What do you think?
Surviving Life
Carson Harper hates life. Hates that she's fat and hates that her mother won’t let her do anything because she might get hurt. On the last day of her junior year Carson leaves a note for her mother detailing her plan to escape to an outward bound camp – alone. She’ll prove her strength to those mean kids at school who harassed her, and she’ll show her mom she’s not afraid to take a risk by doing something so big it will change everything. Ha, they’ll all have the last laugh at Carson Harper. If only her mother had seen the note. If only a piece of space debris hadn't annihilated their home. At her outward bound camp in Colorado, Carson becomes lost in the midst of a forest fire and embarks on a survival-of-the fittest journey as she searches for home and finds herself. SURVIVING LIFE is the story of how a teenager’s brave decision to defy her mother and prove she can survive in the world, teaches both mother and daughter lessons about life and the marvelous and terrifying things that can happen as you give in to passion to live every minute to the fullest.
246 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2013
About the author
Jeanne Skartsiaris
6 books17 followersWhen not writing Jeanne Skartsiaris also works as a Sonographer. Prior to that she was a medical/legal photographer for a plaintiff’s law firm. She attended creative writing courses at Southern Methodist University and is a member of Romance Writer's of America and the local chapter, Dallas Area Romance Authors. Also the author of Surviving Life. She lives in Dallas, Texas. Look for Jeanne - on Facebook at Jeanne Skartsiaris, Author, and Twitter, @jskartsiaris. Her web address is www.jeanneskartsiaris.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 26, 2013
Surviving Life is a moving story of a frightened widow, Bet and her unhappy daughter, Carson. They had a full life until they lost the man who was their husband and father and now the world feels closed in.
Carson is now a teenager filled with angst. She’s afraid yet she somehow concocts a radical plan to change her life.
Everyone knows what happens when you make plans.
Surviving Life tells the parallel adventures of mother and daughter as they move forward and face the odds. The book is a treat, two stories in one. The book is written as a YA (Young Adult) novel and will appeal to teenagers facing the problems of adolescence. It will also appeal to their parents who want the best for their children but may be reluctant to give their teens the space they need to grow. What makes this book truly original is the mother’s odyssey - parents are often treated as personas non grata but this parent is allowed to grow and develop in tandem with her daughter. A colorful cast of characters accompany Bet and Carson throughout their journey.
I hope to see Carson and Bet in future endeavors.
This book would be an ideal read for a mother-daughter book club.
Carson is now a teenager filled with angst. She’s afraid yet she somehow concocts a radical plan to change her life.
Everyone knows what happens when you make plans.
Surviving Life tells the parallel adventures of mother and daughter as they move forward and face the odds. The book is a treat, two stories in one. The book is written as a YA (Young Adult) novel and will appeal to teenagers facing the problems of adolescence. It will also appeal to their parents who want the best for their children but may be reluctant to give their teens the space they need to grow. What makes this book truly original is the mother’s odyssey - parents are often treated as personas non grata but this parent is allowed to grow and develop in tandem with her daughter. A colorful cast of characters accompany Bet and Carson throughout their journey.
I hope to see Carson and Bet in future endeavors.
This book would be an ideal read for a mother-daughter book club.
January 20, 2016
*I received a free copy of this through Netgallery in exchange for an honest review.*
I did not really like this book nor did I hate it. For me it was one of those *meh* reads as there were a lot of things that bugged me.
The premise of this sounded interesting and I wanted to read something different from my normal go to supernatural YA. However I was disappointed.
The events that unfolded in the story were just so unbelievable and I didn't like the way the characters dealt with them. Everything just felt really rushed to me and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I particularly did not like Bet at all. I mean I get where she is coming from, trauma can be so hard to deal with, but she just rubbed me the wrong way I guess.
The other thing that I did not like was the predictability of the book and how anti-climatic the ending felt to me.
All in all, this book really wasn't for me. If you're interested in it I'd suggest reading some other reviews because tastes can be different and you might enjoy it even if I didn't.
With all the issues I had I am giving it 2 out of 5 stars because like I said, it wasn't bad. It just sadly was really good for me.
I did not really like this book nor did I hate it. For me it was one of those *meh* reads as there were a lot of things that bugged me.
The premise of this sounded interesting and I wanted to read something different from my normal go to supernatural YA. However I was disappointed.
The events that unfolded in the story were just so unbelievable and I didn't like the way the characters dealt with them. Everything just felt really rushed to me and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I particularly did not like Bet at all. I mean I get where she is coming from, trauma can be so hard to deal with, but she just rubbed me the wrong way I guess.
The other thing that I did not like was the predictability of the book and how anti-climatic the ending felt to me.
All in all, this book really wasn't for me. If you're interested in it I'd suggest reading some other reviews because tastes can be different and you might enjoy it even if I didn't.
With all the issues I had I am giving it 2 out of 5 stars because like I said, it wasn't bad. It just sadly was really good for me.
February 25, 2022
The twists and turns in this book surprised me, and I loved the moments of humor. This is an original adventure and a unique coming-of-age story. This deals with parents who coddle and the children who must face their fear of the real world in spite of their sheltered upbringing. Great, quick read!
January 25, 2016
Barclay Publicity and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Carson Harper feels invisible after her father's death, to everyone but her now overprotective and overbearing mother. Overweight with low self esteem, Carson decides to participate in an Outward Bound camping trip, as a way to regain a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, the note that she leaves her mother goes up in flames, leaving her Mom to fear the worst.
