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Bailey Baxter #1
Leaving Nelson
Bailey Baxter’s ninth grade year couldn’t get any worse. After losing her mother to cancer, Bailey’s father decides to move the family back to his hometown in Tennessee. Leaving Nelson, the only home she’s ever known, is the icing on the cake. Uprooted from the familiar, with wounds left unhealed, Bailey reluctantly spends her first few days in Fulton attempting to hide in the shadows of strangers. However, as the daughter of Fulton’s hometown hero, she catches the attention of many—foiling her plan to simply blend in. Worst of all, the biggest jerk in school has decided to make her his special project. Then Bailey runs into the cute, shy boy from her English class. His charm and lopsided grin give Bailey a reason to smile again even in the midst of her pain. Could he be the one putting poetry in her locker? As new friendships take shape, Bailey’s bitterness and resentment begin to slowly melt away. Just as her faith is restored, a secret is discovered. A painting of a young girl that dates back years before her birth now threatens to ravish her relationships with those she has grown to love.On a quest to reveal the truth, Bailey discovers that, though she had a difficult time leaving Nelson, what she finds in Fulton may just be what she has been searching for all along.
- GenresYoung Adult
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 18, 2014
7 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 29, 2016
Leaving Nelson is pretty good although a bit slow paced at times. I liked that it had characters that are into writing. I also liked that they talked about God. It's also a clean book which is great.
April 4, 2014
I loved this book so much I could hardly put it down. Love the theme and twists in this book. I enjoyed every minute
March 31, 2014
I recently had the wonderful fortune of reading a phenomenal new novel written by Kim Moss. Some of you are probably going to recognize her name right away as a fantastic friend and outstanding teacher. Others will say, “Who is THAT?!?” In my humble opinion, which everyone knows is of utmost importance, once Leaving Nelson is published, the name Kim Moss will be much more recognizable in the world of young adult fiction.
This is the story of Bailey Baxter and her family who move from Nelson, Louisiana to Fulton, Tennessee following the death of her mother. Like the majority of the reviews I write, this one has a personal connection. While reading this coming of age story about fifteen year old Bailey, I could see my cousin Cassie Lea in the role.
During the summer of 2007, my first cousin, Cynthia Lynn, passed away as a result of breast cancer. She was only 37 years old. Only six months separated us and as a result Cynthia and I were very close. She and her older sister, Charlotte, were like the sisters this only child never had. At the time of Cynthia’s death, her daughters Cassie Lea and Rylie Mae were fifteen and nine.
Like Cassie Lea, Bailey has a younger sister, Gracie. Rylie Mae was a little older than the character of Gracie, who in the book is only five years old and beginning her second semester of kindergarten when the family moves to Tennessee.
Through flashbacks and her writing, which is a comfort, Bailey provides information about a loving caregiver, her mother. Conflict and drama build in the book through events taking place in school. A surprising twist at the end of the book helps cement a bond building throughout the story between a teacher, Miss Rose and her student, Bailey.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would say I highly recommend it for all middle and high school libraries as well as public libraries serving young adults. The problem is…this book has yet to be published! I have to say, this is very sad for all of the readers who need to be touched by this story. I know the character development in the book will have readers connecting with Bailey, her family and her friends. You will be drawn into their lives and want to know more. In the end, you will want more. Now, the best part of wanting more, is the author has already written a sequel! For me, it is very exciting because I get to learn more about the people I have grown to care about, but until this book is actually picked up by a publisher there will only be a handful of us who know the true depth and impact Bailey’s father’s decision has on her life when they are off to Fulton and Leaving Nelson.
If you, or someone you know is interested in contacting Ms. Moss about her book, please feel free to contact her at leavingnelson@gmail.com.
This is the story of Bailey Baxter and her family who move from Nelson, Louisiana to Fulton, Tennessee following the death of her mother. Like the majority of the reviews I write, this one has a personal connection. While reading this coming of age story about fifteen year old Bailey, I could see my cousin Cassie Lea in the role.
During the summer of 2007, my first cousin, Cynthia Lynn, passed away as a result of breast cancer. She was only 37 years old. Only six months separated us and as a result Cynthia and I were very close. She and her older sister, Charlotte, were like the sisters this only child never had. At the time of Cynthia’s death, her daughters Cassie Lea and Rylie Mae were fifteen and nine.
Like Cassie Lea, Bailey has a younger sister, Gracie. Rylie Mae was a little older than the character of Gracie, who in the book is only five years old and beginning her second semester of kindergarten when the family moves to Tennessee.
