Picture a Girl

by Jenny Manzer

Addie's mom is good at two things (three, if you count making French toast): surfing and telling stories . Addie and her brother, Billy, live with their mom in a shabby rental cabin in the tourist town of Cedarveil, BC, right off the beach. Their lives are a little different than some―they often visit the food bank, and they don't have a phone or TV. For entertainment, their mom tells them stories before bed...if she's in a good mood, or home at all. Sometimes Mama copes with her depression by drinking; sometimes, she just disappears. When Addie wakes up one Monday, she senses a stillness that tells her Mama's gone again. Addie knows it's up to her to take care of everything until her mom gets back. It's either not let on that anything's amiss or she and Billy will be separated from one another. Once again she makes it through until her mom's return a week later, knowing that she's strong enough to survive alone―but she's hoping this will be the last time.

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens

192 pages, Paperback

Published May 14, 2024

About the author

Jenny Manzer is the author of SAVE ME, KURT COBAIN and MY LIFE AS A DIAMOND, which was shortlisted for numerous awards, including the Diamond Willow Award, Chocolate Lily Award, Victoria Children’s Book Prize and the Silver Birch Award. She has a degree in creative writing and was a finalist for the 2013 CBC Creative Nonfiction Prize, one of Canada’s most prestigious literary competitions. She lives with her family in Victoria, British Columbia. 


Reviews

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, realistic fiction for middle-grade readers. Important themes about family relationships, and the difficulties that arise from enabling loved ones.
Trigger warning:
Children are abandoned for a long period of time by an alcoholic parent.

*I received a digital copy in return for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of this title.
Eleven year-old Addie takes care of her younger brother when her Mom takes a break from them. Can she prevent the landlord and school from finding out that there is no adult at home? Will her Mom ever return?
If you read Gather and are looking for another book that deals with a parent with addiction issues, this book for tweens is it.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture a Girl is a really powerful story about a girl, Addie, who has had to step into the mother role for her younger brother, Billy. Their mother is often packing up and leaving them, often with little to survive with, and Addie is tasked with making sure no one knows her mother is gone so they aren't taken in and separated. I thought this book tackled the issues of abandonment and alcohol in a genuine way, especially since the story is from the perspective of a young girl. Throughout the story, I found myself rooting for Addie and Billy, and it was hard to watch them struggle through trying to tackle adult situations and dealing with mean kids without a parental figure to guide them. It was clear Addie loved her mother and wanted nothing more than to be important to her, even when she was saying otherwise. The love between siblings was shown clearly throughout this book, and the often difficult relationship children have with their parents was showcased really well.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a moving story, that made me happy in some parts, and sad in others. The love between the family members was real, but the children shouldn't have to step in for their Mom. She was a wonderful mom..mostly. When her addiction to alcohol got the best of her, she would just leave. It was so hard on the kids. They had no resources, money, and little food, but were determined they would keep their family secrets to themselves, so no one would take them away from their mom. It was an emotional read, and I thank Netgalley for the chance to read the ARC. I would recommend this for older middle school children.

[Karen Mazzaferri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture a girl follows the journey of Adelaide, Addie, and Billy. They live in a small tourist community that features a beach atmosphere. Their mother Jenny, is a wonderful mother when she is very very good. She’s a good cook, she tells wonderful stories, she’s the best surfer and shes beautiful. She loves her children. But, she has a big flaw, she’s an alcoholic “medicine” and she takes off for days at a time leaving Addie, 11 and Billy, 8, alone in a broken down cabin with barely any food, no tv or WiFi. During this time, the two kids make do with what they have and what Pokey, Addie’s best friend brings them. The two have to learn to lie to everyone which makes them feel bad as they are truly great kids.

This story broke my heart because many kids are put in this situation. A single mom doing the best she can, but the one thing that makes her feel right is surfing. Surfing is her lifeline and her life of surfing dictates what her free spirit will do. I loved all the characters, even the mom, because when she was good, she was a mom we all want.

The writing is beautiful and is told from the perspective of Addie. There are two parts to the book, Addie’s narratives and the stories that mama tells. The way the author uses words is eloquently descriptive. I would love to use this story for my students as there is so much to talk about concerning how the kids feel, the mom, the community.
I would love to thanks #netgalley and #orcabookpublishers for allowing me to review this beautiful heart wrenching story

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Adelaide and her brother Billabong live on the coast of the Pacific Ocean where their mother is very invested in surfing, hence their names. Addie and Billy often have to take care of themselves, since their mother often self-medicates with alcohol when depressed and their father lives in Australia. The three live in a small rental cottage in a tourist community, and their mother finds enough work waitressing or working in other service industry jobs to support them, but they still have to shop at thrift stores and get food from the Food share pantry. Addie hopes that she can register for a local surfing contest and win the big prize to help out her family, and her friend Pokey, who has a supportive home environment, tries to help her out with this. When the mother goes "off for a little adventure" so she can return briefly to being "Jeanie Bean, girl surfer", Addie and Billy have to take care of themselves. Addie is injured during the surfing competition, their landlord demands payment, and Addie's teachers are concerned about her. When her mother returns, will anything change?