Surviving Life is fast paced with a good plot and well developed characters. Carson is like many teenagers; she does not value herself and does not expect others to do so. The situation in which she finds herself is an extreme example of doing what it takes to survive and thrive despite the conditions, but it does help to provide a clear picture of her character. The fact that Carson's Mom Bet went on an adventure of her own is fitting; that both of them faced some realizations about themselves and grew from their individual experiences. Surviving Life is ideal for parents and teens to read and discuss together, as there are many teachable life lessons that can be gained from this novel. Author Jeanne Skartsiaris has a clear grasp on the teenage psyche and has given her very realistic characters a chance to change and grow, despite their ordeals.
Carson Harper feels invisible after her father's death, to everyone but her now overprotective and overbearing mother. Overweight with low self esteem, Carson decides to participate in an Outward Bound camping trip, as a way to regain a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, the note that she leaves her mother goes up in flames, leaving her Mom to fear the worst.
Surviving Life is fast paced with a good plot and well developed characters. Carson is like many teenagers; she does not value herself and does not expect others to do so. The situation in which she finds herself is an extreme example of doing what it takes to survive and thrive despite the conditions, but it does help to provide a clear picture of her character. The fact that Carson's Mom Bet went on an adventure of her own is fitting; that both of them faced some realizations about themselves and grew from their individual experiences. Surviving Life is ideal for parents and teens to read and discuss together, as there are many teachable life lessons that can be gained from this novel. Author Jeanne Skartsiaris has a clear grasp on the teenage psyche and has given her very realistic characters a chance to change and grow, despite their ordeals.
April 7, 2015
I hope everybody enjoys SURVIVING LIFE, a coming of age adventure story. It's fun for all! I'm still trying to navigate the digital world and hope to make this book easily and affordable for all readers.
Carson Harper hates life. Hates that she's fat and hates that her mother won’t let her do anything because she might get hurt. On the last day of her junior year Carson leaves a note for her mother detailing her plan to escape to an outward bound camp – alone. She’ll prove her strength to those mean kids at school who harassed her, and she’ll show her mom she’s not afraid to take a risk by doing something so big it will change everything. Ha, they’ll all have the last laugh at Carson Harper. If only her mother had seen the note. If only a piece of space debris hadn't annihilated their home. At her outward bound camp in Colorado, Carson becomes lost in the midst of a forest fire and embarks on a survival-of-the fittest journey as she searches for home and finds herself. SURVIVING LIFE is the story of how a teenager’s brave decision to defy her mother and prove she can survive in the world, teaches both mother and daughter lessons about life and the marvelous and terrifying things that can happen as you give in to passion to live every minute to the fullest.
Carson Harper hates life. Hates that she's fat and hates that her mother won’t let her do anything because she might get hurt. On the last day of her junior year Carson leaves a note for her mother detailing her plan to escape to an outward bound camp – alone. She’ll prove her strength to those mean kids at school who harassed her, and she’ll show her mom she’s not afraid to take a risk by doing something so big it will change everything. Ha, they’ll all have the last laugh at Carson Harper. If only her mother had seen the note. If only a piece of space debris hadn't annihilated their home. At her outward bound camp in Colorado, Carson becomes lost in the midst of a forest fire and embarks on a survival-of-the fittest journey as she searches for home and finds herself. SURVIVING LIFE is the story of how a teenager’s brave decision to defy her mother and prove she can survive in the world, teaches both mother and daughter lessons about life and the marvelous and terrifying things that can happen as you give in to passion to live every minute to the fullest.
September 13, 2014
Surviving Life by Jeanne Skarsiaris is a fast-paced, action-packed, deeply moving novel about Bet, an overprotective mother and her relationship with her overweight and overlooked daughter, Carson.
Desperate for freedom, Carson leaves a note for her mother and runs away to a wilderness camp, hoping to prove to her mother and herself that she is capable of taking care of herself and worthy of a life of freedom, adventure, and love. However, due to a catastrophe that neither could have seen coming, Bet never reads the letter. Now a world apart, both mother and daughter embark on life-changing adventures, some of which may prove life-threatening.
Surviving Life drew me in immediately and didn't let me go until the very last page. The action never dwindled and you couldn't help but feel a connection to both Bet and Carson as they fight to find their way back to each other. Congratulations on a triumphant debut, Ms. Skartsiaris!
Desperate for freedom, Carson leaves a note for her mother and runs away to a wilderness camp, hoping to prove to her mother and herself that she is capable of taking care of herself and worthy of a life of freedom, adventure, and love. However, due to a catastrophe that neither could have seen coming, Bet never reads the letter. Now a world apart, both mother and daughter embark on life-changing adventures, some of which may prove life-threatening.
Surviving Life drew me in immediately and didn't let me go until the very last page. The action never dwindled and you couldn't help but feel a connection to both Bet and Carson as they fight to find their way back to each other. Congratulations on a triumphant debut, Ms. Skartsiaris!
January 15, 2016
This is a really sweet story about living life to the fullest and believing in yourself. The focus is about a mother and daughter who have suffered loss in their past but they learn that trying to protect yourself from everything just means that you are missing out on living which makes it a great read for all ages.This review was originally posted on Books In Brogan
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews