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Baygirl
Growing up in a picturesque Newfoundland fishing village "should" be idyllic for sixteen-year-old Kit Ryan, but living with an alcoholic father makes Kit's day-to-day life unpredictable and almost intolerable. When the 1992 cod moratorium forces her father out of a job, the tension between Kit and her father grows. Forced to leave their rural community, the family moves to the city, where they live with Uncle Iggy, a widower with problems of his own. Immediately pegged as a "baygirl," Kit struggles to fit in, but longstanding trust issues threaten to hold her back when a boy named Elliot expresses an interest in her.
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2013
17 people are currently reading
709 people want to read
About the author
Heather Smith
14 books171 followersOriginally from Newfoundland, Heather Smith now lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her husband and three children. Her Newfoundland roots inspire much of her writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 5, 2017
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
Kit Ryan's father is a drunk. When he looses his job, the family moves to St. John's to live with her Uncle Iggy. Kit doesn't want to leave her friends and start at a new school. Then she meets a boy named Eliot and her depressing life seems to be looking up.
The book was enjoyable, but nothing special in my opinion, but I loved how it was set in Canada! I found it to be a bit slow and boring at times. I did find the book to be surprisingly funny though! Mr. Adams was by far my favourite character and I just wanted the book to be all about him. I did enjoy Kit as a main character and liked how she would stand up to her father.
Kit Ryan's father is a drunk. When he looses his job, the family moves to St. John's to live with her Uncle Iggy. Kit doesn't want to leave her friends and start at a new school. Then she meets a boy named Eliot and her depressing life seems to be looking up.
The book was enjoyable, but nothing special in my opinion, but I loved how it was set in Canada! I found it to be a bit slow and boring at times. I did find the book to be surprisingly funny though! Mr. Adams was by far my favourite character and I just wanted the book to be all about him. I did enjoy Kit as a main character and liked how she would stand up to her father.
March 3, 2019
Another wonderful story from Heather Smith. She presents Kit's problems with realism and grace and never slides into the cliche. Kit, her mother and her alcoholic father have to leave their beloved seaside community for St. John's. There is a boy, of course, but the romance doesn't take over the story. This is a wonderful reflection on love, community and the weaknesses with which we all battle... and I want Mr. Adams to be my neighbour! I love stories set in Newfoundland and this was no exception.
February 14, 2023
Loved all these Heather Smith books!
Ok, so now that I've read three of her books in a week, they get a bit formulaic but I still enjoyed them! I laughed and cried with all three.
Ok, so now that I've read three of her books in a week, they get a bit formulaic but I still enjoyed them! I laughed and cried with all three.
July 12, 2025
Make that 3.5 stars.
A YA novel about a teenage girl struggling with life with an alcoholic father. It's only at the end of the story that she learns why her father was the way he was. Family secrets she never learned about until a moment of sobriety late in the book. (Not going to tell you here... spoiler). But a conversation struck me since I remember my mother saying this to me.
Teenage Kit is speaking with her father. "Your Dad? Did you love him?"
My father thought for a moment. "He was my father. So, yeah. I loved him. I loved him a lot I just hated the things he did."
"Remember when I said I hated you?...
His eyes filled with tears, and when he spoke his voice was tight and choked. "I'll never forget it."
"I don't, Dad. I don't hate you. I just hate the things you do."
I remember my mother saying that to me. I can't imagine why because I was a good kid, the youngest, never really did anything wrong. Can't imagine why my mother said those words to me but I will always remember them. Reading it here in this story I wonder whether this conversation takes places between all parents and their children.
A YA novel about a teenage girl struggling with life with an alcoholic father. It's only at the end of the story that she learns why her father was the way he was. Family secrets she never learned about until a moment of sobriety late in the book. (Not going to tell you here... spoiler). But a conversation struck me since I remember my mother saying this to me.
Teenage Kit is speaking with her father. "Your Dad? Did you love him?"
My father thought for a moment. "He was my father. So, yeah. I loved him. I loved him a lot I just hated the things he did."
"Remember when I said I hated you?...
His eyes filled with tears, and when he spoke his voice was tight and choked. "I'll never forget it."
"I don't, Dad. I don't hate you. I just hate the things you do."
I remember my mother saying that to me. I can't imagine why because I was a good kid, the youngest, never really did anything wrong. Can't imagine why my mother said those words to me but I will always remember them. Reading it here in this story I wonder whether this conversation takes places between all parents and their children.
February 21, 2021
Heather Smith writes the most beautiful, heart wrenching stories. We are so lucky to have her writing for young people.
July 13, 2022
It's been a while since I regretted reading a book... Unfortunately I didn't find this enjoyable to read at all. There was something about the dialogue that just didn't seem realistic. Too simple and often cliche. Many of the conversations felt rushed or forced. Like the author was trying too hard to be endearing or funny or witty, but it always fell short. I didn't dislike the premise; I think with better writing it could have been a good story. The writing actually reminded me a lot of the Maze Runner - like the author was trying to dumb down the writing for the teen audience. Teens can have complicated thoughts and emotions, too. They don't need to be portrayed as if they are a toddler. At least it was a quick read!
August 9, 2018
This has the trademark of Smith's style, consisting of wonderfully complex characters. I love that it takes place in 90s Newfoundland. However, the abrupt ending (and its twist) didn't seem to fit.
July 31, 2013
I received an ARC of Baygirl by Heather Smith from Orca Book Publishers via LibraryThing. The review may contain spoilers, read-on at your own risk. Baygirl, a Teen Fiction novel, shares the story of Kit Ryan, a most resilient and head-strong teenager living in a small fishing village set in Canada's East Coast. As the only child to an alcoholic father and a co-dependent mother, Kit endures the socioeconomic struggles of poverty, lack of basic needs and isolation. She is subject to unfair prejudice and bullying by her peers. Due to her father's loss of work the family moves from their home community to the "big city" to face a new start. Kit is resistant to this sudden change in her life and fears that none of her life circumstance will improve. She holds a sense of hopelessness and a significant hatred towards her father for his alcoholism and lack of responsibility in taking care of his family. Along the way we are introduced to numerous characters that hold a strong influence on Kit's ability to face her adversities and adapt to her new surroundings. Kit's paternal grandmother gives her strength, wisdom and sense of security and "home". Ms. Bartlett provides Kit with guidance and adult social contact that is severely lacking in her family unit. Kit's uncle Iggy has his own past demons, and has not healed from his own losses. He makes his best attempts at making Kit comfortable in her new surroundings and provide protection from her father's abusive disposition. Mr. Adams, her new elderly neighbour, is an eccentric and stubborn widow who holds his own loneliness, loss and isolation. The two develop an unique bond that serves a parallel benefit for both. And then there is the teen love story. Kit befriends Elliot, a teen who she believes is "out of her reach", despite developing a "crush" for him. The author's writing flows from the very beginning and is well-paced throughout. This is a quick read as a result. The settings are described in true to East Coast terms and the dialectics are bang-on. There is both humour and heart-break within the novel. One moment you are laughing out loud at Mr. Adams unique wit, the next you are feeling a heavy heart for the true to life social issues faced by Kit. The author does not hold back in her writings about this very real and factual life circumstance. Sometimes the truth stings and this novel causes the reader to walk through situations that no teen should have to face. There is no sugar coating the social issues and I applaud the author for taking risks in being as forthright and boldly honest as she was within this novel. You soon recognize that the author has an intimate experience with East Coast life and the challenges faced by these communities. This novel's take-home message is basic and clear: Life is full of challenges that make us or break us, and there is always hope and the ability to persevere. My one criticism is that the ending felt rushed and although I believe it may have been for dramatic flair, I would have liked it to push along a bit further. This is a novel set for a teen audience and I would also recommend for adults who are YA fans. The novel was entertaining and paved the road for further discussion and reflection. I give it a 4.5 stars out of 5. I look forward to future writings by Heather Smith.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2013
This is one of the most touching , funny, and poignant coming of age stories I've read in a quite some time. Kit hasn't had an easy childhood, her father is an AWFUL drunk, he screams, yells, breaks things and has never provided a warm and loving life for Kit or her mother. When a two year ban on fishing is imposed, her father loses her job and Kit and her family are forced to move out of beautiful idyllic Parson's Bay into the city with her uncle. She has to leave behind her beloved Nan, her best friend, and her mentor.
Once in the city Kit has a hard time adjusting, she can't afford new clothes and must go to school looking like a bumpkin, in no time at all the kids are calling her "baygirl." As if that weren't bad enough her unemployed father starts drinking even more and gets her mother fired from her part time job by showing up drunk to her work. With nowhere to hide, Kit starts to visit the crazy old British neighbor next door, Reginald, and befriend him. Slowly things start to get better, she gets a friend, a wonderful boyfriend who writes her poetry, and her uncle starts to make an effort at getting out of his depression. But throughout all this her father never puts down the bottle. What will it take him to quit? How can she love a man that she has no respect for?
The story takes a dramatic twist at the end, but it doesn't leave you wanting. It's a truly marvelous book that
address issues such as: alcoholism, friendship, redemption, and above all forgiveness. A great debut young adult novel by Heather Smith, I eagerly await reading her future writing endeavors.
Once in the city Kit has a hard time adjusting, she can't afford new clothes and must go to school looking like a bumpkin, in no time at all the kids are calling her "baygirl." As if that weren't bad enough her unemployed father starts drinking even more and gets her mother fired from her part time job by showing up drunk to her work. With nowhere to hide, Kit starts to visit the crazy old British neighbor next door, Reginald, and befriend him. Slowly things start to get better, she gets a friend, a wonderful boyfriend who writes her poetry, and her uncle starts to make an effort at getting out of his depression. But throughout all this her father never puts down the bottle. What will it take him to quit? How can she love a man that she has no respect for?
The story takes a dramatic twist at the end, but it doesn't leave you wanting. It's a truly marvelous book that
address issues such as: alcoholism, friendship, redemption, and above all forgiveness. A great debut young adult novel by Heather Smith, I eagerly await reading her future writing endeavors.
February 8, 2015
I have no idea what I was thinking judging Kit like that! As I got further through the book, I realised that I was horrible for not liking her, and that in fact she was a great independent character. Heather Smith was really able to change my mind so quickly!
Elliot is my dream guy! He is so amazing, that I could sit here all day and write about what an inspiration, and what a great guy he is! But for times sake, I will just say that the minute that he was introduced to the end of the book I fell -and still am- in love with him!
Iggy was a very inspirational character to me. A former drunk who lost his wife, job and fancy life due to drinking. He managed to turn himself around without the support of anyone, even if he still is a little depressed and still smokes. He was like the great father to Kit whenever she needed him, and he was very protective and supportive of her.
Kit's father, who ends up to actually be the victim of a large amount of grief which caused him to turn to drinking. Throughout the entire novel, he was portrayed as the violent, loveless, and useless drunk who doesn't care about anything, but when we started to dig deeper, there was way more to everything that I thought of him. On the inside he truly was a good person but his substance abuse got in the way of that, and changed things to make then seem and look otherwise.
Elliot is my dream guy! He is so amazing, that I could sit here all day and write about what an inspiration, and what a great guy he is! But for times sake, I will just say that the minute that he was introduced to the end of the book I fell -and still am- in love with him!
Iggy was a very inspirational character to me. A former drunk who lost his wife, job and fancy life due to drinking. He managed to turn himself around without the support of anyone, even if he still is a little depressed and still smokes. He was like the great father to Kit whenever she needed him, and he was very protective and supportive of her.
Kit's father, who ends up to actually be the victim of a large amount of grief which caused him to turn to drinking. Throughout the entire novel, he was portrayed as the violent, loveless, and useless drunk who doesn't care about anything, but when we started to dig deeper, there was way more to everything that I thought of him. On the inside he truly was a good person but his substance abuse got in the way of that, and changed things to make then seem and look otherwise.
December 14, 2014
OMG I don't even know what to write. I've never read a book like this. I've only ever read books far from present life. Far from present reality. I don't know if that made any sense. It was so incredibly written and so sad. I was crying. I felt like someone had just ripped my heart right out of my chest. And OMG her dad I can't believe it. I felt so bad for him throughout the whole book even when Kitty was saying how much she hated him I felt like crying. And when she swore at him and called him names even when he wasn't there to hear it, I felt like I was being cut into a million pieces. OMG that was the saddest thing ever and I know I kinda repeating things but I just finished reading the book and I feel broken and empty and the words are just flowing. I don't know if I loved the book or hated it because in the end I felt so hurt and empty and even though I was expecting it the ending killed me.
August 3, 2013
This book was so much better than I thought it would be. This is not typically the genre that I read but I am so glad that I received an ARC copy of this book. It was amazing. Couldn't put it down. It's such a down to earth book and is relatable on so many levels. The writing was beautiful and I fell in love with the characters especially crazy Mr. Adams. I loved that man! I found myself laughing out loud to some of the things he said. I will definitely be interested in reading more books by this author.
November 5, 2014
This book was absolutely amazing! I give it 6 stars. There's nothing that the book was lacking. The only thing I would've loved to know more about, is the ending. I still have some unanswered questions. Like is Kit's father alive? Dead? We'll never know.
February 27, 2015
The story was a bit boring, and the pacing was way too slow. I think the end seemed a bit to rushed and somewhat cliche. I think the second half was much better than the first half.
May 28, 2017
Kit Ryan lives in an outport fishing village in Newfoundland. She's 16 and it's 1992 and life is difficult when your father is an alcoholic. It's a life of being on an emotional roller coaster, never knowing what kind of drunk your father is today or how he's going to react to any given statement or situation. Kit has a lifelong best friend and takes refuge with her grandmother often.
But the cod fishing industry is dying and with a government moratorium, Kit's father can't work and the family moves to St. John's to live with Uncle Iggy who's unemployed himself, sunk into depression and grief. Kit doesn't fit in at school and things are no better at home. But there is an older Yorkshireman who lives next door who is always ready with a teapot. She does make a friend at school and there's even a boy that likes her. The problem is, Kit has to learn to accept her father as he is and find a way to trust.
It's a short novel and doesn't go very deep into the issues behind the issues other than a brief look into her father's background near the end. Kit's got a lot of anger as you might expect and it's clear that in some ways it holds her back. She spends a lot of energy pushing back against things she has no way of controlling or changing. By the time she begins to reconcile her feelings, it might be too late. There could have been a bit more depth to the story and relationships between Kit and her parents but there's enough there to tell the story.
The next door neighbour is a bit of a stereotype with plenty of Yorkshire slang and "ee by gum". The nice boy dates the school bitch and sees the light pretty quickly. Having Kit around seems to lift Uncle Iggy up and give him a reason to clean himself up and find reasons to want to live his life again. A return to her home village 6 months after leaving finds all her friends changed completely, even her best friend which felt a bit extreme to me. Now she doesn't fit in at her old home or her new one.
Overall, an ok story but it could have been better. I may not be the generation this book is intended for but that shouldn't matter. Or maybe it does. I make this sound more negative than I should, I think. I did like it, but I would have liked a bit more of it.
But the cod fishing industry is dying and with a government moratorium, Kit's father can't work and the family moves to St. John's to live with Uncle Iggy who's unemployed himself, sunk into depression and grief. Kit doesn't fit in at school and things are no better at home. But there is an older Yorkshireman who lives next door who is always ready with a teapot. She does make a friend at school and there's even a boy that likes her. The problem is, Kit has to learn to accept her father as he is and find a way to trust.
It's a short novel and doesn't go very deep into the issues behind the issues other than a brief look into her father's background near the end. Kit's got a lot of anger as you might expect and it's clear that in some ways it holds her back. She spends a lot of energy pushing back against things she has no way of controlling or changing. By the time she begins to reconcile her feelings, it might be too late. There could have been a bit more depth to the story and relationships between Kit and her parents but there's enough there to tell the story.
The next door neighbour is a bit of a stereotype with plenty of Yorkshire slang and "ee by gum". The nice boy dates the school bitch and sees the light pretty quickly. Having Kit around seems to lift Uncle Iggy up and give him a reason to clean himself up and find reasons to want to live his life again. A return to her home village 6 months after leaving finds all her friends changed completely, even her best friend which felt a bit extreme to me. Now she doesn't fit in at her old home or her new one.
Overall, an ok story but it could have been better. I may not be the generation this book is intended for but that shouldn't matter. Or maybe it does. I make this sound more negative than I should, I think. I did like it, but I would have liked a bit more of it.
May 16, 2017
3.5 -- I really liked this book for the most part. If anything it brought out a lot of anger and emotion, especially given how Kit gets treated and treats others in the story. Anytime Kit's father spoke it really made my blood boil. I found, however, neither of the parents gets strong development in this book and we are basically told that Kit's dad is an evil drunk and Kit's mom is spineless. I did like her Nan and Uncle Iggy and I felt like they were far better developed than her parents were. A very good, tough issues YA novel.
August 30, 2024
This book is another book I read as a pre-teen, that again, fuelled my love for reading. This book is definitely not for everyone, but is by far my comfort book that I've read a million times over. I actually stole this from my middle school library, until I had enough money to buy my own copy. I've exchanged an email with Heather Smith, which truly was the best day of my 13 year old self. I love this book whole heartedly, would read time and time again.
August 30, 2017
I enjoyed the book but a big distraction was the spelling mistakes throughout. It is a book written by a Canadian author that takes place in Canada and yet the word "favourite" is spelled the American way without the u multiple times. Also I was slightly let down by the abruptness of the ending.
October 15, 2017
Nice, easy YA read. Definitely 12yrs and up.
May 10, 2019
sad ending!!!
January 29, 2021
I might just be really appreciative of my books lately, but I loved this book. It made me want to cry, then I’d turn the page and I’d smile. Mr. Adams is for sure my favourite.
January 3, 2023
*2.75 the last 40 pages are just trauma like whoa. i’m knocking off a .25 stars for some of the dialogue
January 28, 2023
[3.5]
some parts of this book shot me through the heart. god i’d die for mr adams
some parts of this book shot me through the heart. god i’d die for mr adams
February 3, 2018
Yet again Heather Smith knocks it out of the park! I love her style of writing--clear, descriptive--and her very good storytelling. Baygirl follows 16 yo Kit as she moves away from her Canadian fishing town to the mainland where she must live with her depressed uncle (who's lost his wife), her alcoholic father and her mother who will never leave him. Though Kit's life is often dreary, the characters who come through it are so colorful and fascinating (like her elderly British neighbor who becomes a grandfather figure) that the story is both hopeful and sad at the same time. I will definitely be following Heather Smith for any future novels. Only complaint--the backcover blurb does not do justice to the book--it makes it seem like the book focuses on Kit's romance, which yes is important, but is not the main focus of the novel. Anywho, that's a publishing move.
May 18, 2015
This book is about a girl named Kit (Katherine) Ryan, who’s lived in Parson’s Bay for her entire life. Now, she’s moving to St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. For those of you who don’t know, this is also on the coasts of Canada, and Newfoundland is on the side. Kit lives with a mother who’s most likely working minimum wage jobs and her dad is an alcoholic. In Newfoundland, when the government banned cod fishing, a lot of fishermen lost their jobs, most fishermen came from families who’d been fishing cod for a living for generations. When this incident happened, a lot of families that fished for a living lost their source of income for what they knew how to do best. So Kit’s family moves in with her depressed Uncle Iggy after his wife dies. She meets a new boy named Elliot, a neighbour Mr. Adams, and makes a new friend, Caroline. The name Baygirl also comes from when she first gets made fun of in her new school.
This book for me was kind of depressing. But, Kit has a sarcastic sense of humor that helps make this less depressing. Thankfully, she can stand up for herself. But honestly, her mother annoys me to no end. You’re willing to live a man who slapped you? And her mom literally holds her cheek after and says that she’s going where her dad’s going. Woman if that was me . . .
But, as much as Kit’s reaction is probably what we would all do, you start realizing things in the end. As much as Kit’s father never made a motion towards supporting her, she didn’t really do the same. There were some instances where she could’ve tried harder. I’m not saying that she should do all the work, and her father ruined a lot of things. But still.
But that’s the confusing thing. He slaps her mom, she’s bad for staying and not wanting to actually help him. Kit just yells at him, her just yells at her. There’s honestly just depressing actions going on. But in the end, I really liked this because it gives deeper insights to a lot of relationships in an odd way.
I would recommend this to teens. But for others, this may seem slow to you, a lot of you may feel like you’re reading nothing, but read till the end. In the end, it leaves a nice message.
This book for me was kind of depressing. But, Kit has a sarcastic sense of humor that helps make this less depressing. Thankfully, she can stand up for herself. But honestly, her mother annoys me to no end. You’re willing to live a man who slapped you? And her mom literally holds her cheek after and says that she’s going where her dad’s going. Woman if that was me . . .
But, as much as Kit’s reaction is probably what we would all do, you start realizing things in the end. As much as Kit’s father never made a motion towards supporting her, she didn’t really do the same. There were some instances where she could’ve tried harder. I’m not saying that she should do all the work, and her father ruined a lot of things. But still.
“‘That went well, don’t you think?’
He was fishing for compliments. Proud of himself for not putting a show. Well, as he would say, whoopdi-bloody-doo. What did he want? A medal? I wasn’t about to give him any compliments for acting halfway normal for once in his life.
‘It was okay,’ I said flatly.
He just stood there, like a little boy waiting for approval.
‘Was there anything else you wanted?’
He shook his head.
‘Okay, well, I have some presents to wrap.’
He nodded and, with slumped shoulders, left the room.’’
But that’s the confusing thing. He slaps her mom, she’s bad for staying and not wanting to actually help him. Kit just yells at him, her just yells at her. There’s honestly just depressing actions going on. But in the end, I really liked this because it gives deeper insights to a lot of relationships in an odd way.
I would recommend this to teens. But for others, this may seem slow to you, a lot of you may feel like you’re reading nothing, but read till the end. In the end, it leaves a nice message.
November 18, 2014
this book made me cry and laugh and sometimes both at the same time. I very much enjoyed this book. I think it was because I could understand Kit's feelings. Kit has to carry this weight on her shoulder, to act beyond her 16 years and deal with shit that no body, much less a child should deal with.
Some of the characters in the book were enjoyable to read such as Mr. Adams, the elderly Yorkshire neighbour. Kit and Mr. Adam's interactions were the funniest things I've read. He's like a grandfather to Kit, a very eccentric and English grandfather who makes up for her lack of parental figure. Kit's uncle Iggy is a unemployed but very educated man who is now a recovering alcoholic after his wife's death which lead him to lose his job and his fancy home. Uncle Iggy is the most important parental figure in Kit's life; he's more of a father than Kit's actual father. and when they interact, half time I was crying because of how much love he shows Kit with all the fear and sadness she's surrounded in.
Now, Kit's father is an alcoholic. I have mixed feelings about him; I completely hated him for the first half of the book, but then you read about the nice and fatherly things he has done and I become more confused of my feelings. There is one good memory that Kit has of her and her father that made me cry. Then in the last half of the book, you see more of Kit's father's nicer and sober side and you find out the secret Kit's father hid, so i began to understand his actions/emotions but it didn't mean I forgave him.
