Fünf Dinge, die dir niemand verrät

by Rebecca Westcott, Barbara Lehnerer (Translator)

Mein schrecklich schöner, unvergesslicher Sommer

Erin ist sauer, unglaublich sauer – darüber, dass ihre Mum sie einfach verlässt, und darüber, dass ihre Eltern sich um eine alte Teekanne streiten, während sie ihnen total egal ist. Aber das reicht natürlich nicht, jetzt müssen sie ihr auch noch den ganzen Sommer verderben, nur weil sie mit der Kreditkarte ihres Vaters losgezogen ist, um sich das lang ersehnte iPad zu kaufen: Anstatt mit ihren Freundinnen im Freibad zu entspannen, soll Erin ihrem Vater bei der Arbeit helfen – und der ist Gärtner in einem Altersheim! Dort trifft sie auf die griesgrämige alte Martha und Lucas mit den Strubbelhaaren, und ihr Sommer wird doch ganz anders als erwartet.

Genres: Middle Grade, Young Adult

235 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 5, 2015

About the author

Rebecca Westcott was born in Chester. She went to Exeter University to train as a teacher and has had a variety of teaching jobs that have taken her to some very interesting places, including a Category C male prison. She started writing a diary when she was eight years old, although she had no idea that one day her entries would be used to help her write a book. Rebecca currently teaches in a primary school and lives in Dorset with her husband and three children. Dandelion Clocks is her first book.

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice, simple story about... life, really. About friendship and family, coming of age and thinking about love, and I enjoyed it. I really liked the time that Erin spent with Martha (and Frog!), but I also would have liked a little bit more time spent with her parents. We were told about the changes in her relationships with them, rather than shown, and that was a bit disappointing.

Overall though, this was a really nice book and I will be happily recommending it.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all three of Rebecca Westcott's books now, and not one of them has let me down in the slightest. Her style of writing is beautiful and can make you feel like you are included in the story, or even that you are one of the characters. Five Things They Never Told Me made me have a whole new outlook on life, and I know I will be thinking about this book for many months.

The main character, Erin, came across so careless and self-centred at the beginning of the book, I was sure I was going to hate her for the rest of the book. But, Rebecca Westcott very cleverly and subtly, slowly altered Erin's attitude and personality showing how her new summer holiday surroundings were changing who she was. I grew to love her by the end, liking how small parts of 'Old Erin' would appear when she spoke sometimes.
By the end she had completely changed her outlook on life, and that was all with the help of Martha.

Martha was probably my favourite character in this book. I think Rebecca Westcott displayed Erin as a younger version of Martha, and I think this added something even more amazing to the story. Martha, I thought, was still a teenager stuck in an older woman's body in a care home; her enjoyment of smoking, and rebellious behaviour emphasised this, and contrasted really well with the wisdom she passed on to Erin nearer the end of the book (that part was unbelievably touching). I adored her as soon as she appeared in the book, and it only increased with every page.

Finally Frog. I can't think of much to say about Frog, only that I thought he was perfect. I feel like he was the one who put Martha and Erin together, even though they had met before his appearance, he was the one who got them to enjoy each other's company with his conversaton starters and ideas on what the three of them could do together. He was the secret glue that put everything in the book together.

All of the extra characters in this book played a key part, even if it wasn't obvious. The ending touched my heart, just like the ending of Dandelion Clocks and Violet Ink. It takes a special book to change people's outlooks on life, but Rebecca Westcott managed it easily in a couple hundred pages.

Five Things They Never Told Me is heart-breaking, heart-fixing, and life-changing.

[El · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve read Rebecca Westcott’s two other books and enjoyed them so I decided to read this. It was enjoyable and I loved the ending, I thought it was so sweet! But it was a little young for me, I think that’s only because I’ve been reading lots of YA recently thought, that does not mean that it was badly written because it was well written with a nice format.

[Melissa Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful middle grade contemporary tale. It speaks about several important issues including dealing with divorce, loneliness, growing into a young adult, and quality friendships. Most chapters start with a title of an artwork with a footnote from character Erin about her thoughts on it. I really enjoyed this aspect, it exposed me to some art I've never heard of. Erin has a fair amount of angst since her parents split and makes some mistakes meaning that she doesn't have freedom on her school holidays and has to accompany her father to his work at Oak Hill Home for the Elderly. She meets Martha, a rather stoic woman at the home, and a relationship blossoms.

[Lina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really know what to say about it except that I just felt hugged by this story. This isn't really the genre I normally prefer because I get often bored with these kinda books. It's just that I have the feeling that the message at the end is often the same or just slightly different but this one really surprised me. And I can't even say what makes it different. Could be that Erin and I have the same favourite ice cream flavour. Could be that I read many books between reading this one and writing a review.

All in all it was really cute but it's still a little bit vanilla and didn't give me much excitement. No brilliant plot, no big drama, no women with swords, no dragons.

[Yeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very very very VERY beautifully written story! I like how it adds a little bit of an romantic twist and hooks the reader with the chapter titles, and the protagonist’s perspective. This book is very “addicting.” I would definitely read this book again(if I had another chance). Now, this book has reached my number 1 favourite book list.

[Jasmijn De Vries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super easy to read. Which makes it so relaxing. Whole some story with cute life lessons!!

[Jasmijnschoice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very easy to read and about such a beautiful relationship between young and old

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful little book - a very nice heartwarming story. This author has successfully made her way to the must buy list - her previous novels, dandelion clocks and violet ink are favourites of mine and I'm glad to say that five things they never told me is a new favourite. Five stars.

[Nadja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this book for awhile now but finally decided to read it! I loved it, its such a sweet book! I love finding out more bout Martha.
Erin is like most young girls so its easy to relate to her. Really good book

[Justine Laismith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story about a girl who has to spend the summer in an old folks home. She is responsible for one of the wards whose rebellious nature wins her over. We witness how this friendship benefits both.

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so heart-warming and so sad. It can bring a tear to your eye and make you giggle in the same sentence. A brilliant read for anyone looking for a bit of life advice :D

[Herlina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay read.

[Lucy May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again another marvellous read by Rebecca Westcott. If you haven't yet read any of her books I recommend this one and dandelion clocks which is another of her books

[Akorra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book, and my favourite of Rebecca's so far. Perfect for anyone who's looking for some life advice, or just for a lovely summer read. I would recommend to anyone!

[Mimì · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a good read, it made me cry

[Sarah Beckwith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly brilliant! Possibly the best yet...I laughed and cried!

[reasonstobehappytoday · Rating 5 out of 5]

" Nobody will tell you when it's your last summer and you probably won't even know it".-Martha.
Sweet and gentle like a green field. Eventually, i realize that every thing will change.
I love this book!