Soli

by Patricia Hermes, Chiara Belliti (Translator)

Cosa succede quando, tornati a casa, ci si rende conto di essere completamente soli e di dover provvedere a se stessi? È quello che capita a Mary Bell e ai suoi fratelli, abbandonati dalla madre ma ben decisi a cavarsela. Pur di non essere separati, i ragazzi nasconderanno con ogni mezzo la loro situazioni, e toccherà a Mary Bell occuparsi di ogni cosa, finché, un giorno, la piccola Callie si ammala...
Un romanzo singolare e intenso, ispirato alla realtà e imperniato sulla straordinaria figura di una adolescente costretta a crescere troppo in fretta.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, American

105 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read 2023

Originally published in 1991, this has always remained one of my favorite books from my Scholastic Flyer buying days. Tonight while having a good soak in the tub I decided to give it a re-read.

Mary Belle is our eleven year old protagonist, taking care of her seven year old sister, Callie and helping her older brother, Ariel as much as she can. It's been a month since their mother left a note telling the two older children to take care of their sister. But when will she be back? Until that day happens, Mary Belle is determined nobody will find out.

A heartwarming tale of three siblings who will lean on each other with a little help from a few kindhearted neighbors.

Goodreads review published 01/04/23

[Najila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, like all of Patricia Hermes' books, made me cry. It was so sad (seems like a lot of the books I read are sad) and I reread it more than once throughout the years. Patricia Hermes was one of the few reasons why I considered writing myself. The way she wrote really touched me, the story, the characters, the emotions. Just everything.

[Ruby Wrongly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really special book to me that came at a time I could relate a little too well. Haunting, sad, but evident of the resilience and strength of the human spirit.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a re-read from my childhood and after reading it it makes me wonder what was with my generation that either the books were about children who wanted to be detectives and/or where parents abandon or die on their children thus leaving children to fend for themselves and their siblings to avoid being separated. Although the latter scenario is quite understandable it is also quite sad these were the main themes to be used in YA books during the time I was growing up.

In this particular book the story starts off with the pain right away as a brutally open introduction and as such doesn't sugarcoat the coat into a feel-good tale. As such in so much ways it reminds me of the original book of the Boxcar Children but in this case at least these children do have a house they can live, snoopy yet caring neighbors and also are a bit older although not by much.

The writing is a tantalizing mix of modern story-telling about the story as it is progressing to the characters but with enough sidetracks to help explain the backstory and why the children act the way they do. As such the reader finds out this sad-seeming story has basically been growing from a sad seed for quite a while and that overcoming odds are unfortunately nothing new. As such for readers who have been on that same path they will find this book is quite relatable.

In the end the story becomes much more a heartwarming tale for how loss can lead to good things and that sad days don't always last although it may seem like they do. As such I would recommend this book to anyone who is young at heart or just needs a nice aged yet grounded story to quickly pass the time by.

[Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book that still haunts me to this day.

[Erica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dear people who want to read this book,

If you like books that will make you cry this book is for you. My language Arts teacher wanted us to read this for AR and she would give us a free 100 test grade. For all the 100% test grades in the world I would not read this book again! This is the worse book I HAVE EVER READ! My teacher favorite book is Mice and Men. Who likes the book Mice and Men!? The book makes you really think! I have books I like in a catgoiry this book goes into - HOMICIDE! Homicide means I rip the pages out one by one! Then you burn it with gasoline. I would never hurt a book that way even this book! Never read this book if you cry easily! I have read many books believe me! Never read Blackberries in the Dark. I dislike this book very much!

Sincerly,
Erica

[Jahkaigill · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading "Mama, let's dance" I would recommend this book to younger readers, and people who are interested in novels that make them feel emotion. Specifically, a sad emotion. Moreover, this was a very well written book. I can actually feel Mary Belle's,the protagonist, pain of responsibility and hurt of guilt. She has to stay strong for her sister ,Callie, and her brother,Ariel, so that they can keep their family troubles a secret. She did not want her brother and sister to be separated from her into foster homes, especially Callie that she loves with all her heart. Overall, this was a really good book and I would recommend many to read it.

[Toni Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book after my mother died and it helped me feel less alone. They main character was taking care of her family while secretly suffering and I could strongly identify with her. I was her while I was reading this book. Their world became mine. This was so brilliantly written that I want to read it over a million times but I can't get past the first chapter without sobbing my heart out. I just identify too deeply. I hope I get to a time in my life when I'm strong enough to pick up this book again. Wonderful, powerful read.

[Rachelle Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in the 5th grade. I don't remember many details in it, possibly because I wasn't a strong reader, but I do remember that I loved this book. It was very sad but it was probably the first book that sucked me into the story and I couldn't put it down. every time I go to a new library I search for this book, never check it out, but I do search for it. One of these days I will read it again.

[Nidhi Vijayan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book when I was a kid. I picked it up at the library just because it had a fun title. But its not a fun book. I liked it because it was the first book that made me emotional and I did not realize books could do that when I was at that age. Read it if you want a good cry.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book is one of the best experiences you could ever have. This is because this book brings you into a real situation that unfortunately we still find these days. This book is the story of three kids, a 16-year-old, Ariel, 11-year-old Mary Belle and seven-year-old Callie who are trying to avoid foster care after their mom left them to fend for themselves in order to become a dancer. Their mother was trying to raise them alone after her husband's death but she got tired so she decided to leave them. One day Callie fall ill so they were forced to ask for help and that is when they discovered and learn that family is not just about genetics, it is just about love. This is the moment when I felt most emotional because I cannot believe they found real love in someone else that has nothing to do with them instead of their own mother. Mama, Let’s Dance it is a book that is going to make you cry because you will experience this cruel story. As I was reading this book I felt frustrated because I cannot believe there are mothers like the one in this book who are so selfish that they do not care about their children but only themselves. I really recommend this book because it is going to make you experience different emotions and I think it is a good idea for everyone to read it since is good to know the situations that people might be going through. Society has been in charged of showing us the world as it is all good and there is no suffer but the truth is that there is, but we are blind that we do not see it.

[Lola]

I came across this at a used bookstore (though it had a different cover than the one on goodreads), and had an immediate visceral reaction to it. I must have read it as a kid, I thought. I remembered sitting on my bed sobbing. I couldn’t recall what it was about. I only remembered sobbing. I purchased it then and there to see if it was really any good or if I was just young and easily emotionally manipulated, if reading it now would make me cringe at the cheesiness and feel stupid for crying over it once upon a time, for letting it derail me for a whole day of my childhood. Even my husband found it later while cleaning and texted me a photo of the cheesy cover with the cheesy words across the front and said said, “what the heck is this? is this real? It must be real because I’m holding it in my hand.” To which I laughed out loud in the middle of a work call.

Okay that said, it’s a super quick read and I read it in a very brief time while my kids played. And as skeptical and critical as I went into it, expecting the sugary sadness of all the Lurlene McDaniels type books I consumed in my youth, this really was well-written and so beautifully sad. And yes, I cried again, though not long and hard enough to derail me for a day. I’m busy raising my kids.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was an advanced reader as a kid, and my 3rd grade teacher recommended this book at the time. I read it in one night. This book was beyond sad– it was emotionally devastating. I had nightmares of my mom leaving me for days. I’d wake up in tears. I totally read it too young; it practically traumatized me.
It's been over 8 years since then, and I still remember so many little details because of how strongly the book stuck with me. I look forward to reading it again at an older age, even though I’m going to cry. A lot.

[Cristina Leahu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my Goodness I hated this book because of what happened in the story! Super sad!! It's a good book as far as the author writing it but I wouldn't ever read it again. It was too sad for me, that it almost made me mad. I gave it 4 stars because it could have been better but yet it's still interesting and it was pretty well written. Not my cup of tea though.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent story of three kids struggling to make ends meet on their own after their mother disappears. They keep their predicament quiet so as not to be split up, but neighbors and friends notice and rally around them in heartwarming fashion. Things come to a head when the youngest falls sick. A little melancholy of a story, but good.

[Yaqueliné · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is truly a great read! As the other review mentions, this book will make you cry! I adore all the characters since I can relate to each of them in a small amount. I can definitely say that this book is one of my favorites now. I genuinely recommend this book for everyone regardless of age!

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So saj, sad and heartbreaking, but I loved this book.


,

[Tori Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this in elementary school. I believe this book is the one that made me fall in love with reading. 🧡

[Smut $lut · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing I read it when I was about 12. Now I'm 17 and I still love this book

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bleak and heartbreaking, which I think is the standard for this author's books. I'd be careful about giving it to the delicate young people in your life.

[Chandra Powers Wersch]

One of my favorites as a kid.

[Coco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish I’d read this book to my kids when they were later elementary school. It broke my heart, tho!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very depressing and sad book. It's about three children whose father abandons them, and then a few years later their mom also abandons them. Ariel (age 16) now tries to support the family with his part-time job. Mary Belle (age 11) does all of the cooking and housecleaning and tries to raise Callie (age 7). They don't want to tell anyone their mom is gone, because they know they will be put in separate foster homes and, more than anything, they want to stay together. Then Callie gets sick.

It's a good book and received the "School Library Journal" Best Book of 1991 award. If you don't mind reading a sad book that makes you cry, then it would be a book for you.

It is on Reading Level 5.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very well written book. I fell in love with the characters. I felt Mary Belle's pain of responsibility and hurt of guilt. It definitely deals with a deeper meaning of life. This book is not for anyone under 7th grade I would think, it's super hard to get through... it ends happily though.

[Janie Clifton · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book when I was 9 years old. That was 8 years ago and I still remember how deeply depressing this book was.

The story is well written, and to an older audience I'm sure would be more accepting of it.

I would never wish any child to read this, and go through the depression that I had. A book that is a little sad is one thing, but this is just terrible.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as a child. I read the whole book in one day when I faked sick to stay home from school and thought I was amazing. I think it's the first book I read (outside of school) all the way through. I guess I always had a thing for drama . Very good book!!!

[Tasheena Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to read this again now because I remember buying this one from the bookfair when I was younger and read it multiple times. A VERY sad story, but very sweet. Man, I think I might have to look for a copy of it at Powell's.

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is supposedly a children's book. I did not know that. It sounds like an 11yr old wrote it but the subject matter is too heavy for a child. Depressing from beginning to end. Not a happy ending.

[•*•.suprasixxcinco.•*• · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be poorly written, and not a lot of things going on. I figured out what would happen early on which made the book even more boring. It pissed me off not to know what happened to their mother.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the first books that made me sob uncontrollably for at least an hour. So much so that I scared my family and had to put the book down until I could stop crying long enough to finish it. But oh my goodness, when I found a copy in a used bookstore I had to buy it. Beautiful book.