This had some similarities to Walter's The King of the Jam Sandwiches and Rudd's How to Stay Invisible, and included some interesting things about British Columbia surfing culture that I hadn't seen before. This author also wrote My Life as a Diamond.

[Sapphic Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture A Girl is a MG Contemporary story that broke my heart. It’s about Addie who is doing her best to take care of herself and her younger brother. Their mom has a drinking problem and will frequently abandon them for days at a time.

Addie shouldn’t have to be so brave. Addie and Billy shouldn’t have to be such good liars. Addie shouldn’t have to figure out how to feed them with whatever scraps are left in their fridge/cabinets. Addie shouldn’t have to grow up so fast and put her life at risk entering a surfing competition she’s unprepared for in hopes of winning the cash prize.

But she does and it crushes my heart, because she’s not the only little girl that must do what she shouldn’t. There’s so many kids out there living in similar situations and it makes this book so powerful. I hope there are kids who will read this and feel seen as they have characters they can relate to. I also hope other kids can see Addie’s best friend Pokey and realize that being generous with our snacks can mean so much more to someone than we have any idea.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family is not perfect, and although we may struggle to make it work, it's not always within our control. This is a well-written middle-grade novel about a young girl trying her best to protect her brother and family after her mother's abandonment (something that happens often in their lives due to their mother's way of coping with depression). The girl has to make difficult choices and grow up quickly. It's not a very common theme to explore the relationship with a parent with so many flaws, but still, the children find ways to love and connect with the adult. I found it sad, although the ending is one of redemption and positivity, we still feel that it could happen again or worse in her future or life, and that the kids will need to learn quickly how to survive in a big world. The cover is very beautiful.
Thank you netgalley and Publisher for this e-arc.

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short but powerful book. It looks at the bravery of Adelaide, when her mom disappears again and she has to step up and take care of her and her brother.
Adelaide is a strong but hurting character and I liked that even though she was scared she did it anyways. I also liked that at the end she stands up to her mom in hopes it will get through and get her mom to stop leaving.
I didn't like that the mom comes from a line of other mom's who left their kids to fend for themselves. Somewhere along the line someone has to decide to not leave anymore.
This book is beautifully written, I could picture this small coastal town and the characters in it.
I loved that Adelaide had a great friend in Pokey, who sticks by her and always has snacks to share.
A good middle grade read.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

[Megyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to netgalley and orca books for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows Addie and Billy, two kids who live with their mom in a cabin by the sea. They don’t have much money and they struggle, especially since the mom leaves them alone for weeks at a time. Addie is also bullied at school.

This book was just ok for me. I felt sad for the kids throughout, what mom leaves their kids alone for a week without food? No 11 year old should have to deal with that. I also felt bad for the bullying situation. I wish adults would’ve stepped in to help these kids.

I feel like the writing is good. I don’t feel like there wasn’t much of a resolution and it just ended. I wish things wrapped up better.

[Jennybeast · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the one hand, it's both moving and realistic -- full of difficult relationships and difficult emotions -- sorrow and anger and anxiety. I'm glad that while the love in the story is enormously complicated, it exists. I'm glad that stories bind the family together and relieved that nothing worse happens.

On the other hand, I don't love the resolution at the end of the story -- I don't love that we can't ever see these kids in a better situation, or feel reassured about how things will go for them. But I suppose that's realistic, too. Some hope, a lot of wariness.

It feels like the underlying message is not to trust anyone, after all. Likely, in a well-meaning move, they will destroy your life. Best to just put up with the abandonment as best you can. I don't love that.

[Julia✨Book Reviews by Jules✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting access to this wonderful book in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this was a charming children's book. I liked the illustrations. I think children will like the main character. If I had children, I would purchase this book.


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[Sally Wilsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addie and Billy have a really tough life and are truly neglected by their Mom. Addie feels responsible when her Mom disappears which is often and does not want to be separated from Billy. This is a hard story to read. Unfortunately this is common place anymore in our times. I would not recommend this book for younger children maybe older if they are not sensitive. I compliment the author for having the courage to write about this subject.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Addie has a good life. She lives next to the beach with her family, always ready to surf, and is able to do whatever she wants. However, this is because her mom is different than other moms.
3.5
Interesting build-up, climax could've been more defined with more tension building, but the ending felt very out of place.

[Jashu Minhas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is supposed to be a kids book but I read it as an adult. It’s a lot of meandering in the child’s mind while her mother has abandoned her and her brother to go off on a bender. It is good writing because I feel for the main character and I really dislike her mom for putting her in that situation but the ending is too open for me.

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Addie is just thirteen, but she is largely responsible from shielding her younger brother, Billy, from their mother's drinking. Her mom is whimisical and unreliable. One day Addie wakes up to find her mother gone. Again. She has to figure out how to feed her brother while making sure the landlord doesn't realize the two kids are home alone.

I found Addie's emotional vulnerability realistic, but the resolution to the story didn't feel realistic. Or perhaps it is disappointingly realistic.