Elliot, the boy Kit meets at her new home in St. John's is Kit's love interest. The author doesn't put a lot of details in the character's appearances so you have to base it off of their actions and your own mind. And from Elliot's actions, you can see that he's a super sweet guy, AND he wrote poems for Kit, left it in places where she could find it, for weeks! I could only wish that I could find a guy who would do that for me.
However, I felt that their relationship went too fast. I mean, they proclaimed their love for each other. Maybe I just have pessimistic view of teenage relationships but there was also the fact that we don't see much interaction between Elliot and Kit that shows the progression of their relationship. For a long time in the beginning after they meet for the first time, they didn't encounter each other at all. Then everything started happening in the last half of the book.
I plot mostly focused on Kit's screwed up family and drunken father and I found it rather anti-climactic. It more or less went back and forth between either bad moments and good moments.
Some of the characters in the book were enjoyable to read such as Mr. Adams, the elderly Yorkshire neighbour. Kit and Mr. Adam's interactions were the funniest things I've read. He's like a grandfather to Kit, a very eccentric and English grandfather who makes up for her lack of parental figure. Kit's uncle Iggy is a unemployed but very educated man who is now a recovering alcoholic after his wife's death which lead him to lose his job and his fancy home. Uncle Iggy is the most important parental figure in Kit's life; he's more of a father than Kit's actual father. and when they interact, half time I was crying because of how much love he shows Kit with all the fear and sadness she's surrounded in.
Now, Kit's father is an alcoholic. I have mixed feelings about him; I completely hated him for the first half of the book, but then you read about the nice and fatherly things he has done and I become more confused of my feelings. There is one good memory that Kit has of her and her father that made me cry. Then in the last half of the book, you see more of Kit's father's nicer and sober side and you find out the secret Kit's father hid, so i began to understand his actions/emotions but it didn't mean I forgave him.
Elliot, the boy Kit meets at her new home in St. John's is Kit's love interest. The author doesn't put a lot of details in the character's appearances so you have to base it off of their actions and your own mind. And from Elliot's actions, you can see that he's a super sweet guy, AND he wrote poems for Kit, left it in places where she could find it, for weeks! I could only wish that I could find a guy who would do that for me.
However, I felt that their relationship went too fast. I mean, they proclaimed their love for each other. Maybe I just have pessimistic view of teenage relationships but there was also the fact that we don't see much interaction between Elliot and Kit that shows the progression of their relationship. For a long time in the beginning after they meet for the first time, they didn't encounter each other at all. Then everything started happening in the last half of the book.
I plot mostly focused on Kit's screwed up family and drunken father and I found it rather anti-climactic. It more or less went back and forth between either bad moments and good moments.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2015
At first, I wasn't too interested just by picking it up. This was one of the books in the White Pine competition at my school, and after reading the back, I dismissed it as a bit of a sappy romance. However, my librarian then pointed out the cool effect on the cover, how not only is it a picture of a bay, but sideways, also the face of a girl. I thought that was rather cool, and decided to try it out. After I finished the novel though, I had to say, it was nothing like I had thought it to be. The main character was Kit, a girl who grew up around the bay and had no idea how to settle down into a new life once her family moved into the more urban area. I really liked her as the main character because she was strong, and liked to preserve her identity, she didn't let it change. Her father was a drunk, but at the same time, they have precious father-daughter moments that show that deep down they truly do care about each other. My favourite character was Elliot My second favourite character was her neighbour, Mr.Adams, I loved his humour, and he was extremely caring and a grandfather himself to Kit. I felt like her mom couldv'e done more to stand up and also just fix her dad. I also really loved Uncle Iggy, he seemed like the best parental figure in the book, he geniuenly cared for his niece and tried to fill up the spot for her father. I completely loved the ending She realizes at the end, that though her life no longer meant to be in Parsons Bay, but rather in St.Johns, her Baygirl identity would always be a part of her. Overall, I thought this was a short, simple and very touching story that was a very good read! :)
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