When Rain Turns to Snow

by Jane Godwin

Lissa is home on her own after school one afternoon when a stranger turns up on the doorstep carrying a baby. Reed is on the run - surely people are looking for him? He's trying to find out who he really is and thinks Lissa's mum might have some answers. But how could he be connected to Lissa's family - and why has he been left in charge of a baby? A baby who is sick, and getting sicker ...

Reed's appearance stirs up untold histories in Lissa's family, and suddenly she is having to make sense of her past in a way she would never have imagined. Meanwhile, her brother is dealing with a devastating secret of his own.

Genres: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Contemporary, Friendship, Family, Childrens, Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2020

About the author

Jane Godwin is the Publisher, Books for Children and Young Adults, at Penguin Books Australia. She is also a highly acclaimed author of many books for children. Her work is published internationally and she has received many commendations. The Family Tree won the 2000 Queensland Premier's Award (Children's Books); Sebby, Stee, the Garbos and Me was shortlisted for the 1999 New South Wales State Literary Award (Patricia Wrightson Prize) and was a YABBA finalist; and The True Story of Mary was shortlisted for the 2006 CBCA Book of the Year Awards, Younger Readers. In 2009 her picture book with illustrator Anna Walker, Little Cat and the Big Red Bus, was a notable book in the CBCA Awards and was also shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Awards, Lower Primary division. Jane's most recent novel is Falling From Grace, and her most recent picture book is All Through the Year, illustrated by Anna Walker, due for publication in October 2010.

Jane lives in Melbourne with her family. Her hobbies seem to have fallen by the wayside a little since she has taken on the role of publisher, but from what she remembers, they were playing tennis, walking, reading (things other than manuscripts), doing cryptic crosswords, talking about the need to do gardening (and sometimes even doing it), cooking, playing piano, spending time with friends and mucking around with family which consists of partner Michael and two adolescents, Wil (19) and Lizzie (17). She still manages the cryptic crosswords, friends and family.

Jane also enjoys working creatively with school students, encouraging them to develop confidence in their own creativity, ideas and abilities.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Lissa was the only one home after school the day things began to change in her life. Harry, her seventeen-year-old brother, was at footy training and their Mum was at work. So, when Lissa saw a hooded young man standing at the back door, with something in his arms, she was frightened. It turned out Reed was also thirteen, and he was carrying his brother Eliot’s baby, Mercy. Reed had run away from his parents in Ballarat, looking to Eliot in Melbourne for help, but Eliot had thrust baby Mercy at him and told him to go.

Lissa, in trying to help Reed and Mercy, would learn things about herself that she hadn’t known; things that shocked her. Reed had also learned things about himself which was his reason for running away. Harry was in trouble with mates, girls from school and social media. He’d turned surly with his family and Lissa desperately wanted to help him. What would be the outcome for these confused, mixed up teenagers who had life ahead of them? And would Mercy be alright – they were sure she was getting very sick?

When Rain Turns to Snow is a coming of age story by Aussie author Jane Godwin and is my first by this author. There are a few inconsistencies I noticed in this book, but apart from that, I quite enjoyed the novel. Uncertainty, confusion, teenage angst where friends you think you know, turn out to be the worst people of all – it all comes together in the end. Recommended.

With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is excellent. I think the cover is too young #ownopinion

[Liz Derouet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartfelt book, beautifully written. Review to be published in Magpies

[Jayne at the Library Editing Profile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Bravo 👏

I absolutely loved this book so much and felt so connected with the characters, I almost didn't want to finish this book so I could spend a little longer with them ❤️

[Emma-Rose Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was good but some of it made no sense

[Law · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: death of a mother, sexting, suicidal thoughts, hospitalisation, mention of cancer

