Loose Threads

by Lorie Ann Grover, Steve Rawlings

Seventh grader Kay Garber's happy home is made up of four generations of women: Great Gran Eula; Grandma Margie; Kay's mother, Karine; and Kay. But on the evening Grandma Margie tells her family she has a lump in her breast, Kay's world is changed forever.Struggling with issues of popularity in junior high school, trying to understand her too-perfect mother, dealing with her feelings about friends, and coming to terms with Grandma Margie's cancer diagnosis and illness, Kay is awhirl with questions that have no easy answers. But Kay is a survivor, and as she journeys through these difficult months she comes to a new understanding of the complexities and importance of faith and family.

Told through forthright and perceptive poems in Kay's own voice, "Loose Threads" reverberates with emotion and depth and will leave no reader untouched.

Genres: Poetry, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Death, Novel In Verse, Middle Grade, Fiction

296 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

Lorie Ann Grover is an awarded YA novelist and board book author whose works include Kirkus Starred Review, Firstborn, and Parents Magazine Best Children's Book, Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish. She co-founded readergirlz and readertotz. Living with her husband in the foothills of Mt. Rainier, she writes, practices weapons tai chi, and watches hawks take flight.

Reviews

[readergirlz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote Loose Threads to revisit our family's experience with breast cancer. The verse format carried the emotion and intensity well. This books stands in memory of my grandmother, great grandmother, and alongside my mother, and me.

[Mikayla Flood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is reading appropriate for primary aged children.
This book is about a young girl in seventh grade who finds out that her grandma has breast cancer. While dealing with this, she is battling junior high and popularity and a few other difficult things.
COMMENTS:
This book is helpful in teaching students with understanding cancer or dealing with knowing someone with cancer .

[Amber Logue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books tells the story of a little girl learning that her grandmother has breast cancer, and the journey through that. I think it would work best for upper elementary to middle school as an independent reading book during a poetry unit.

[Geri chesner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for 10-14 year olds

[Bridget R. Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kay is a normal seventh grader until her grandma finds a lump on her breast. Her life, her mother's, her grandmas, and her great-grandma's all change with these simple words "I found a lump / in my breast" (1). Poems chronicle Kay's struggle to deal with the changes in her life. To understand cancer. To understand herself. To understand her friends. To accept the frailty of life.

What I thought: This book was incredibly moving because it deals with a subject every woman fears: breast cancer. The poignancy of the story increased when I realized the author was writing from her personal experience. Her own grandmother had breast cancer. I've never had anyone close to me die a lingering death, but I can understand it through this book. As Kay cried, I cried. My favorite poem in the book is "Friends." It describes perfectly what this book gives readers.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loose Threads is a story of a journey from normalcy to chaos, once Kay's grandma finds a lump in her breast. Kay is treading the 7th grade waters with reasonable ease, not being the most popular nor the bullied. She has a close group of friends, gets good grades, loves her family, and is liked by her teachers. But, when Grandma Margie starts the slow decline after biopsy, surgery, and chemotherapy, those normal everyday pieces of life are shattered.

Mostly, friends, family, and teachers are understanding...yet, Kay is struggling to make sense of it all. Why did her grandma die, why did God let this happen, why is a shy, lonely girl in school bullied and not her, why is her mother so perfect? Slowly, she comes to grips with the reality of the situation and starts to see hope in life. A loving and heartwarming tribute to grandmas, cancer patients, and life, written in verse.

[Emily Wohlers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lorie Ann Grover is a local author and I just love her! her books totally relate to me! My grandpa is battling cancer right now so loose threads definitely helped me. Another book was about ballet, and I dance ballet as well! Her books make me feel as if I'm reading about myself. Definitely a must read!

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this book is rated for grades 5-8 it should be a book shared with any family who has gone through the battle of breast cancer. Make sure you have tissues handy before you finish the book! Quite powerful for even those breast cancer hasn't touched the immediate family!!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg i totally forgot i read this book its sooooooooooooo good, i love this book i felt so bad for kay the main character and i just really loved this book. the loose threads comes from the knitting thats loose when kay knitted after his grandmother died who had taught her to knit

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A girl comes to terms with her grandmother's impending death from breast cancer. A novel in verse.

[Linnae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kay's grandma has breast cancer, and while the drama of junior high swirls around her, she feels separate and alone. Emotionally honest, painful, but ultimately full of hope.

[Priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very touching. Lorie Ann Grover managed to convey such complex emotions and themes through simple words, and that's what made this book unique for me.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review: https://hiplibrariansbookblog.com/200...

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it