Fran, the Second Time Around

by Amy L. Bernstein

Fran Singer is a regular 8th grader relishing her role in the school play, enjoying hanging out with her best friend and thinking of ways to steer clear of her annoying little brother. When suddenly, in a matter of seconds, everything changes. A tragic accident with major consequences shoots Fran out of her ordinary world into one racked with guilt, shame, and complete alienation. Starting over after all that isn't easy...but is it possible? Will her life be better, the second time around?

180 pages, Paperback

First published February 18, 2008

About the author

Amy L. Bernstein is an eclectic practitioner of literary arts--a multi-genre author, award-winning journalist, speechwriter, playwright, poet, and certified nonfiction book coach. Amy also teaches writing workshops and is a frequent guest on podcasts to discuss writing, publishing, and creativity. She brings a compassionate and insightful voice to the challenges and joys of the artistic process, which she explores in her weekly Substack, Doubt Monster. Her nonfiction book, Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration will inspire and encourage creative people of all walks who aspire to pursue their artistic vision.

When not glued to a screen, she loves listening to jazz and classical music, drinking wine with friends, and exploring Baltimore, Maryland's glorious neighborhoods, which inspire her fiction.

Reviews

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fran, the Second Time Around by Amy L. Bernstein is the story of a young girl, just starting high school, who has switched to a new school. There are hints around the reason that Fran switched schools, and it is clear that something traumatic and horrible has happened to her. The first half of the book speaks of Fran's new life and how she is adjusting to her new school, new friends, and "the second time around." The second half of the book begins to peel away the layers of what happened to her and slowly reveals the devastating event.

This book was extremely well written by Amy L. Bernstein. I could see inside Fran's world and literally feel the heartache she was experiencing. It was so real that her grief became my grief. The picture that is painted of a young girl desperately trying to stumble forward in a world that is moving along without her is so genuine and raw that I want to applaud the author for her efforts. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has dealt with heartache, devastating loss, guilt, or grief, or anyone who just wants to discover a very talented author.

I picked this book up on Kindle Unlimited, where it is free for all KU members. I definitely recommend you check it out.

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fran, the Second Time Around by Amy L. Bernstein is the story of a young girl, just starting high school, who has switched to a new school. There are hints around the reason that Fran switched schools, and it is clear that something traumatic and horrible has happened to her. The first half of the book speaks of Fran's new life and how she is adjusting to her new school and "the second time around." The second half of the book begins to peel away the layers of what happened to her and slowly reveals the devastating event.

This book was extremely well written by Amy L. Bernstein. I could see inside Fran's world, feel the heartache she was experiencing, and it was so real that her grief became my grief. The picture that is painted of a young girl desperately trying to stumble forward in a world that is moving along without her is so genuine and raw that I want to applaud the author for her efforts. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has dealt with heartache, devastating loss, guilt, or grief, or anyone who just wants to discover a very talented author.

I picked this book up on Kindle Unlimited, where it is free for all KU members. It

[Amy Bernstein]

I never imagined when I wrote this story about a teenage girl coping with a heartbreaking tragedy that we'd be living in a time of so much grief, anguish, and anxiety on so many levels. I would love to hear from readers whether Fran's strategies for coping--and healing--seem hopeful and effective.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for teenage girl or preteens! A different style. An easy to follow well written read.. This is one of those you just have to read to understand because I do not do spoilers!

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

Really not a fan of this book. It is a short book and would typically take me 3 hours max to finish, but it took 6 days. I just wasn't interested. I was 17 in 2005, so only a few years older than Fran's character. I couldn't relate to the portrayal of her at all and I find it highly unlikely that current teenagers will relate to her.

A large portion of the book hints at a great tragedy that occurred, but then when you finally find out what that tragedy was I felt like it barely touched the surface of the pain and trauma someone would be healing from. Why did Fran's parents not send her to counseling?? And that abruptly the book just ends with a pretty crappy resolution.

Not to mention there were quite a few typos throughout the book, which absolutely drives me crazy!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts with hope and with the understanding that Fran has a difficult story she does not want to share. It ends with power and with us understanding why she keeps it secret for so long. We all have those what if moments that we dodged...but what if we didn't...and for Fran I read this book cheering for her the first half and then with a tear in my eye the second half when we learn why she must reinvent her life in a new school. Bravo to Fran. I was rooting for her to find her way through her freshman year and when I would learn about her life in middle school and what caused everything to change. Nothing is guaranteed in life and this book shares an important message and story for teenage readers and adults as well.

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Bernstein tells the heartfelt and harrowing tale of 8th grader Fran Singer in Fran, The Second Time Around! Fran is your typical 8th grader who loves to hang out with her friends and is looking forward to her part in the school play, but that all changes after a terrible accident that leaves her alienated. Now Fran must start over, rebuilding her friendships. This is a great tale for the middle school world that I think we can all relate to, and Bernstein’s descriptions really bring it all to life in a way that made me really connect with Fran! This is another great middle grade (or YA) book with a touching emotional story, so be sure to come grab a copy the first time around!

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great story about a young teenager coping with a disaster that changes her life dramatically. Bernstein does a great job of getting us into Fran's head and her terrific family and friends. It takes a while to get to the bad thing after a long build up, and it is all a great read until its not. That fourth star was lost by it just stopping. I am sure the author has very good reasons for this, but I would like to see Fran continuing on a path which she has barely tip toed onto.

[T.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well-written exploration of the process of healing from trauma and guilt. I enjoyed the characters and the way the story was presented. The viewpoint shifts were a little strange, the book is first-person for the first part, but shifts to third-person in the second part. I would definitely recommend this book to middle-schoolers and high-schoolers so they can learn about trauma, its effects and a healing strategy.

[Liam Moiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst I enjoy the story, the main storyline is enjoyable, the character development could be a little better, whilst at first it is all fun at first, it does start to get repetitive towards the end. I would have like to see a little difference every now and again.

overall though an interesting read.

[Timothy Baldwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an all around good coming of age story with an endearing main character in Fran. She’s transitioning to a new school and carries around with her a cloud of emotional trauma.

The prose and dialogue are clever and well written. But the frequent character relationship building scenes between teens are fun at first, but get a little repetitive, and the story goes along.