Der Sommer, als Chad ging und Daisy kam

by Jennifer Gooch Hummer, Claudia Feldmann (Translator)

Aprons Leben ist in Aufruhr: Sie versucht, über den Tod ihrer Mutter hinwegzukommen, die neue Partnerin ihres Vater ist bei ihnen eingezogen und ihre beste Freundin Bennie hat sie fallen lassen. Ihr droht ein einsamer Sommer, aber dann nimmt sie einen Ferienjob in Mikes und Chads Blumenladen an. Die beiden stehen ihr freundschaftlich und väterlich zur Seite in Zeiten, in denen sich sonst niemand um sie kümmert, und ihr Blumenladen wird für Apron zu einem zweiten Zuhause. Doch das währt nicht lange, denn Chad ist todkrank …

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, LGBT, Historical Fiction, Drama

352 pages, Hardcover

First published March 6, 2012

About the author

Jennifer Gooch Hummer is the award-winning and best-selling author of Veridian Sterling Fakes it, Girl Unmoored, and Operation Tenley.

Jennifer has worked as a script analyst for various talent agencies and major film studios in Los Angeles. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their three daughters.

GIRL UNMOORED has been awarded:
Maine Literary Awards, YA Fiction 2013
Moonbeam Children's Book Awards 2012, YA Fiction Adult Themes.
Reader Views Kids Award Winner, Best Teen/YA Book of the Year, 2012
Reader Views Winner, Best Teen/YA Fiction 2012
Foreword Book of The Year Finalist, YA Fiction 2012
Indie Excellence Awards 2012, Winner Cross-Genre Fiction
Next Generation Indie Book Awards 2012, Winner YA Fiction
USA Book Awards, Finalist Best New Book 2012
USA Book Awards, Finalist Best Cross-over Fiction, 2012
Paris Book Festival Awards 2012, Winner YA Fiction
San Francisco Book Festival Awards 2012, Winner Teenage Fiction.
Next Generation Indie Book Awards 2012, Finalist Chick Lit Fiction
International Book Awards 2012, Finalist Best New Book
International Book Awards 2012, Finalist YA Fiction
Next Generation Indie Book Awards 2012, Best Cover Art

Please visit her at: http://jennifergoochhummer.com/
And her book blog at:
http://allstorygirl.wordpress.com/

Reviews

[Kai Spellmeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Love. The opposite of fear is love, and every minute of every day, we choose between the two.”

If you plan to read this book sitting in a garden while the leaves rustle and the bees hum and you desperately try to get a tan like I did, you might prepare yourself that a sudden outburst of tears might ruin the whole mood. Apart from that, it does turn out to be a perfect book for the summer holidays.
What I was unaware of when I started reading, was that the book is set in 1985. It reads like it's from 2010 (which is neither a bad nor a good thing - I was only a bit confused when I finally realised when it was set).
The main character is a 13-year-old girl, Apron, who recently lost her mother to cancer. Now that her best friend found another, cooler friend and her dad is involved with their former housemaid, M, Apron's life sucks somewhat. Especially because M is turning out to be the wicked kind of stepmother. When Apron meets Mike and his boyfriend Chad, things seem to look brighter again. However, Chad has AIDS and it looks like they will not have much time together.

What I loved about this book is that the author, a (supposedly) straight woman, managed to tell a beautiful story about two gay characters from an outside perspective - through the eyes of a teenage girl. She did not pretend to know what it's like to be a gay man with AIDS; she did not use the voice of a marginalised group of people that she does not belong to. And she still managed to show the struggles of battling with prejudice, homophobia, hate and AIDS. I really appreciate that.

Furthermore, the book was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. People and relationships are complicated. There are ups and downs, and Apron is currently on a downward slope. And even though there book had its fair share of sad moments, it was still upbeat and funny. In a way Girl Unmoored reminded me of Goldfish and Wishbones. These three books are veeeery underrated for some weird reason, and if you have not read them yet, I recommend you take a look at them.

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[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had the voice not captured my attention faster than a tiger in a cage at the local zoo, GIRL UNMOORED would have been a three star read for me. But the voice spoke to me louder than a teenager projecting for the stage six inches from my face with spittle and grunts angled in at the appropriate moments for emphasis. Apron Bramhall proved as unique as her name, her red hair sticking out beyond her head, her choice of phrase more precocious than her thirteen years, and her spirit lifted high above the rafters. I fell in love with her voice amidst 330 pages of prose, and I didn’t come up for air until I gasped for breath at the bittersweet ending, at once saddened and dismayed that she and I must now part ways.

Revisiting middle school with Apron by my side, I blew raspberries at Jenny Pratt, puckered my lips for Johnny Berman and prepared for a kiss adjacent to the swing set, considered shoving Marguerite (better known as M) down the stairs, hoping she might end up with a one-way ticket back to Brazil, became best friends with Mike and Chad Weller, and helped The Boss, who twitches more than most guinea pigs, run laps around my bed.

Portland, Maine never sounded so good even if I did have to take a bus across the 88 all the way to Bramhall Street, and I managed to forget enough money for the fare, staring at my toes with a sheepish grin on my face, as my cheeks flashed from red to purple.

Discovering Apron, who managed to blush more than I do, brought back a bit of the youthful awkwardness I had long since usurped, but I must say I rather enjoyed the ride. And if I were in roller coaster heaven, I would have hopped right back on the ride and enjoyed the dips and spins and turns and climbs all over again.

[Larry H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darn you, Jennifer Gooch Hummer, for making me cry while marveling at your storytelling ability!!

Apron Bramhall is having a tough time of things. It's 1985, and things aren't going as well as she'd hoped—her best friend decided she'd rather be friends with a more popular girl, her mother died not too long ago, and her evil stepmother is pregnant. But luckily, Jesus saves her—or at least Mike, the actor who plays the lead in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar and bears more than a passing resemblance to the real thing. And as she starts spending time with Mike and his boyfriend, Chad, she begins to realize that she's not the only one with problems—and some have more serious ones than she does.

As Apron gets to know Mike and Chad better, and they offer her a summer job in their flower shop, Scent Appeal, she confronts the prejudices of those in her town, and learns more about what love means and how much it can cost. And as things begin to disintegrate at home, she learns more about people and their true feelings than she ever thought she would.

Once again, I am tremendously impressed by the state of so-called "young adult" fiction these days. I found this book to be beautifully written, poignant, and thought provoking, even as it was breaking my heart, and I felt like all of the characters are fairly well drawn. The transformation Apron undergoes is a realistic one, and you can actually see her eyes opening to the world around her, so she can stop feeling sorry for herself and start feeling for others. Jennifer Gooch Hummer is an amazing writer with so much promise, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. And I'd love to see what's next for Apron and the other characters in the book. Bravo!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had Girl Unmoored on my shelf for far too long. I'm not quite sure why I put off reading it. It has received wonderful praise, and the synopsis intrigued me. Recently, I decided to give it a go, and now I only have three thoughts on my mind in regards to it:

1) Why didn't I read it sooner?!
2) Wow. Wow. Wow. That was AMAZING!
3) Why didn't I read it sooner?!

Girl Unmoored introduces Apron Bramhall, a pre-teen experiencing one of the worst yet best summers of her life. Things haven't been the same for Apron and her father since her mother passed away suddenly. Her dad quickly found a replacement girlfriend - one who despises Apron - while Apron feels unsure in her new skin. She doesn't quite know how to go on without her mother, or with a dad she barely knows these days. I found Apron's voice to be raw as well as endearing. From the very first page, I was hooked. I want to know more about her - her family, her dad's evil girlfriend, her goals and her fears. Adding to that, Apron was one strong girl. She's not afraid to take risks, or care about people, no matter their background. She lives with her heart on her sleeve and craves for her house to feel like a home once again. That's not to say that Apron doesn't have moments of weakness or that she doesn't sometimes say or do the wrong thing at the wrong time, because she does, but it just made her story more believable and honest. Gosh, I wanted the world for Apron - she was such a special girl and I hoped throughout that no one would burn out her light.

Girl Unmoored primarily focuses on grief, growing up, and moving on. Throughout the course of the summer, Apron experiences growth in ways she could have never imagined. She stands up for herself. She takes on her dad's girlfriend, and sometimes she wins and sometimes she looses. She also takes on a job at the local flower shop. I loved everything to do with the flower shop and the two men that owned it. At first, Apron thinks they're doing her the favor by getting her out of her toxic house, but as it turns out she's doing them just as big of a favor by being there, by being an unlikely ally. I won't say much more about the topic, because experiencing this bond is what makes this book so incredibly special.

Overall, Girl Unmoored is a beautifully written, poignant novel about growing up. It made me cry my eyes out, and even though I felt emotionally wrecked after reading it I can't suggest it highly enough.

*ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

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[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Dieses Buch hat mich wirklich berührt.
Alles was ich dazu sagen kann ist: Collige, virgo, rosas. Bleib noch eine Weile und pflücke, Mädchen, die Rosen.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Beautiful Surprise

What a surprising story. Such poignant interactions and such honesty. Would be a great book club read — lots to talk about here.

[Jacqueline Oestringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Der Sommer, als Chad ging und Daisy kam - eine Geschichte über das Erwachsenwerden

die Autorin:

Jennifer Gooch Hummer hat nach ihrem Studium als Drehbuchanalystin gearbeitet und lebt mit ihrem Mann und drei Töchtern in Los Angeles und Maine. Für ihren Debütroman „Der Sommer, als Chad ging und Daisy kam“ wurde sie mit zahlreichen Preisen ausgezeichnet.


Klappentext:

Aprons Leben ist in Aufruhr: Sie versucht, über den Tod ihrer Mutter hinwegzukommen, die neue Partnerin ihres Vaters ist bei ihnen eingezogen und ihre beste Freundin Rennie hat sie fallenlassen. Ihr droht ein einsamer Sommer, aber dann nimmt sie einen Ferienjob in Mikes und Chads Blumenladen an. Die beiden stehen ihr freundschaftlich und väterlich zur Seite in Zeiten, in denen sich sonst niemand um sie kümmert, und ihr Blumenladen wird für Apron zu einem zweiten Zuhause. Doch das währt nicht lange, denn Chad ist todkrank …


Charaktere:

Apron, ein junges Mädchen mit rotem Haar und Sommersprossen, ist auf Grund des frühen Todes ihrer Mutter und Margie, der neunen Freundin ihres Vaters, mit der es nicht so recht klappen will, ziemlich einsam. Sie muss lernen ohne Andere zurecht zu kommen und sich dem Erwachsenwerden alleine stellen.

Mike & Chad sind zwei aufgeschlossene Männer, die von Anfang an durch ihre Hilfsbereitschaft und offene Art auffallen. Die Art, mit der sie sich Aprons annehmen, zeigt viel von ihrer Wärme und Zuverlässigkeit.


Meinung:

Ich bin verliebt. Anders kann man es nicht ausdrücken...
Das Buch schildert das Leben aus der Sicht einer 13-jährigen, mit all seinen Höhen und Tiefen. Primär handelt es von Angst, Liebe, Tod, Toleranz und Mitgefühl, bildhaft geschildert an Beispielen, die jedem auf die eine oder andere Art bekannt sind. Für mich ist diese tolle Geschichte ein Appell an Akzeptanz und Hilfsbereitschaft. Werte, die meiner Meinung nach niemals genug versucht werden können, vermittelt zu werden!

Der Schreibstil ist entsprechend jugendlich gehalten, was einen zu so manchem Schmunzeln verleitet. Nicht selten habe ich mich dabei ertappt, wie ich laut auflachen musste.
Die Kapitel sind in der Regel immer nur ein paar Seiten lang, was das Lesen recht kurzweilig macht.
Es gibt unheimlich viele tolle Elemente, die einen mehr oder minder durch das gesamte Buch begleiten. So z.B. die lateinischen Sprüche und Redewendungen, die sich sowohl in den Kapiteln, als auch in den jeweiligen Kapitelüberschriften finden. Diese passen perfekt zum Geschehen und regen oftmals zum Nachdenken an.
Auch das wiederkehrende Thema "Jesus" hat der Geschichte einen ganz eigenen Charme verliehen (an alle, die nicht Bibel-affin sind: Keine Angst! Niemand versucht euch zu bekehren ;) Es wird nur ab und an sowohl im lustigen als auch im nachdenklichen Sinne aufgegriffen, was echt super rüber kommt. Lasst euch überraschen!)


Alles in allem war dies für mich eindeutig eins meiner Highlights in diesem Jahr!! Gerne mehr davon :)

[Rishu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Handlung

Die Schule ist fast vorbei, der Sommer naht und Apron muss nicht nur den Tod ihrer Mutter verarbeiten, sondern sich auch mit ihrer neuen Familiensituation arrangieren. Die neue Freundin ihres Vaters, die Apron nur M nennt, ist schwanger und ins Haus eingezogen. Apron versucht ihrem Vater klar zu machen, dass M sie nicht leiden kann, stößt dabei aber auf taube Ohren und ihre beste Freundin will auch nichts mehr von ihr wissen. Glücklicherweise lernt Apron Mike und Chad kennen, die einen Blumenladen betreiben und die Hilfe des Mädchens gut gebrauchen können, den Chad ist todkrank und hat nicht mehr lange zu leben.

Das war gut

Was aus dem Klappentext nicht hervorgeht: die Geschichte spielt 1985! Ich dachte erst, dass es sich um eine Handlung in der Gegenwart handelt, aber so bekam die Freundschaft zwischen Apron, Mike und Chad nochmal einen ganz anderen Stellenwert, das fand ich sehr interessant. Insgesamt passt das Buch für mich auch super in dieses Jahr, da es Aids in den 80ern nach den Filmen Dallas Buyers Club und The Normal Heart nochmal aus einem völlig anderen Blickwinkel betrachtet, wenn auch nur als Nebenhandlung und aus den Augen einer 13-jährigen.

Mike und Chad sind keine wandelnden Klischees. Sie wohnen zusammen und sie lieben sich, aber das bekommt man nicht ständig durch irgendwelche Schwulen-Klischees verbraten, sondern sie werden als ganz normale und sehr sympathische Menschen dargestellt. Leider auch heute immer noch nicht selbstverständlich.

Das hat mir nicht gefallen

Ich fand es schade, dass Aprons Familiensituation so klischeehaft dargestellt wird. Die böse Stiefmutter, der desinteressierte Vater, der seiner Tochter kein Wort glaubt…das hat man alles schon viele Male so gelesen. Besonders M scheint keine anderen Eigenschaften als die der besagten bösen Stiefmutter zu besitzen. Da hätte ich mir etwas mehr gewünscht.

Es wird eine Affäre von Aprons verstorbener Mutter angedeutet, die dann aber weder Einfluss auf den Rest der Geschichte hat noch näher thematisiert wird. Dann hätte man das auch gleich weglassen können.

Und daraus folgt

Es geht um Sommer, den Tod, Aids, verlorene und gewonnene Freundschaften, neue Familienverhältnisse, Blumen und das Erwachsenwerden. Klingt nach einer hoffnungslos überfrachteten Geschichte, ist aber genau die richtige Mischung. Am Ende habe ich ein, zwei Tränchen verdrückt und Apron alles Gute gewünscht. Es sei ihr gegönnt.

[Chrissy (The Every Free Chance Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I enjoy this book: I really did. In fact, the first thing I said to my husband when I finished this book was "that was a really good book." Plain and simply put. I read this book every free chance I had...I put off household chores in order to read this book. I could not put it down. When I had to put it down, all I wanted to do was pick it back up again.

Girl Unmoored is told from the perspective of 13 year old Apron Bramhall. To have gone through everything that Apron has gone through in her 13 years and yet still have an innocence to her narrative was remarkable. That innocence should not have been there...but it was and it was great. There were moments in this book where I laughed out loud, moments where I just shook my head, and moments where I wanted to cry. So many emotions, so well written by Ms. Hummer.

The story moved and kept me interested. Most of the characters were likeable and loveable. The trio - Apron, Mike, and Chad - were my favorites. They worked so well together. Their friendship was unlikely and should have been strained...but it wasn't and they were meant to be friends, you could tell. Grandma Bramhall was a trip. I just laughed when I read the parts with her. Some characters were really unlikeable. M was one of the unlikeable characters. I couldn't believe her and the things that she said and did...to herself and to Apron.

This book left me with a smile and a happy sigh at the end. Much like middle school drama, all eventually works out in some way in the end.

Would I recommend it: I would, absolutely. Girl Unmoored was a great read, well worth it.

Will I read it again: I'm not sure. I really enjoyed it but I don't know that it is a re-readable book for me. Only time will tell if I will reread this wonderfully written book. I know that I will definitely read any other book that Ms. Hummer writes in the future.

http://everyfreechancebookreviews.blo...

[Laura Kay Bolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://anovelreview.blogspot.com/2012...


Apron Bramhall (yes that’s her name, Apron) is a girl unmoored. She recently suffered the loss of her mom, and now her father is preoccupied with his new girlfriend “M”, and her bff, Rennie has dumped her for a chance to be more popular. What Apron really wants is someone to save her…and who better than Jesus. More like Mike, an actor who plays Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. Mike and his boyfriend Chad show up in Apron’s life when she needs it the most. They are there for her when no one else seems to be. They hire her to help them out in their flower shop. The biggest truth is Apron seems to be the only one who understands what love really means and everyone around her needs her to help guide them back to safe waters.

What a great book. I personally find coming of age books to really be hit or miss and this was a hit. Apron is one of those characters you just can’t help but root for and I can honestly say I was frustrated by the adults around her. But here’s the thing, all the adult characters were so well written that as an adult you get that they are struggling with their own lives and problems.

I simply fell in love with Apron. As a momma, I just wanted to wrap my arms around her and be there for her. My heart just broke for her, as she was trying so hard to maneuver all the troubled waters of her life. Most of the adults in her life never stopped to really see how she was fairing. I found Girl Unmoored to gives a glimpse into a young girl’s life during a turbulent time in her life, and how we as adults become so involved with ourselves we forget to check in with those around us.
I laughed, I cried, I loved Girl Unmoored.

When I closed the book, I hope Jennifer Gooch Hummer writes about Apron again!

[WTF Are You Reading? · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story that though peppered with a myriad of complex and often heartbreaking issues, never forgot that it was set in a world being experienced through the mind and heart of a young and for the most part, still very innocent girl.

Apron Bramhall has lost her mother to Cancer, her father to a Brazilian nurse's aide named 'M', and her bff has sailed off in search of the big fish in the popularity pond. So it is no wonder that Apron is having a few issues in the feeling loved and secure department.
At least until she discovers Jesus (I mean Mike) who plays Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar", and her world starts to brighten.
As it turns out, her friendship with Mike leads to her finding a some of the time job, but most of the time safe haven at Scent Appeal, the flower shop that Mike runs with his partner Chad.
The relationship between Mike and Chad, and the revelations that Apron experiences because of her closeness with them, serve as both the catharsis for Apron and an emotional touchstone for the reader.

Readers will find themselves pleasantly surprised by the balance of humor, poignancy, and brevity that this book is able to maintain while still remaining unpretentious and fresh.
Apron, while often unsure of her place on the world, was a girl who stood up to the challenges in her life and grasped life and love with a wholehearted acceptance that the adults in her life could have learned from.
This is a beautiful story that readers are sure to carry in their minds and hearts forever.
This review can be found on my blog at:
http://www.wtfareyoureading.com/2013/...

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! It is one of the best books I have read in a long time, and it has everything besides romance that makes a book good: parental drama, best friend drama, school drama, societal drama, etc. Here's the set-up: A young girl named Apron is being raised by her father and his Brazilian girlfriend "M" (Margee), who was her mother's caregiver before she died. M and Apron don't get along at all, and her father is so busy being a college professor he barely notices Apron, who ends up taking care of herself and her hamster The Boss. Apron's poor excuse for a "best friend" throws her under the bus when a more popular girl notices her, so Apron is even more lonely,bored and miserable when school lets out for summer vacation, until she runs into her elderly neighbor's son Mike(who looks like Jesus and once played him in a musical Apron saw). Apron has a crush on Mike and ends up helping him out in his flower shop, where she grows up, learns about herself, becomes less self-centered, and discovers what real love is. I can't describe any more without giving away the plot, but this book is so funny and heartfelt, I laughed out loud and cried while I was reading, which doesn't happen very often. The narrator's voice is that of a 7th grade girl, and the scenarios she describes remind me of what it was like back in junior high a.k.a all the drama. Her paternal grandmother is a hilarious character also! Read this book; you won't be sorry! :)

[Isamlq · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I swallowed a piece of my heart that was now lodged in my throat.” There was a lot of that happening in Girl Unmoored.

Apron's story was both sweet and sad, but mostly sad. Consider her life: a daddy who’s not all there plus a horrible step mom to be. A friend who is not really a friend, and a memory of things that doesn’t paint the most accurate picture of the past. She’s a sad kid, but a brave one.

But it’s that last aspect I liked: her willingness to put herself out there.

That said, there weren’t that many big surprises in this one. She’s still just a girl. And her dad is still just a dad. They both screw up, him more than her. She just endeared herself to me by putting herself forward; her father on the other hand, with his coping (but not really not coping,) and his preoccupation with other things had me worrying for her more!

Of course, there were others in the picture. Mike and Chad, and even her Grandmother were clearly on her side. So it was these people that balanced out the sad. It was with them that she opened up even more and saw what others were capable of, good and bad, funny and off the wall. What’s better though is how the learning was never one sided; she had bits of wisdom to share too. They made her better, but she made them better as well.

Thanks Netgalley!

[Lynn Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mirabile Fabulam! as Apron might say.

Apron is the delightfully quirky twelve-year-old heroine of Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer. Her mother recently died and her dad is burying his grief in a pile of student essays - he's a Latin teacher. Worse yet, Dad has also decided to marry his late wife's sexy Brazilian nurse. About the only person who pays any attention to Apron is her eccentric grandma, who claims tiny people have been cleaning her house at night.

Then Apron meets Jesus. Well, really, she meets Mike, the guy who plays the lead in a local production of "Jesus Christ Superstar." Mike is gay and it's the 1980's, a time when AIDS was thought of as only a gay disease and no one was sure just how contagious it might be. Mike and his partner Chad, who own a flower shop together, are not popular people in town. But their isolation is a boon for Apron, who insinuates herself into their lives and even badgers them into going to the parent-teacher conference in place of her pre-occupied father.

Mike and Chad teach Apron the ins and out of the florist business and how to be true to onesself. And surprisingly, Apron has a lot to teach them too.

[Sharon Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely fell in love with this book. Jennifer Gooch Hummer has created an adorable, feisty young heroine in Apron Bramhall. The seventh grader is still getting over the death of her mom, trying hard to deal with her dad's choice of a new wife, trying to understand why her best friend suddenly doesn't want to have anything to do with her, and all of the rest of the angst and agonies that girls have to deal with at that tender age. But she receives a little bit of help from the highly unusual, but absolutely loving couple of Michael and Chad, and through their friendship Apron is able to gain a little wisdom, grow a little tougher and learn to love a little deeper.

This story touches on the beginning of the AIDS epidemic and how people were horribly intolerant of a disease they knew nothing about. Hummer handles this portion of the novel with tenderness and grace, showing her skills as a brilliant storyteller.

While this book could be classified as a young adult novel, I highly recommend it for adult reading as well. I personally can't wait to see what other stories Jennifer Gooch Hummer has up her writing sleeve in the future!

[Lesli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible story about facing loss and struggling with grief. Apron Bramhall is going through more than your typical teenage angst; set in 1985 when AIDS was only whispered about, she befriends a young gay couple in the midst of coping with the loss of her mother and the new girlfriend of her father. Throughout the story, Apron teaches her friends as much as they teach her - about love, tolerance, and moving on even when there doesn't seem to be a way. Without being tyranical, elements of faith and God are woven throughout the story. I would highly recommend this quirky novel for those looking for a bit of peace themselves.

[Lauren Jarvis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I have tried and tired to keep reading it and get into it. and I just cannot. The writing is really bad. The story line is often jumpy and the transitions of events or characters thoughts are often very loosely controlled. I found more then 6 grammer/spelling errors within the first 4 chapters.

I am a firm believer in finishing every book that i start because i like to give the writer the benefit, however this one i cannot go any further with.

I really did try and give this book a try.

[morninglightmama · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young narrator makes for some earnest and emotion-filled storytelling in this novel. Tackling several large issues from the small-scale perspective of a seventh grade girl, the book gives a nice snapshot of some common views in the 1980s as AIDS was first making headlines. Apron, in addition to possessing an odd first name, also unknowingly possesses a wisdom beyond her years, and an innate kindness that the reader keeps hoping will be recognized and somehow rewarded. Though it took me a couple chapters to get into the feel of the writing, once I did, it was a wholly engaging story.

[Tatum H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I really got into it on the 2-3 chapter. Like any book it takes until the end of the first chapter to become fully focused on the novel. The ending was the hardest part. Seeing everything that Apron has gone through before she met Mike and Chad was hard but her life after she met them completely changed for the better. The plot got very suspenseful but this isn't an action novel. This book was so heartwarming I cried at the end.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I stumbled on this book thanks to some deal I read last weekend. I loved it. Apron, the main character, makes you want to hug her and cheer on as life takes some bad turns. The book made me smile, laugh, and tear up. I definitely recommend this book as it is well written and an interesting story.

[pcb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this book. I'm a huge fan of southern fiction and this book is in the same vein. Loved the quirky phrasing of Apron's thoughts. It's been on my Kindle as a to-be-read for a couple of years; I just looked back and I got it for free (score!), although the current price is 9.99. Even at that price, I highly recommend it.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book without reading the description, and I think that helped me enjoy it more. A fantastic story of a 7th grade girl in 1980s Maine with a very distinctive voice that does not come across in the description above. Could not put this down.

[Madison Chaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

So blessed to come across this wonderful book. Could not put it down.. definitely one of my new favorites. I would recommend this to everyone looking for a heartwarming read. Thank you Jennifer Gooch Hummer!!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://maryward.booktrib.com/reviews/...

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the author's use of language and her characters. It left me in a puddle at the end, but well worth it.

[Rose Marten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving and emotional beyond its young adult years. Jennifer Gooch Hummer elicits visceral emotional reactions through her writing and keeps your mind on the characters even when the book is put away.

[Buddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

tolle Geschichte!!:)

[Elif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das war schön <3

[Rhonda Lechner · Rating 5 out of 5]

eine wirklich wunderschöne und traurige Geschichte. auf jeden Fall lesen! für Fans von John Green oder jojo Moyes absolut passend!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book about a girl named Apron Bramhall!