[Shine] [By: Maryon, Kate] [June, 2011]

by Kate Maryon

Twelve-year-old Tiff loves her mom, Carla, who is glitzy and fun and always coming home with shiny new amazing stuff. The trouble is, Tiff's mom doesn't buy things, she takes them. The fact is, Tiff's mom is a thief. When Carla gets caught, Tiff's shiny life is ruined. She's packed off to a remote island to live with Carla's family. A family her mom never even talks about and that Tiff has never even met! How can she survive in this dull, dull place? But the island of Sark isn't as awful as Tiff imagined it would be. The islanders are kind and honest and she's happy spending time with them. So three months later, when it's finally time for her mom to join her, Tiff can't help feeling more than a little bit worried.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Contemporary, Childrens

Paperback

First published March 1, 2010

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Tiffany. She's never met her Dad and although she loves her funny, glamorous, Mum, Carla, she can't help hating a little too because of her alcoholic habits and 'borrowing'. So when Tiffany's mum finally gets caught for 'borrowing' by the police, Tiff is taken into care for a while. She hates her foster home so much that she decides to go and live with her Mum's family who live on the small, boring island of Sark. Carla ran away from Sark at the age of seventeen to go to England.
At first, Tiff HATES Sark, it's so boring and plain and quiet compared to her busy London life. But as she spends more and more time there, she realises that Sark has so much more to offer... And when Mum finally gets out of prison, Tiff's new world begins to get its shine on!

This book is an incredible story of love, friendship, and staying strong when it seems impossible to do so. I rad this book in about 2 days, I couldn't put it down! I recommend this book to anyone.

[Assma Benmussa · Rating 3 out of 5]

sort of a good book, not one of my best reads but maybe because it was a children's book

[spurthiscool · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was actually so much better than i remember. i teared up a couple times. it does go a little bit fast tho.

[Sienna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book soo much!!

[RedPanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it's so innocent and kind!

[Daisy May Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicely told and very genuine story about a young girl whose mum is sent to prison. Tiff has to go and live with family that she's never met in a place that she's never met and "find her shine". It's charmingly put together and very sweetly done in places. Perfect for fans of Jacqueline Wilson and Holly Webb, I think.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maryon's first. I definitely feel she has grown stronger with stories as she's progressed.

There's nothing wrong with Shine. The main character, 12-year-old Tiffany, is a likeable narrator, her mum a perfect cocktail of ditzy, spendaholic, in-with-the-wrong-crowd, irresponsible and kleptomaniac mother. It's quite predictable but serviceable - mother gets caught out, daughter needs a new home, the estranged island-living family are called in. Her mother ran away as a teenager, breaking hearts and ties, burning bridges. Tiffany is hurt and angry. How will the fish-out-of-water city girl cope on an island with no cars or shops?

It's still touching. And a perfect read for the age group. At that age I had Judy Blume and Paula Danziger and was utterly devoted to them. Maryon and Jacqueline Wilson are the modern equivalents.

[Kitty Wormald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story even though it was written for 12 year olds, while reading it I realised I never read books like these because I didn't read any proper books from like age 7-14. I missed a couple big genres of books. This is such an interesting story line and I wish she could expand it and make a book for more adult readers going deeper into the story and what her mum actually did. Would be swell

I wish I read this book as a child but for some reason I hated reading 🙂✌️

[Ruby Coggins x · Rating 4 out of 5]

💗💗🎊

[Nicky Treaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a girl who deals with huge changes in her life. This is a good book, really. But there are boring parts in between.

[Tecelã Da Deusa · Rating 3 out of 5]

O livro não é ruim mas achei uma história muito infantil, meio “adolescentes” para o meu gosto. Fala sobre as mudanças que a vida é outras pessoas nos impõe e aceitar e seguir adiante não é uma tarefa fácil. Entender, perdoar e aceitar as mudanças pode ser um processo longo e doloroso para qualquer pessoa e cada um reage, encara o novo caminho de uma forma diferente. Mas o TEMPO cura tudo.

[Fi · Rating 5 out of 5]

first read this when i was 10 and rereading it 6 years later highlights how much i love this book. i'll never forget it!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characters: 6.5/10
Storyline: 7/10
General Writing: 7/10
Capturing: 6/10
Themes: 7/10
Rating: 67%

A childhood favourite. Very heartwarming.

[Sophie Furnival · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Loved it absolutely amazing.
Fab book!
Highly recommend, good storyline and amazing character. Love all of her books, onto the next one

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books ❤️

[MASA Team · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way she meets her mum who went prison with Mikey all changed.
It is emotional when her mum and Mandy are friends again.

[Reeya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice Story but I feel the main character is very rude

[Yiwang Seldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but very good my favorite i have read a million of Angels same author but this is better

[eira · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of my childhood favs 💗

[Daredevil Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is heartwarming and sweet. I loved it 🥰

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading childhood faves. I loved this book when i was 12 and i love it now.

[Saee :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoilers!
Who doesn't like gifted ponies, treehouse, finding an awesome family ,accidentaly meeting their sister and finding their shine?

[Char · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for young teenagers and used to be one of my favourite childhood books. Reading it again as an adult was nostalgic, but without that childhood link I wouldn't recommend it for adults

[Jané Swart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood favourite. Only downside is it made me think I'd wake up to a surprise horse every Christmas morning.🤣

[signedlayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a chokehold on me when I was younger.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great middle grade, loved the moved to countryside vibe. Would recommend highly to pre-teen girls as an easy fast read full of family and fun! :)

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Tiff, a strong young girl who overcomes having her loveable mother in jail after getting caught from stealing expensive objects. Even though her "world comes crashing down", Tiff keeps an open mind about life and gets to enjoy her life in miserable Sark with her aunty Cass, finding her family and older sister along the way. Though this book was a tragic story, about a 12 year old girl Tiff trying to cope with her mothers addiction to stealing any item with value or shine, Kate Maryon really overcomes my expectations, twisting the story by writing it with a joyful ending.

[Tiferet Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg! This book is so sad!!!! It just devastating! The mom, who steals everything, but never gets caught . She also, by the drinks. Steals cars, sells them, and spends the money. And her daughter, typically tiff. Who just wants a normal life! With a normal mom, something she know she'll never have. A sad touching book, with, a happy ending.

[Jaymeds24 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book! I mean if I was older I wouldn't have been interested (I was 11). This book hooked me in straight away and I knew this book I was going to love. I got very into it and got a little emotional. But man I love this book so, so much!!!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was super good i wish their were a nuber 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10 i read it in 1 and a half days i couldn't put it down!!!!!