7/10, I actually enjoyed this one but it was certainly one of the heavier ones that I've read since it discusses a lot of serious topics and most importantly, nothing is what it seems in this so where do I even begin? I've read a book similar to this called Bus Stop Baby by Fleur Hitchcock and When Rain Turns to Snow succeeded where the last book failed which I liked. It starts off with the main character Lissa living in her home when a person named Reed comes along with a baby whom they name Mercy and she's getting sick and it might get worse so they take care of her as best they can. She then notices that something is wrong with Harry because he left a suicide note and was framed for sexting by taking pictures of another girl and rating her which I found quite gross but I kept on reading to see where this was going. Lissa keeps trying to live her life but apparently, Reed is on the run from his parents and Mercy's health is getting worse; towards the last half of the book it comes to a climax where the truth was revealed when Lissa was actually adopted, her biological father had cancer and her biological mother is dead and she was very shocked at this news. Anyways her brother Harry didn't make the offending pictures, Reed is somehow related to her, she went to a park to confirm the truth from earlier and it just ended like that.

[trufflebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐My review is on the blog, right HERE.
Thanks, Hachette Australia for sending me the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would sit well as a Year 7 class text - realistic fiction and a diving board into perspectives on multiple issues. It is also an enjoyable read with engaging voice.

[Nora Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5 maybe 3 stars probably

I enjoyed the locations in the book but the book just didn’t really work for me.

[Anna Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely upper middle grade/YA story about the messy complexity that is family. Strong focus on the use of social media and harmful consequences of the sexting culture, something to be aware of when suggesting this book for primary aged readers. Loved the Melbourne setting. A really enjoyable read with beautifully developed characters.

[Tasha Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I need to say one thing before I get into the guts of this review. Every place I have been has listed this as a middle grade title. Its been in the kids section at QBD, Dymocks and is listed on various websites as Junior Fiction. This is not junior fiction. I gave it to my 12 year old daughter to read before I read it myself, she got 100 pages in and was so upset by it that she had to stop. It may be a younger YA but it is definitely a young adult novel.

Now the cover for this one is gorgeous. I requested it from the publisher based solely upon that simple but gorgeous cover art. When it got to me, then I read the blurb (don’t at me, we have all done it at one time or another).

It’s based around the story of Lissa and her current transition through life. Her brother is probably going to be in trouble with the law for posting things on Instagram he shouldn’t be, her mother is so busy that sometimes she just wants so attention and to top things off, she comes home from school one day to a random boy camping out near her house with a fairly new baby. Her best friend has gone away and the girls at school are all snubbing her for her brothers apparent misdeeds. Basically Lissa is at one of those crossroads in life where things have hit rock bottom and it can only go up from here.

I found Lissa to be an interesting young woman, wise beyond her years and extremely clued in about topics she should have knowledge. She has taken it upon herself to attempt to fix the wrongs in the world, investigating everything she can about how everyone has ended up in their current situation. Although she is the main character, she sort of shares this role with the young man with the sick baby, Reed. Of the two, I would have to say I much prefer him to Lissa. He is charismatic and caring, willing to do anything for baby Mercy, even if it means hiding out and stealing to keep her fed and warm. He seems like an all around good guy, even though running away with a baby may seem initially a little on the suspect side.

When Rain Becomes Snow is so quintessentially Australian in its surrounds but I did find myself forgetting this fact at multiple stages along the way. Every time Ballarat is mentioned, it brought me back but it felt a little like this tale should have been set anywhere but here. Maybe its my brain denying that children could disappear and be living on the road or homeless. It does however bring this issue to the forefront in a way that is nuanced and current.

I said at the beginning that I feel this should have a different classification but I have yet to explain why. For a girl of thirteen, Lissa goes through a whole lot (maybe Babybookworm is sheltered and other kids are actually doing this stuff. I shall never know). First off she discovers a boy and a baby camping out under the house who has a wee baby in tow – not so dramatic or traumatic as a whole but it combined with other events makes it feel a whole lot more mature. Next comes the discover of an Instagram page called ‘Rate Year Eight’ whereby girls are shown naked and visitors are invited to rate their bodies (seriously what 13 year old takes naked pictures of themselves?). Then there is the accusation against her brother that he has an STD and their in depth discussion on this topic. There’s also bullying, conversations about sperm donor and IVF, underage drinking, drug use by other characters and so much more. While I could understand if the target audience was maybe 14+ then I would have no qualms. Aiming it towards 8-12 just seems a little too much, but that’s just my opinion. It could also definitely be that bookstores are shelving this is the wrong placed based directly on the juvenile type cover and its actually supposed to be a YA.

What did I think overall though? Godwin is known for immaculately stringing together a sentence so there is nothing wrong with the prose. I felt like the content was a little mature for the target audience so maybe tweaking it to a young YA seems a little more appropriate. Most of the characters are well rounded and relatable with their plight having many highs and lows. Overall I would recommend it to those who love a good novel that pulls at the heart strings.

[Sylvs (NOVELty Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received through the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This book was absolutely beautiful. With family at its core, it was difficult not the fall in love with Jane Godwin's novel, When Rain Turns To Snow.

The book follows a young year 8 girl, Lissa as she discovers a young boy at her doorstep carrying a sickly baby and claiming to be related. Reed has run away from home trying to find answers about who he really is and believes that Lissa's mother, Fiona Freeman is the key to uncovering them. As Reed and Lissa attempt to discover the truth, the pair uncover some secrets about their past in ways they never could imagine.

This being the first book I have ever read of the author's, I was pleasantly surprised by how light it felt. Although dealing with some (at times) dark themes, the tone of the book made it more appealing to a younger majority of readers. It was the light storytelling that really contributed to my rating, it uncovered things bit by bit and I never found the pacing too fast or too slow.

I thought that with those aforementioned points, Godwin was able to create characters that perfectly fit into this typical Australian landscape. The characters were believable and I could definitely tell they were teenagers. A nice touch was with both Reed's and Lissa's involvement in environmental/climate change rallies. I found it quite interesting and unique that Godwin decided to put that spin onto the two of them. The involvement of teenagers in political issues has barely been portrayed in novels, even young adult ones (with teenagers at the forefront). I found that this book really highlighted the distress and fear caused by political issues such as global warming or terrorism. Reed was shown to be highly alert to the happenings of the world around him and I really felt for his character. For a 13 year old boy, he already has been through so much, not just in terms of his solastalgia, but the emotional turmoil he has been through to discover his own personal truths and how his life would play out with this new knowledge.

On the contrary to Reed's character, Lissa I suppose, was likable. I enjoyed reading from her perspective however, I was constantly questioning how come she didn't do certain thing earlier. For example, what was stopping her from confronting her mother? Why didn't she try to get an adult to help Mercy? throughout the story I must admit I was getting a bit frustrated at her. This however died down as piece by piece of the story's narrative came together and the resolution came full circle.

Although the story was mainly focused on the 'Reed' storyline, there was also a subplot with Harry, Lissa's brother, who has been accused of sharing nudes of some year 8 girls on social media. That storyline was tied up too but I must admit I did see the ending coming from the start. If there was to be a sequel novel, I would love it to have a focus on Harry especially since he was my favourite character and I would love to find more about him after the events of When Rain Turns To Snow.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and definitely recommend it to younger YA readers who are looking for their next contemporary read.

ACTUAL RATING: 4 STARS

[Tiarna Georghiou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read full review here: https://thebookmermaids.blogspot.com/...

It is so difficult to review a book when you have such mixed feelings about it! I was a bit disappointed to be honest. This book was an easy read as it only took me a few hours to finish. The storyline was inventive and had the potential to be interesting, however I don't think it was executed as well as it could have been. I found the dialogue a bit forced, and in my opinion, at times the narration was 'trying way to hard' to sound like a young teenager. The character's reactions to certain events were also a bit unrealistic, I think that I would have enjoyed the story more if there was more raw emotion, as I really wanted to feel something! BUT I did enjoy this book! There was lots of different things going on, and I was super invested in some of the character's storylines. This book made me smile! And it also made me think about lots of different social issues. I would have loved for the story to go more into depth about mental health, and cyber bullying - those themes were definitely present in the book, but if the author delved further down that realm, it would have added another layer to the story.

I recommend this book to people for young teenagers and pre-teens looking for an easy read, as I feel I might have enjoyed the book more if I read it a few years ago!

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Sexism
Substance addiction mentioned
Bullying & cyberbullying

[Katey Flowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really compelling story with some beautiful and emotional moments, but I think the cover and marketing skews a bit too young for the content. This tackles several challenging issues, so I’d say it’s best suited to mature 12-16 year olds. The focus on social media and online bullying is important but the language around that changes so quickly that some parts of it already feel dated.

Some of the issues I didn’t appreciate the way in which they were handled. For example, (mild spoilers) queer ‘rep’ that is implied rather than explicit; suicidal concerns not being taken seriously enough; a hint of not-like-other-girls energy; publishing of underage nudes are literally illegal, and removing them doesn’t absolve responsibility.

This list makes it sound like I hated this book. I really didn’t. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking, and it aims to tackle a range of issues young people face. It does most of them reasonably well, but it was perhaps a bit too ambitious and didn’t allow quite enough space to do all of them justice. Still, what results is a raw and emotional coming of age story.

[Ms Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 Not at all what I thought it was going to be - this is a heart aching heartfelt story about the complexity of family, high school and hidden histories. It reminds us that we’re all connected through our complex experiences. No one is alone in experiencing hardship. There’s power in honesty when we’re open with others and it’s the most important catalyst to healing.

Years 8-9+

(CW: mention of suicide, teen pregnancy, anxiety and drug abuse alluded to)

[Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a terrific read and I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could.

[Stef (Noveltea Corner) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm very familiar with Jane Godwin's picture books - I've been using a lot of them throughout remote learning this year with my young students - but I had yet to try some of her novels, and I'm sure the cover of this book drew me to it, because it is a striking cover that makes it feel a touch magical.

When Rain Turns to Snow follows Lissa, a young teen who's at home by herself after school one day and discovers a boy, Reed, and a baby on her porch. Reed's on the run with the baby, his niece, and he's convinced that he's connected to Lissa's family and wants her help to try and uncover the connection, and it needs to be done quickly, because the baby he's looking after isn't well. His appearance stirs up a lot of secret histories in Lissa's family - things that make everyone uncomfortable - at a difficult time.

It took me a while to get into the flow of this book. Once I was, I was hooked, and I really wanted to know the connection between Lissa and Reed, and to make sure that Mercy, the baby, recovered. I don't know whether it was the digital review copy I received, but the majority of the story is told from Lissa's perspective, but there are tiny paragraphs at the end of each chapter told from someone else's perspective - we learn who, eventually - but it stopped a lot of the flow of the story for me.

I think When Rain Turns to Snow is an ambitious book - it tackles a lot of difficult and challenging topics (a lot of which are spoilers so I won't be specific here) particularly around blended families and how families come into being. (There's also mention of past/recovered cancer within the family, too, so keep that in mind.) But not only do you have Lissa and Reed's story, but also Reed's family story - his brother who has a drug addiction and parents who could no longer cope with that - and the story of Lissa's brother who's currently in the midst of a particularly nasty social media bullying scheme, and the toxic friendships.  All of it does tie together in the end to show where the strands meet, but it is a lot all at once and sometimes it felt like too much.

That said, the connection I felt to Lissa and Reed and Mercy was fantastic. The two teens are trying to be adults despite their young age, and shoulder the burdens of their families. Lissa is learning to identify when her friends are helpful, and when they're really not friends at all, and how to support her brother who she loves and adores, and how to love her mother and new partner, and her father and his new wife. Reed is on the run and trying to look after a baby and trying to figure out who he is. They're both endearing characters who want to find where they belong in their world and amongst their family.

While it wasn't a perfect book for me, it was definitely one that I don't regret reading and I'm very eager to try other novels by Jane Godwin in the future. I think it packs a huge punch for such a short story and there are so many great themes in there.

[Blue]

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Thank you Hachette Australia for this book in exchange for an honest review


I lovedddd As Happy As Here so when the chance came up to review Godwin’s When Rain Turns to Snow, how could I even think of saying no?!
I couldn’t.
First of the chocolate taste test line, this book was BEAUTIFULLY written!! I mean my heat it was soo damn sweet! I actually found my black heart having feelings. It. Was. Beautiful.
Honestly, if you are after an easy read that has a moving story than hit Godwin up! This is a target that she keeps smashing again and again and it’s adorable!!!
Lissa, who is a thirteen year girl is finding it hard to find her place in life and everything seems to change after she find a stranger on her patio holding a baby in his arms. Lissa and Reed take on an adventure together and priorities this young baby’s life.
Even though the characters are young, the dialogue is written to match and they are just so charming. I loved Lissa who is bold, brave and most importantly caring and Reed who is a runaway seems to have a whole new grip on life!
Honestly – just read it already!!!

[Madelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

First words on this book: HOLY SHIT.

If you’re looking for a book that’s out of the ordinary and will keep you engaged, attentive and thinking, When Rain Turns to Snow is perfect for you. I’ve always found it rare to find Australian YA books that end well and have a fantastic plot, but this gives me so much hope.

Every part of this book makes me so happy— the writing style, the characters, the ending, and of course, the cover. What a gorgeous cover!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to explore a new story, not the same old recycled YA plots, or to anybody who, much like me, enjoys well-written contemporary Australian YA that really makes you think.

5/5. I’m amazed!

[Kylie Purdie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been shortlisted for the Australian Children's Book Council Book of the Year in the YA category. I try to read all six shortlisted books each year before the winner is announced in August.
This is a book that could easily straddle the YA/ (older) younger reader category. There are some fairly complex themes and ideas, but they are all handled beautifully. If your year 5 or 6 child wanted to read it, I'd say yes, but have a look yourself first. Be prepared to discuss online bullying and the posting of inappropriate images on social media.
Lissa is having some issues. Her best friend Hana has moved away and she's not quite sure where she fits with the girls at her school, her brother has grown withdrawn and distant, her mum has a new boyfriend, her dad is living in China with his new (pregnant) wife and now a strange kid with a baby has turned up at her house. There's a bit going on.
You would think with all of this the story would be chaotic and confusing, but it's not. Jane Godwin has taken the complexity of everyday life with a few extraordinary events and put them down on the page. Quite often in books like this I find myself yelling at the protagonist to just tell an adult what is going on! It appears to be such an obvious thing, but Reed and Lissa's justifications for keeping what is happening a secret borders just on believable.
When Rain Turns to Snow is a exploration of family in all it's forms. I felt it depicted a realistic family and the challenges they may face. No one made decisions to deliberately hurt others and every one was just trying to do there best. The twist at the end was one that I didn't see coming, but did have me in tears. A fantastic inclusion on the shortlist.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an engrossing and very contemporary YA fiction suitable for Year 7 up. Told in the first person by Lissa, a 13 year old whose encounter with Reed and baby Mercy on her doorstep when home alone one evening changes her won life life and her views of family and friendships.
Reed has come seeking his birth mother and his elder brother Elliot, unable to cope with a baby left Mercy in Reed's care. It is the depths of Winter in Melbourne - bleak, wet and cold - and boy and baby are both unwell. Lissa is trying to adapt to life without best friend Hana and not fitting in at school. Her close relationship with big brother Harry has faltered and now he is the butt of hateful social media that accuses him of posting nude image of one of Hana's group. Trying to help Reed opens up a barrage of questions, lies and mistruths from her mother.

Jane Godwin has written a heartwarming, and believable story of family and friendship. the importance of trust and honesty and doing the right thing rings true throughout. The free verse passages at the end pf each chapter pack a punch to hit home a message but without identifying 'author' of these thoughts, are bit disorientating.
An excellent addition to the 2021 CBCA shortlist for Book of the Year: Older Readers that hit the mark for younger teenagers.

[Nadia King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed When Rain Turns to Snow.

Here's why:

- the authentic voice of Lissa - she meets the reader on an equal footing. There is plenty of space for the reader in this story. These seem to be my two most important requirements in a story at the moment. I love it when the reader has to do some work, yes, even in middle grade novels!

- the realism with well-rounded characters who have messy and complicated lives.

- the suspenseful and mysterious storyline. Why is there a boy and a baby in the shed in Lissa's back garden?

- the story shows how dangerous social media can be.

- contrasting toxic friendships with true friendships.

- the very satisfactory ending. Another one of those must have requirements!

This is a thoughtful and engaging read about the messiness of life, the different ways of being a family and what it means to be a good friend. Highly recommended for all readers.

[nusaybah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm, this didn't really live up to my expectations.

PROS:
- It was set in Melbourne, Australia, so I could actually recognise the places that were referred to in this book (Daylesford, the Dandenong Ranges, Ballarat).
- Representation of different types of families (step-parents, divorced parents, adopted, half-siblings, foster kids etc.)
- Managed to portray teenagers, friendships and social media accurately without being cringy
- The cover is really pretty ahah, as an 'I definitely judge a book by its cover' reader, I really appreciate an ~aesthetic~ cover

CONS:
- The flow of the story was a bit off, the pages with two lines of text in italics on it before each chapter didn't really work for me, I couldn't tell which character they related to as it was written in first-person, and I think the book would've been much better if the author just incorporated those lines into the story properly, or just got rid of them altogether.
- (not really a con) but I feel like the author could've really fleshed out the whole environmental awareness and climate action thing a bit more. I'm really glad she incorporated issues that are very real to teenagers in this day and age, but I'd like a bit more of it.
- The main character, Lissa, was a bit one-dimensional for me, she didn't really have any interests as such, and her actions were pretty inconsistent and unpredicatable.

Overall, it would be great for young high school students who are into YA, but not for me.

[Jessica Gallagher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hated the first half of this book. It generated extreme anxiety for me as a new parent (I'm not sure if this was the author's intention, given the audience it's aimed at). I didn't hate it by the end, although the anxiety never completely left I don't think... I am really curious to hear what others think of it, parents and middle grade students alike.

I did like the twists and turns, and wasn't able to predict the answers to the questions which were laid out in the first half of the book. I liked that the author took the time to give us a look into the future at the end. Most of the I'm betweeny quote bits went over my head, and I never quite worked out the point of them.

My school is looking at this one as potentially being an option for a Year 7 study text, but I don't think it's my pick.

[Chantelle Axisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Hachette for sending me a pre release copy of this book to review which has not impacted my honest opinion in any way.

I found myself really enjoying this book as it is an Australian novel I related to the familiar towns, food and things. It is not very often I read a book where the main character walks past a Coles or eats Maggie Beer's ice cream. Reading about these familiar things felt like the book was giving me a warm hug.

This book is such an important read for anyone aged from 12-17 years old. It covers so many topics like families (how everyones is different and that is ok), cyber bullying, understanding other human beings plus developing and maintaining friendships.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good read that was a page turner and I polished off quickly so the storyline was easy to follow. Lissa is in Year 8 and has a lot going on. Separated parents, best friend moved away, has trouble with other friends, brother having issues with social media and a random boy shows up with a baby.
So it is a busy storyline focused around the life of Lissa.
Touches on sexting in a mild way and how we need to be careful what we send and post online
Also looks at friendship, fitting in and family secrets
Who is this random boy with a baby - family twists unravel throughout the story
Mature Year 6 upwards

[Lisa Tabone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really enjoyable: It is told from the viewpoint of Lissa, a teenager who is isn't the most popular girl at school, doesn't have a great relationship with her mother and is distant from her brother. But when a young boy, Reed, turns up at her house with a baby, the two make lots of mistakes - especially in how to care for a baby - and realise they have misjudged many people in their lives.

It was lovely to read a story with local, recognisable locations and to find the characters relatable.

[Matilda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Good. I have read both Happy as Here and When Rain Turns To Snow. They are both brilliant books with fantastic messages. I loved how after a chapter there was another story going and how in the end they all found who they were. I love the character Lissa as she is her own person who doesn't let some stupid girls put her down and she is a great role model. She helps out her family and friends as much as she can. It definitely had a plot twist ending as you found out that Lissa's mum accidentally ran over Reed's mother after she fell and that Lissa isn't actually related to her father.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an honest and hopeful story about figuring out life and your family. I love the way the author described Lissa’s story. Her character growth was really detailed as well and I really liked how her relationship with Harry her brother came to light throughout the story. Reed is also another great character who developed a lot with his story. From when he first met Lissa to when they began to become friends. Mercy also really helped bring out Reed’s characteristics of protection and kindness. Altogether this was a great book and I would definitely recommend it.