Through flashbacks and her writing, which is a comfort, Bailey provides information about a loving caregiver, her mother. Conflict and drama build in the book through events taking place in school. A surprising twist at the end of the book helps cement a bond building throughout the story between a teacher, Miss Rose and her student, Bailey.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would say I highly recommend it for all middle and high school libraries as well as public libraries serving young adults. The problem is…this book has yet to be published! I have to say, this is very sad for all of the readers who need to be touched by this story. I know the character development in the book will have readers connecting with Bailey, her family and her friends. You will be drawn into their lives and want to know more. In the end, you will want more. Now, the best part of wanting more, is the author has already written a sequel! For me, it is very exciting because I get to learn more about the people I have grown to care about, but until this book is actually picked up by a publisher there will only be a handful of us who know the true depth and impact Bailey’s father’s decision has on her life when they are off to Fulton and Leaving Nelson.
If you, or someone you know is interested in contacting Ms. Moss about her book, please feel free to contact her at leavingnelson@gmail.com.
July 24, 2015
The beauty of this book is not in its fast-paced action scenes or heart-thumping danger. Normally, that is the type of book I pick up. Leaving Nelson is the story of an ordinary, fourteen-year-old girl, Bailey Baxter, who has lost her mother and forced to move several states away from the place where she has grown up. She has to start over with new friends in a new place while trying to heal from the pain of losing her mother. The writing drew me in until I couldn't put the book down while I held my breath over Bailey's inner growth and freshmen in high school drama.
The thing that impressed me most about this book was the characters. The characters sounded like fourteen and fifteen year olds in high school. They had drama and bursts and anger and irrational decisions, but it all felt natural to the characters. It is hard to write fourteen-year-olds that don't sound too young or too old.
I felt like the beginning of this book spent a little too much time on back story and revealed some of the early information in infodumps that could have been worked into the story better. Once I got past the first couple chapter, the rest of the story flew by so fast that the beginning didn't detract too much from the rest of the book.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All comments in my review are my own.
The thing that impressed me most about this book was the characters. The characters sounded like fourteen and fifteen year olds in high school. They had drama and bursts and anger and irrational decisions, but it all felt natural to the characters. It is hard to write fourteen-year-olds that don't sound too young or too old.
I felt like the beginning of this book spent a little too much time on back story and revealed some of the early information in infodumps that could have been worked into the story better. Once I got past the first couple chapter, the rest of the story flew by so fast that the beginning didn't detract too much from the rest of the book.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All comments in my review are my own.
September 7, 2014
I was given this book - the author is a fellow Texas librarian. I didn't expect to like it - but I do. Bailey Baxter's mother died of cancer 6 months ago; her father has moved her and her 5-year-old sister to his hometown in Tennessee. They are sharing a house with his sister's family, inlcuding a new baby. Baxter wanted to stay in Nelson, Louisiana with her best friend and maybe new boyfriend - but here she is trying to make it work. She is solidly drawn, as are other characters in the story - and she is surprising herself daily how much better N is than she expected. SPOILERS: She has boys interested in her and a new best friend. And her father is happy to be in familiar territory as he regroups after the loss of his much-loved wife. This is a strong read, not exciting but interesting. Definitely worth shelf space.
December 27, 2014
I really like the story line of LN. It's a sweet, clean YA romance. The characters are well developed. Bailey is easy to like and I think many kids reading this will find her instantly relateable. From dealing with her mother's death, to meeting new people, persuing a first love...Bailey really perseveres. She's definitely someone you want to root for! Bryce seems like every young girls ideal guy. (sweet, sensitive and doesn't care what people think). The twist in this book was genius, totally didn't see it coming until the last minute!
Definitely an enjoyable read.. you'll certainly want to know what happens next!
Definitely an enjoyable read.. you'll certainly want to know what happens next!
December 9, 2014
Amazing!
This book was so much more than I expected! I was sucked in from the beginning and loved it! I loved the emotional rollercoaster of Bailey's journey to overcome the death of her beloved mother and learn to live again and find her true self along the way. I highly recommend this book!
This book was so much more than I expected! I was sucked in from the beginning and loved it! I loved the emotional rollercoaster of Bailey's journey to overcome the death of her beloved mother and learn to live again and find her true self along the way. I highly recommend this book!
August 23, 2014
I just couldn't get "into" the book.
September 3, 2014
The plot was promising, but the characters lacked depth and development. I am thinking that this is a "self published" novel.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews