Throw Away Sisters

by Debbie Winnekins Deutsch

Finalist in the YA 2016 IAN Book of the Year Awards. Throw Away Sisters is the compelling tale of fifteen-year-old Cart, and her eleven-year-old sister, Lucy. When the grown-ups in their lives fail them, their options become stay, and contend with the dangers of abuse, or run away. They now face the most unacceptable outcome imaginable, the threat of separation. Throw Away Sisters is a tale of longing, sacrifice, and ultimately, hope.

Genres: Fiction

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2016

Reviews

[Elisa Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving

I could not put this well-written ya book down as the plot delved into the traumatic lives of two young sisters who searched for love. With a multitude of emotions, the girls remained close and in the end, love certainly endured. I read this and reviewed after seeing it on one of the fb pages on which I advertise my own books and was pleasantly surprised as well as happy and willing to provide this author with some encouraging feedback. Great story!!

[Mindy/fangedmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a reality check...this story could have been any of us!

For her first book, I can honestly say author Debbie Winnekins Deutsch started her writing career out with one hell of a book! At the end of chapter 1, I burst into tears and sent the author a message. This book explores the emotions and lives of two young girls in the 70's that fell prey to the same situation that a lot of families experienced at that time. This book hit REALLY close to home for me. I never include spoilers so PLEASE just read this book and be prepared to NOT put this book down. It is THAT good!!!!

[Eaden Hvarre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in one sitting because I could not put it down. Such a heartbreaking story but so well written. The relationship between Lucy and Cart is so perfectly raw and real, it’s the kind of sister bond that only siblings can understand. I genuinely did not know if the sisters would get a happy ending with the amount of roadblocks and trauma they were constantly faced with but I’m so so happy that they did.

[Linda Jakubowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debbie Winnekins Deutsch did a stellar job with her first novel,THROW AWAY SISTERS. The two sisters, Cart and Lucy, are well defined characters from the beginning. The evil boyfriend of their loser mother makes you sick with fear for the two girls, as he sets out to make them his prey. The book is set in the 1970's in Freeport, IL. there are some important elements in the story that will introduce young adult readers to that setting, such as, mood rings, Magic 8 Balls, and orange and avocado room colors. Throughout the book the tension builds, and keeps the reader guessing while Cart and Lucy face dead ends at every turn. The author's pacing is right on the mark. You can't help but feel for these two young girls as they try to deal with adult situations they shouldn't have to at fifteen and eleven. This story has elements that happen all too often in real life. Your heart will break for the THROW AWAY SISTERS, as you compulsively turn the pages.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was horrible ... at least the subject matter ... and I did not enjoy it. The writing made me want to finish the story, and I appreciate that it did have at least a hopeful ending to give the story some worth. I loved that it was set in Freeport, which is right in my home area, and loved following the girls from park to park. And of course, some people have lived this life so it might be an important story to tell. Children should NEVER be treated the way these kids were, and adults should NEVER get away with it. It was just such an ugly subject matter that I did not enjoy the book at all.

[susan miner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading, and not just for young adults!

This book was heartwarming, terrifying, and sad, all at once. I'm sure many readers found parts they could identify with. I found several. While I am not a YA, (I am an OA, with YA grandchildren)
this book was of great interest to me. I loved the ending-hope springs eternal.

[Jazmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this title for a review for up and coming authors. I thought the subject matter was difficult to read, and I wished Cart and Lucy had made friends their own age at some point. I only finished the book because I thought the writing was well done. I wouldn't necessarily purchase this book for my teen collection or recommend it to a teen.

[Odette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written tale of a life that some children experience. Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down until I finished it. The strength and bravery of Cart is admirable. This book isn't just for young adults - it truly resonated with me.

[Tricia Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Throw Away Sisters, author Debbie Winnekins Deutsch has created a wry, clever, heartbreaking story of two sisters, having been given the worst, striving to cling to the best thing they have—one another.

[Nicole Petersen Sofolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy YA read that I flew through. It is set in Freeport, Illinois, so that was kind of neat because I could relate to a lot of the setting as I have been many of the places. It also deals with family and substance abuse issues, which is obviously very real these days.

[Sheila Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

THROW AWAY SISTERS, a young adult novel, will grab the attention of its audience and hold it firmly from beginning to end.

Fifteen-year old Cart Matthews has a "smart mouth," and she tells her story in the breathless, you-are-here style of a typical teenager, including dialog peppered with swear words. Her loving father, a devoted Beatles’ fan, gave her the name McCartney, and he chose “Lucy” for Cart’s little sister, now eleven, based on the song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” Cart has always loved their father and appreciated his sense of humor. But she’s also been aware of a deep sadness in him concerning his relationship with his mother—a grandmother the girls have never met. Now Cart has no father to love. He left years ago to fight in the Viet Nam war, and when he returned addicted to drugs, their mother took the sisters and fled. One move after another has left both girls unsettled and uneasy.

Cart’s account of one tumultuous summer of 1978 is grounded in authentic details of that time period: popular colors are orange and green, mood rings give away feelings, tie-dyed shirts are still “in,” and a Magic 8 Ball answers all Cart’s questions. Almost. Whenever she quizzes it about her father, the reply is always vague and unsatisfactory.

Although she found her first kiss from Ben (a boy she likes) exciting and confusing, now Cart’s dealing with the ugly advances of her loser mother’s current boyfriend, Danny, who’s also hinting at a threatening interest in Lucy. The bond between the two girls becomes stronger as they try desperately to handle their dysfunctional lives with no support from the adults around them. When Cart begins to realize that the authorities might separate her from Lucy, she’s ready to say -- or do -- anything to prevent that scenario from happening.

Cart is an interesting character with a wide range of response to her mixture of emotions. She’s quick to anger and often leaps into a situation with a sharp retort, yet she’s totally devoted to keeping her little sister safe. Readers will be routing for Cart and Lucy as these appealing sisters search for love and the safety of a real home. While the conclusion is satisfying, there are enough loose ends to hint at the possibility of a sequel. Teenage readers may wish for their own Magic 8 Ball so they can ask, “Will Cart ever see Ben again?”
 

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throw Away Sisters grabs you by the heart and doesn't let go until the last page. It's a story about two sisters who just want to be loved and their struggles with family. This book will take you on a roller coaster of emotions - everything from anger, to laughter, to tears - as you fall in love with these two girls and their lives. The characters are well thought out and the story line will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. Don't miss out on this wonderful read by an up and coming author!!

[M.F. Lamphere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Debbie Winnekins Deutsch not only captures the voice of a fifteen year old girl caught between being a daughter and the adult-figure her younger sister, Lucy, needs, but she also represents the time period perfectly. It's important to see exactly how much--and how little--has changed socially in the time between the 70's and now.

The pages fly by as the story unfolds and you find yourself rooting for these girls, the Throw Away Sisters. You fear for them, cry with them, and desire a satisfying ending for all. You will not be disappointed.