mental illness, but also united by strong bonds of love and compassion. As Sid searches for his brother, gets to know his grandmother, and worries about meeting his biological mother, he realizes that there will never be a simple answer to the question, Am I my brother's keeper?
My Thoughts:
Veteran Canadian writer Sarah N. Harvey writes on her website that some of the characters in Three Little Words were invited into this novel from her first piece of fiction (a work she says was not very good.) And I am glad they came over, whichever ones they are, because they have obviously made this one of the best books I have read this year.
Gentle, patient Sid was raised in the calm, loving world of Megan and Caleb on a fishing island in British Vancouver. He is also an artist who has been recording the world around him for years, filling up sketchbook after sketchbook. Megan and Caleb have been taking in foster children all Sid's life, but he has stayed the longest and considers them his parents, and they think of him as their son.
Fariza, 8, their newest foster child, a terrified and traumatized African Canadian child who refuses to speak to anyone. Sid knows he can ask what happened to her, but respects her too much to pry like that.
Gawain, or Wain, Sid's 13 year old stepbrother, whom he never knew existed, is part African Canadian, but unlike Fariza, he is very angry and very vocal about it.
Three Little Words is written in the third person from Sid's point of view, though sometimes the narrator gets a little omniscient and lets the readers know what is inside another character's head. I like the way, for all he is a good, kind, patient, gentle person, Sid still has mixed or negative feelings about his biological mother, her abandonment of him and being pulled back into her world. But, on a positive note, you can see the influence of Megan and Caleb in his actions and thoughts. He worries sometimes that maybe he could end up like his manic-depressive mother, and some of this novel does beg the question of nature or nurture.
I thought that the portrayal of the relationships within the triangle of wounded children is really what makes this such a good book, though. Harvey has captured Sid's mixed feelings what is happening, Fariza's fear of men and Wain's anger at the world and especially Side to the point of being palpable. But she has also captured the kind of compassion that makes healing possible.
One hint: the title, Three Little Words, weren't what I thought and probably not what you think either, but pay attention to the chapter titles.
This is a wonderful YA novel that is able to make a strong impact on the reader and I would highly recommend it to anyone who might enjoy a realistic contemporary novel.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was obtained from the publisher.
http://randomlyreading.blogspot.com/2012/10/three-little-words-by-sarah-n-harvey.html/a>
Sixteen-year-old Sid barely remembers his birth mother and has no idea who his father was. Raised on an idyllic island by loving foster parents, Sid would be content to stay there forever, drawing, riding his bike, hanging out with his friend Chloe and helping out with Fariza, a newly arrived foster child. But when a stranger named Phil arrives on the island with disturbing news about his birth family - including a troubled younger brother - Sid leaves all that is familiar to help find the sibling he didn't know existed.
What he discovers is a family fractured by mental illness, but also united by strong bonds of love and compassion. As Sid searches for his brother, gets to know his grandmother, and worries about meeting his biological mother, he realizes that there will never be a simple answer to the question, Am I my brother's keeper?
My Thoughts:
Veteran Canadian writer Sarah N. Harvey writes on her website that some of the characters in Three Little Words were invited into this novel from her first piece of fiction (a work she says was not very good.) And I am glad they came over, whichever ones they are, because they have obviously made this one of the best books I have read this year.
Gentle, patient Sid was raised in the calm, loving world of Megan and Caleb on a fishing island in British Vancouver. He is also an artist who has been recording the world around him for years, filling up sketchbook after sketchbook. Megan and Caleb have been taking in foster children all Sid's life, but he has stayed the longest and considers them his parents, and they think of him as their son.
Fariza, 8, their newest foster child, a terrified and traumatized African Canadian child who refuses to speak to anyone. Sid knows he can ask what happened to her, but respects her too much to pry like that.
Gawain, or Wain, Sid's 13 year old stepbrother, whom he never knew existed, is part African Canadian, but unlike Fariza, he is very angry and very vocal about it.
Three Little Words is written in the third person from Sid's point of view, though sometimes the narrator gets a little omniscient and lets the readers know what is inside another character's head. I like the way, for all he is a good, kind, patient, gentle person, Sid still has mixed or negative feelings about his biological mother, her abandonment of him and being pulled back into her world. But, on a positive note, you can see the influence of Megan and Caleb in his actions and thoughts. He worries sometimes that maybe he could end up like his manic-depressive mother, and some of this novel does beg the question of nature or nurture.
I thought that the portrayal of the relationships within the triangle of wounded children is really what makes this such a good book, though. Harvey has captured Sid's mixed feelings what is happening, Fariza's fear of men and Wain's anger at the world and especially Side to the point of being palpable. But she has also captured the kind of compassion that makes healing possible.
One hint: the title, Three Little Words, weren't what I thought and probably not what you think either, but pay attention to the chapter titles.
This is a wonderful YA novel that is able to make a strong impact on the reader and I would highly recommend it to anyone who might enjoy a realistic contemporary novel.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was obtained from the publisher.
http://randomlyreading.blogspot.com/2012/10/three-little-words-by-sarah-n-harvey.html/a>
November 9, 2012
Sid is 16 and lives with his foster parents on an island off the west coast of Canada. He’s a bit compulsive and somewhat of a loner but he helps out around the house, is sympathetic to other children and loves to draw. He is mature beyond his years and shows amazing patience with the scared little girl Fariza who is a new member of the foster home. Chloe is flirty, fun, quirky and Sid’s one good friend. There are hints of an attraction on Sid’s part but that is never pursued in the book; it’s enough that they are there for one another.
When a man shows up claiming to be a good friend of Sid’s absentee birth mother and asking for help, Sid is conflicted. His mother abandoned him at age two and he has never heard from her since. He owes her nothing but he learns he has a half brother who may need him, and a grandmother who is anxious to meet him. Sid debates helping, but his inherent kindness and commitment to helping out wins and he agrees to travel to another island to search for his missing half brother and connect with his grandmother. He learns his mother is bipolar and has run away so he may not need to confront her at all. In fact he has no interest in meeting her – he has wonderful foster parents who have nurtured him and love him.
The adults in the story are remarkably likeable – the foster parents, the grandmother, and Sid’s mother’s friend. They are compassionate and individualistic – not stereotypical. Even Sid’s mother who abandoned her baby has redeeming qualities although she’s not a prominent character. The one character who creates the most tension is Wain, Sid’s brother. He’s annoying and clearly troubled. Even Sid begins to lose patience with Wain, but the boy begins to show some progress as the book ends on a hopeful note.
As a person who grew up in a house where foster children came and went, I am pleased that the book paints a positive picture of foster care. There are many wonderful foster parents who really try to provide a loving and stable environment for children in need. The book’s story is engaging and one can’t help but like Sid and the characters in the book. Harvey’s story flows smoothly and has interesting descriptive touches. The optimism of the book is refreshing and uplifting.
When a man shows up claiming to be a good friend of Sid’s absentee birth mother and asking for help, Sid is conflicted. His mother abandoned him at age two and he has never heard from her since. He owes her nothing but he learns he has a half brother who may need him, and a grandmother who is anxious to meet him. Sid debates helping, but his inherent kindness and commitment to helping out wins and he agrees to travel to another island to search for his missing half brother and connect with his grandmother. He learns his mother is bipolar and has run away so he may not need to confront her at all. In fact he has no interest in meeting her – he has wonderful foster parents who have nurtured him and love him.
The adults in the story are remarkably likeable – the foster parents, the grandmother, and Sid’s mother’s friend. They are compassionate and individualistic – not stereotypical. Even Sid’s mother who abandoned her baby has redeeming qualities although she’s not a prominent character. The one character who creates the most tension is Wain, Sid’s brother. He’s annoying and clearly troubled. Even Sid begins to lose patience with Wain, but the boy begins to show some progress as the book ends on a hopeful note.
As a person who grew up in a house where foster children came and went, I am pleased that the book paints a positive picture of foster care. There are many wonderful foster parents who really try to provide a loving and stable environment for children in need. The book’s story is engaging and one can’t help but like Sid and the characters in the book. Harvey’s story flows smoothly and has interesting descriptive touches. The optimism of the book is refreshing and uplifting.
March 26, 2016
I really struggled with this book. The premise sounds fascinating, right?
But... it's not. I mean, all of the elements that the blurb promises are there: the younger half-brother who has been making poor choices; a mother struggling with mental illness; a grandmother who cares deeply but who is tired of always covering for her daughter and taking care of her grandson...
However, the actual writing of the story is lackluster. It sounds shiny - an exciting cross-country road trip - but is, instead, a slow meander down a dirt road.
It's not that I didn't enjoy this book in some ways - it's just that this is a very slow-paced story. Not a lot happens by the end, and to me it seemed very much like a book that I'd read to relax before bed. There was nothing nervewracking or terrible in this story. It was quiet, peaceful, and almost too calm, considering the issues that it tackles - foster care (done right), mental illness, child abuse (mentioned in passing), troubled teen boys, etc.
And I never was sure what to think of Sid, our protagonist. He seemed too quiet, too passive, too much in the background. Also, at 16, what kind of boy doesn't know that around that age, both guys and girls change and start becoming more focused on sexual attraction and romance, etc.? Sid just seemed so clueless about Chloe being interested in him, and that just made me want to smack him because I don't think there really are any guys who are that oblivious - at least, not ones who have a girl for a best friend. A girl who - might I add - is fully willing to smack sense into Sid.
I guess I'm glad I read Three Little Words, but it really wasn't a book that I'm excited about (if you can't already tell). I would recommend it as a book about adoption/foster care and the positive impact good foster care can have on kids, though.
But... it's not. I mean, all of the elements that the blurb promises are there: the younger half-brother who has been making poor choices; a mother struggling with mental illness; a grandmother who cares deeply but who is tired of always covering for her daughter and taking care of her grandson...
However, the actual writing of the story is lackluster. It sounds shiny - an exciting cross-country road trip - but is, instead, a slow meander down a dirt road.
It's not that I didn't enjoy this book in some ways - it's just that this is a very slow-paced story. Not a lot happens by the end, and to me it seemed very much like a book that I'd read to relax before bed. There was nothing nervewracking or terrible in this story. It was quiet, peaceful, and almost too calm, considering the issues that it tackles - foster care (done right), mental illness, child abuse (mentioned in passing), troubled teen boys, etc.
And I never was sure what to think of Sid, our protagonist. He seemed too quiet, too passive, too much in the background. Also, at 16, what kind of boy doesn't know that around that age, both guys and girls change and start becoming more focused on sexual attraction and romance, etc.? Sid just seemed so clueless about Chloe being interested in him, and that just made me want to smack him because I don't think there really are any guys who are that oblivious - at least, not ones who have a girl for a best friend. A girl who - might I add - is fully willing to smack sense into Sid.
I guess I'm glad I read Three Little Words, but it really wasn't a book that I'm excited about (if you can't already tell). I would recommend it as a book about adoption/foster care and the positive impact good foster care can have on kids, though.
April 17, 2023
Are you ready for a heartwarming tale of family, healing, and love? Well, look elsewhere because "Three Little Words" is not that book. Instead, it's a dark and brooding novel about Sid, a sixteen-year-old foster kid with a talent for sketching and a preference for black T-shirts.
Sid's life on a peaceful British Columbia island revolves around his best friend Chloe, his foster siblings, and his sketchbooks. But when he shares his private drawings with Fariza, a mute and traumatized foster child, he discovers a new way to heal and connect with others. However, Sid's fragile world shatters when he learns he has a half-brother, Wain (Gawain), who's gone missing in Victoria. Suddenly, Sid finds himself in the middle of a search-and-rescue mission with Phil, his mother's friend, and an unlikely ally.
If you're expecting a heart-pounding thriller with car chases and shootouts, you'll be disappointed. The search for Wain is more like a leisurely stroll through Victoria's picturesque streets, interrupted by the occasional phone call or clue. But that's not to say the novel lacks tension or conflict. On the contrary, "Three Little Words" is a masterclass in passive-aggressive behavior, emotional manipulation, and unresolved trauma.
As Sid delves deeper into his family's secrets, he realizes that some wounds never heal, and some people are beyond redemption. His mother, Devi, is a bipolar wreck who abandoned him at a young age, leaving him with scars that still ache. His foster parents, Caleb and Megan, are well-meaning but clueless about the challenges of raising a transracial family. And Wain, his half-brother, is a moody and defensive kid who resents Sid's intrusion into his life.
Despite the heavy themes, "Three Little Words" has its moments of levity and humor. Sid's deadpan wit and dry observations provide a welcome relief from the bleakness of his situation. His interactions with Chloe, Fariza, and Phil are touching and genuine, showing his capacity for empathy and kindness. And his sketches, which are sprinkled throughout the book, reveal his artistic talent and his innermost thoughts.
But let's be clear: this is not a feel-good book. It's a book that will make you question the meaning of family, the nature of mental illness, and the limits of forgiveness. It's a book that will make you appreciate the fragility of life and the importance of resilience. And it's a book that will make you want to hug Sid and tell him that everything will be okay, even if you know it won't.
In conclusion, "Three Little Words" is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that will stay with you long after you finish it. It's not a book for everyone, but if you're in the mood for a dark and honest portrayal of family dynamics and the human psyche, give it a try. And who knows, you might even find yourself saying those three little words at the end: "I'm your half-brother."
Sid's life on a peaceful British Columbia island revolves around his best friend Chloe, his foster siblings, and his sketchbooks. But when he shares his private drawings with Fariza, a mute and traumatized foster child, he discovers a new way to heal and connect with others. However, Sid's fragile world shatters when he learns he has a half-brother, Wain (Gawain), who's gone missing in Victoria. Suddenly, Sid finds himself in the middle of a search-and-rescue mission with Phil, his mother's friend, and an unlikely ally.
If you're expecting a heart-pounding thriller with car chases and shootouts, you'll be disappointed. The search for Wain is more like a leisurely stroll through Victoria's picturesque streets, interrupted by the occasional phone call or clue. But that's not to say the novel lacks tension or conflict. On the contrary, "Three Little Words" is a masterclass in passive-aggressive behavior, emotional manipulation, and unresolved trauma.
As Sid delves deeper into his family's secrets, he realizes that some wounds never heal, and some people are beyond redemption. His mother, Devi, is a bipolar wreck who abandoned him at a young age, leaving him with scars that still ache. His foster parents, Caleb and Megan, are well-meaning but clueless about the challenges of raising a transracial family. And Wain, his half-brother, is a moody and defensive kid who resents Sid's intrusion into his life.
Despite the heavy themes, "Three Little Words" has its moments of levity and humor. Sid's deadpan wit and dry observations provide a welcome relief from the bleakness of his situation. His interactions with Chloe, Fariza, and Phil are touching and genuine, showing his capacity for empathy and kindness. And his sketches, which are sprinkled throughout the book, reveal his artistic talent and his innermost thoughts.
But let's be clear: this is not a feel-good book. It's a book that will make you question the meaning of family, the nature of mental illness, and the limits of forgiveness. It's a book that will make you appreciate the fragility of life and the importance of resilience. And it's a book that will make you want to hug Sid and tell him that everything will be okay, even if you know it won't.
In conclusion, "Three Little Words" is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that will stay with you long after you finish it. It's not a book for everyone, but if you're in the mood for a dark and honest portrayal of family dynamics and the human psyche, give it a try. And who knows, you might even find yourself saying those three little words at the end: "I'm your half-brother."
February 22, 2019
Felt like it was unfinished?
October 12, 2021
Understandable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2023
Good book for junior high level of reading!!
March 8, 2022
The story line was very relaxed and easy to keep up with. I found myself struggling at first to understand the setting and characters, but I figured it out pretty quickly. To me, it was really cool to see Sid struggle to let Wain into his life because it felt more realistic than if Sid were to just welcome Wain in. The ending was pretty underwhelming to me, but it's probably because I was hoping for a more emotional conversation between Sid and Devi. Overall, this story would be great to read if you're looking for a calm but intereting book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2013
This book is about a sixteen year old boy, Sid who barely remembers anything about this childhood. He has no idea who his birth mother and his birth father was. Sid was raised on an island by two loving foster parents. He would be content to stay there forever, drawing, riding his bike, hanging out with his friend, Chloe and helping out with Fariza, a newly arrived foster child. But then when a stranger named Phil arrives on the island with very disturbing news saying something about his birth family. News about his troubled younger brother, Sid leaves all behind to help find the sibling he never had, and never knew existed. He soon discovers his family fractured by mental illness, but he is also united by strong bonds of love and compassion. Sid finds his brother, Wain, gets to know his grandmother, and worries about meeting his biological mother.
I finished this book because, it seemed interesting at first, but then it got kind of boring, and then it got interesting again. Overall the book was kind of confusing at times, like I would be like 'what happened huh' so i had to read the previous pages again, to make sure.
Reasons why I picked up this book was because, of the cover of the book. And the title, cause it said 'three little words' and I thought it would be some romance book so I kind of got all excited, but it turned out the "three little words" were Farewell to Normaltown. That sucked.
I wouldn't really recommend this book to anyone. Cause I didn't really find it good at all, it was just okay I guess. But maybe I'm wrong, some other people would want to read this.
I finished this book because, it seemed interesting at first, but then it got kind of boring, and then it got interesting again. Overall the book was kind of confusing at times, like I would be like 'what happened huh' so i had to read the previous pages again, to make sure.
Reasons why I picked up this book was because, of the cover of the book. And the title, cause it said 'three little words' and I thought it would be some romance book so I kind of got all excited, but it turned out the "three little words" were Farewell to Normaltown. That sucked.
I wouldn't really recommend this book to anyone. Cause I didn't really find it good at all, it was just okay I guess. But maybe I'm wrong, some other people would want to read this.
August 6, 2016
Despite having been abandoned at age two by his unpredictable mother, sixteen-year-old Sid (short for Siddhartha) has had a good life with his foster parents, Megan and Caleb, living on an island in British Columbia. Other foster children come and go, but Sid, an introvert who loves to draw, stays. Then one day Phil, a friend of Sid’s mother, arrives on the island. He tells Sid that not only has his mother disappeared, but Sid’s younger half-brother, Wain (short for Gawain), is also missing. Sid never knew he had a brother, and can’t understand why Phil thinks he would have any chance of finding him, but reluctantly agrees to return to Victoria with Phil and meet--or help find--what’s left of the family he never knew.
I basically liked this book. I thought the characters were well conceived and constructed, the structure was good, the description and sense of setting made me wish I could be on the island, and I liked how nothing was really perfect. I also liked how Harvey really showed Sid’s character in his treatment of Fariza, the traumatized foster child. I did have a few issues, though. I thought there were too many characters--I kept losing track of them when they were all together, and it felt as if their stories had been left out (like Chloe, who was mostly just perfect, and the two foster parents). I also couldn’t figure out if Sid were interested in Chloe as a girlfriend or not--it just wasn’t clear to me. In addition, Wain, as the son of an African man and a white woman, could not possibly be as black as his father--it's a physical impossibility. And did the 'good' brother really have to be white, while the 'bad' brother is dark-skinned?
I basically liked this book. I thought the characters were well conceived and constructed, the structure was good, the description and sense of setting made me wish I could be on the island, and I liked how nothing was really perfect. I also liked how Harvey really showed Sid’s character in his treatment of Fariza, the traumatized foster child. I did have a few issues, though. I thought there were too many characters--I kept losing track of them when they were all together, and it felt as if their stories had been left out (like Chloe, who was mostly just perfect, and the two foster parents). I also couldn’t figure out if Sid were interested in Chloe as a girlfriend or not--it just wasn’t clear to me. In addition, Wain, as the son of an African man and a white woman, could not possibly be as black as his father--it's a physical impossibility. And did the 'good' brother really have to be white, while the 'bad' brother is dark-skinned?
April 15, 2014
As a foster parent myself, I am always intrigued with books about foster care, both fiction and non-fiction, which was the reason I chose this book. Three Little words is set in Canada which is great because I know nothing about the Canadian foster care system. I could fully enjoy the book without analyzing whether or not that's how things are really done like I do when I read an American novel about foster care.
I liked that this book shows the positive side of foster care. Sid has been in foster care since he was two years old and it has definitely been the best place for him. His foster parents, Megan and Caleb, are wonderful, yet not perfect ,like a lot of foster parents I know. At the same time, the grief and loss inherent in foster care is addressed as well. Sid hasn't forgotten about his biological family and when his parents take in a new placement, Fariza, she definitely has issues adjusting.
I struggled with the beginning of Sid's journey. Why would his grandma think he could find his brother, Wain, when Sid has never even met him? Sid asks that question as well but I don't think a realistic motivation for the grandma was offered. I think there could have been a better way to start off Sid's relationship with his brother. Once I let that go, I liked reading about their evolving relationship and Wain's personal evolution as well.
This book is intended for young adult readers ages 12 and up. it does have some swearing in it but I didn't think it was anything that an average teenager hasn't heard or said themselves. I enjoyed this book and think that it will appeal to both teens and adults.
I liked that this book shows the positive side of foster care. Sid has been in foster care since he was two years old and it has definitely been the best place for him. His foster parents, Megan and Caleb, are wonderful, yet not perfect ,like a lot of foster parents I know. At the same time, the grief and loss inherent in foster care is addressed as well. Sid hasn't forgotten about his biological family and when his parents take in a new placement, Fariza, she definitely has issues adjusting.
I struggled with the beginning of Sid's journey. Why would his grandma think he could find his brother, Wain, when Sid has never even met him? Sid asks that question as well but I don't think a realistic motivation for the grandma was offered. I think there could have been a better way to start off Sid's relationship with his brother. Once I let that go, I liked reading about their evolving relationship and Wain's personal evolution as well.
This book is intended for young adult readers ages 12 and up. it does have some swearing in it but I didn't think it was anything that an average teenager hasn't heard or said themselves. I enjoyed this book and think that it will appeal to both teens and adults.
April 2, 2013
Sid (short for Siddhartha) has spent virtually his entire life in the loving and supportive foster care of Caleb and Megan, and he considers them to be his mom and dad. A bit of an introvert, Sid is also very empathetic making him a real asset in a home where foster children come and go. His normal life is shattered when a strange man arrives on the island with Sid's half-brother Wain (short for Gawain). Sid, by choice and obligation, gets reconnected with his birth family, learning all kinds of things about himself and a variety of 'three word' phrases.
This is an absolute gem of a book about what makes a family a family, as well as friendship, love, tolerance and so much more. There are four relationships that swirl around each other in this story of one artistic, introverted teen's life -- that with his 'parents', that with his best friend Chloe, that with Fariza (a newly arrived foster child from a very violent home), and finally that with his birth family, especially Wain. The story arcs twirl around each other like a DNA helix showing how all of them work together to allow Sid to cope with such radical change, and making for a very moving read. The author has chosen three word chapter titles each of which captures the emotions and foibles of Sid's exitence from moment to moment, carrying the reader through the book.
There are places in the book where the f-bomb and other such words appear, but they are in context and the book would be less 'true' without them. As a coming of age book, this is a winner.
This is an absolute gem of a book about what makes a family a family, as well as friendship, love, tolerance and so much more. There are four relationships that swirl around each other in this story of one artistic, introverted teen's life -- that with his 'parents', that with his best friend Chloe, that with Fariza (a newly arrived foster child from a very violent home), and finally that with his birth family, especially Wain. The story arcs twirl around each other like a DNA helix showing how all of them work together to allow Sid to cope with such radical change, and making for a very moving read. The author has chosen three word chapter titles each of which captures the emotions and foibles of Sid's exitence from moment to moment, carrying the reader through the book.
There are places in the book where the f-bomb and other such words appear, but they are in context and the book would be less 'true' without them. As a coming of age book, this is a winner.
September 4, 2012
THIS REVIEW IS BASED ON THE GALLEY. I picked up this book because of the cover, an intricately line drawn array of disparate items on a hand that is writing letters. And, the title...three little words, which, thankfully are not "I love you." This is a little gem of a book about family relationships, friendships, stepping out on faith and giving of yourself even when you're not sure it's worth it. What I like best is the way in which the characters speak to each other in a way that is hesitant even though it is obvious that they are all needy for connection. The confusion that Sid feels about his mother and brother is realistic and not overbearing. Although there were a few moments of sappy, I didn't mind. Harvey doesn't gush or prolong her tragedies; they are a part of the characters lives and they live with them, just as we do. I can accept that. There were a couple of times I was uncomfortable with the racial aspects of the books; e.g. Chloe says, "...I'll kick your black ass." Then, a few sentences later states, "I'll kick your skinny white ass..." almost as if Harvey knows you can't have a character say one without the other or you can alienate some readers. I just found it hard to believe that Chloe would say that in mixed company to someone she just met (even though she's characterized well as being forthright). Other than that, it was a solid read that I would recommend.
April 17, 2013
This is not a long read, but a thoughtful one. The book revolves around Sid, who was abandoned by his mother as a child, but was taken in by a wonderful foster family who he loves very much, and who love him very much. Sid, despite not caring about his roots, commences on a journey to help find his brother Wain, who is missing. Initially, I did not really care about the characters, and I thought it was silly that a teenager was expected to help find another teenager who, just a few a days ago, he did not even know was family. However, I loved the character of Sid, and kept reading, and realized that this is an immensely interesting story. The characters are brilliant, and not stereotypical, and all lend to the development of the main character. Wain is probably the only character that one wants to despise, but I couldn't bring myself to even despise him, given that he was clearly a troubled teen who needs attention and affection, and someone to relate to. The fact that Sid never gives up on Wain, even when he seems to have reached his wit's end with him, is the most endearing quality about Sid. It is a story of redemption, of taking your abandonment and anger issues and being able to channel them into productivity, and the importance of family. I honestly enjoyed this book a lot.
November 17, 2015
This book was one of my favorite ones because it had a lot of twists in it. at the beginning, a 16 year old boy named Sid was adopted into a foster family. Megan and Caleb took care of him since he was very young. they adopted another kid in, Fariza, a little girl with a tragic back story. Fariza does not speak at all, except for two words "please" and "thank you." Sid and Fariza draw in their notebooks every morning till the day when a guy named Phil comes to the house to talk to Sid and his foster parents about Sids real mom and that Sid has a 13 year old brother. Sid had no idea who his real mom was and he didn't know that he had a younger brother. So Sid goes with Phil to see Sid's grandmother named Elizabeth. after he meets her, he goes and looks for his brother, Wain. when he found Wain, he brought him back to Eliizabeths and they all go to Sid's house. Towards the end of the story, all of them go to see Sid's and Wain's mom, Devi, who is in the psych ward.
October 5, 2012
This book was just okay. I guess this was written for a young adult and I am definitely not in that category anymore. Maybe teenagers would relate to the characters better than I did, but I really hate to think that teenagers use the vulgar language that was used in this book (I know they do, but that is besides the point.) The story line was good, about an adopted teenager who finds out he has a half brother he never knew. I did not like that the main character called his adopted parents by their first names, after all they adopted him when he was about two. What I did like was the title of the book and how each chapter was named with three words that tied in with the story. The book was a fast, light read and it was a nice story, just not a book that I would read again.
April 12, 2013
First things first: I did not think, as some reviewers have, that Sid was too good to be true. He's a 16-year-old boy, and he's got a lot of anger, but he's found ways to deal with it. He's also an introvert and an artist - and a foster kid; the eldest in a stable, loving foster family. His secure world is set on edge when a stranger visits his small seaside town in British Columbia with news Sid doesn't want to hear. He has a half-brother, a 13-year-old called Wain, who has run away. Is Sid his brother's keeper? And what will both boys do about the mentally ill mother, now dying of cancer, who has abandoned them both?
A quiet book that raises some serious questions. Not for every reader, but, if you like realistic fiction and family stories, this is worth reading.
A quiet book that raises some serious questions. Not for every reader, but, if you like realistic fiction and family stories, this is worth reading.
March 21, 2013
I really enjoyed this story about Sid who comes from a dysfunctional family to live with an amazing adoptive family, Megan and Caleb. There's a wonderful story-in-a-story between Sid and his adopted sister Fariza. Megan and Caleb are angels on earth, while Sid's mom, Devi, is anything but. Sid's half-brother Wain has problems of his own. But the way they all come together restores my faith in the fact that good will always outweigh bad. Always.
May 12, 2013
In this book Sid, a foster kid, gets a chance to meet and help his broken biological family.
I loved this book because it focused around a nontraditional family and reminded the reader how important family is to us whether it's biological, adopted, foster, etc. I read it in one sitting because I enjoyed the relationships Sid had with Fariza and Wain.
I loved this book because it focused around a nontraditional family and reminded the reader how important family is to us whether it's biological, adopted, foster, etc. I read it in one sitting because I enjoyed the relationships Sid had with Fariza and Wain.
March 19, 2013
An okay book that explores adoption and family. A quick read that moves fast but lacks real plot development. The book brings up issues which will sure lead to discussion about what family really is. However, many won't make it through the book to understand the point.
August 21, 2013
This book about teenaged Sid, his relationships within his foster family, and then his introduction to his bio family is a hopeful and not judgmental read, somewhat nails the experience, or at least one experience of decent foster care.
April 14, 2016
Poignant, beautiful, heart-wrenching, wonderful. Imagine being a teenage boy meeting the brother you never knew you had and the mother who abandoned you as a toddler - well done, Ms. Harvey, very believably written.
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November 4, 2012The premise was a bit thin but the mc was likable and there were some moments of lovely writing.
February 19, 2013
Another good YA title that I really enjoyed.
June 29, 2013
It kept me interested the whole time. It was a excellent book.
November 2, 2013
Social content - Grade 8 and over. Canadian, set in BC so lots of references to Tim's and locations within the province.
December 8, 2013
It was interesting. Loved Sid.
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