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In Keisha's Shadow
Dumped by her high school sweetheart for not being out and proud, bi-racial Tori Kahl struggles with college life, her demanding mother, and the legacy of her dead sister, Keisha. Her only escape comes from her horse and her job at the stables. Then Ashley, the brash and flirty new boarder, shows up at the stables and not only challenges Tori’s top rider status, but shakes her world of self-pity as she copes with the ups and downs of growing up.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
45 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Barret
12 books24 followersSandra Barret is a native New Englander who wanted to be an archaeologist. So of course she ended up a writer. She focuses her fiction writing on science fiction and fantasy stories where strong women save the day. Two of her books (Eye of the Damned and Face of the Enemy) were Goldie finalists. When not writing, she’s reading, gardening, and occasionally digging holes too deep in the back of her historic home in the hopes of finding something more archaeologically significant than coal slag. Dreams never die, they just adapt to life circumstances! You can find Sandra at https://sandrabarret.wordpress.com.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 7, 2016
I thought this story line sounded good, but the story didn't quite reach its potential. This book would be considered NA or YA, with the characters in college.
The main character Tori, is struggling with losing her first love and her sister dying, at the same time. She results to cutting and drinking to hide her pain and her thoughts that she will never be as good as her sister, in her mothers eyes.
My biggest problem with this book is I didn't feel it enough. I have read other books with teens cutting and they just break your heart. I wasn't getting that from this story. Everything was too on the surface and I wasn't feeling the emotions from it that I wanted to. Even with some of the drinking and driving that can be so cringe worthy to read about, I was just sort of like "Tori's doing it again", no emotion.
What I did like about the book was it had some diversity. The main character was bi-racial and her potential love interest wasn't a stick thin Barbie doll.
The story did keep my attention, if it just would have been emotionally deeper, I would have loved it. I can't really recommend this, but if you are looking for lesfic sci-fi, check out Barret's other book Face of the Enemy. I liked it quite a bit.
The main character Tori, is struggling with losing her first love and her sister dying, at the same time. She results to cutting and drinking to hide her pain and her thoughts that she will never be as good as her sister, in her mothers eyes.
My biggest problem with this book is I didn't feel it enough. I have read other books with teens cutting and they just break your heart. I wasn't getting that from this story. Everything was too on the surface and I wasn't feeling the emotions from it that I wanted to. Even with some of the drinking and driving that can be so cringe worthy to read about, I was just sort of like "Tori's doing it again", no emotion.
What I did like about the book was it had some diversity. The main character was bi-racial and her potential love interest wasn't a stick thin Barbie doll.
The story did keep my attention, if it just would have been emotionally deeper, I would have loved it. I can't really recommend this, but if you are looking for lesfic sci-fi, check out Barret's other book Face of the Enemy. I liked it quite a bit.
October 25, 2023
3.5 stars
Wow… A lot of heavy topics were included in this book. Almost too many, honestly. But seeing Tori and Ashley grow up and find some hope and love after overcoming so many obstacles and surviving so many heartbreaking moments was worth all the pain and angst. There were some moments where I wanted to shake some sense into them (especially Tori), but, well, they’re teenagers and they did manage to learn a few things from their mistakes. In the end, I’m glad I gave this book a chance.
Wow… A lot of heavy topics were included in this book. Almost too many, honestly. But seeing Tori and Ashley grow up and find some hope and love after overcoming so many obstacles and surviving so many heartbreaking moments was worth all the pain and angst. There were some moments where I wanted to shake some sense into them (especially Tori), but, well, they’re teenagers and they did manage to learn a few things from their mistakes. In the end, I’m glad I gave this book a chance.
August 2, 2019
Poor behaviour on the characters parts, drink driving, teenage pregnancies, cutting etc.
Had a decent plot but I think the execution let it down.
Had a decent plot but I think the execution let it down.
September 10, 2012
Nice story that tackles many issues believably. The characters could have been developed better.
The thing about lesfic in general is that the writing doesn't excite me. Nothing cringe-worthy here, but also a far step away from prose that touches me. The one thing it has going for it is that the stories are so simple that I can read them on the bus in the morning as they don't require brain function for reading. So I'll continue reading them hoping to find the few stories that do touch me, both in regard to content and prose.
The thing about lesfic in general is that the writing doesn't excite me. Nothing cringe-worthy here, but also a far step away from prose that touches me. The one thing it has going for it is that the stories are so simple that I can read them on the bus in the morning as they don't require brain function for reading. So I'll continue reading them hoping to find the few stories that do touch me, both in regard to content and prose.
July 10, 2016
Tori is dealing with the death of her sister and a breakup when she meets Ashley who has issues of her own.
I really enjoyed the book. It was easy to connect to the story and characters. I do wish the relationship between the characters had been more developed.
It's a 3 1/2 star book. Anyone who likes an young adult romance and an easy to read book should give this one a chance.
I really enjoyed the book. It was easy to connect to the story and characters. I do wish the relationship between the characters had been more developed.
It's a 3 1/2 star book. Anyone who likes an young adult romance and an easy to read book should give this one a chance.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews