The Turnabout Shop

by Colby Rodowsky

After her free-spirited mother dies, Livvy is uprooted from her New York home and sent to Baltimore to live with her mother's old college friend, a woman Livvy has never heard of. Jessie is nothing like Livvy's She's sensible, likes to weave, and doesn't even have pierced ears. What she does have is The Turnabout Shop, where she and her mother sell antiques, and a family larger than any Livvy has ever known. She also has a bunch of warm, quirky neighbors, including a girl Livvy's age. Set down to live among strangers, Livvy begins again from scratch, discovering that even without her mother, she can still learn and laugh and love, and take root in a whole different world. 00-01 Charlie May Simon Book Award Reading List

Genres: Childrens

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 27, 1998

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read this because my daughter is interested in it. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the writing and story. It was well worth my time and very engaging! A great story, especially for a child dealing with the loss of a close loved one.

[Jameela · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5! Boring mot bsraha

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of what a child feels and how they act after losing their only parent tends to set up a book to be angsty and even difficult to read. I started this one with the usual trepidation, wondering how the story was going to go. Sadly I was a little disappointed.

There seemed to be so much that could have been said. It's hardly fair, because we've had books written since then (such as "A Monster Calls") that handle this kind of story with so much more depth and emotion that it doesn't begin to compare. But then this book was written years before, and so needs to be judged within that context. Talking openly or honestly at all about death in children's books has been an area off limit for a long time, so when this book comes alone and hints at the anger and fear that a child goes through...then you have to appreciate the groundwork laid so that other books (again, such as "A Monster Calls") can come later.

So, I'll give this three stars even if the characters maybe lack depth and the answers are a little too easy. There's still good here to enjoy.

Note: Maybe I wasn't in a good place the day I read this. Maybe it was too close to my own mother's death. But in re-reading this book today in April 2021, I have discovered that I like this book more than I did then and am happy to be changing this to 4 stars. I think it was really tackling something different and really did get at the heart of what this feels like to a child.

[Gayle Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book touches the heart as it explores the arc of a young girl's grief ater her mother dies. Livvy is an engaging character who struggles with the agony of losing a parent and the challenge of joining a new life, family, school and neighborhood.

The story deals with a painful topic without being maudlin. Laughter and tears, anger and forgiveness blend to relect the turmoil that storms in the heart of the resilient fifth grader.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I recently came across a list of books I read in 2008, most with one word or one line reviews next to the titles. I’m copying those reactions here and basing my star ratings on them and/or on my memories of the books if I have any. ***

YA-good

[Bee Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story could have been drawn out some more, it felt rushed, and I had to quickly remember all the character names.

I liked how the family sees each other regularly, they are a big family and they are all close to one another.

[Mary L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on dealing with grief as a tween. This is something that most people don't have to deal with but some do. The using of writing in her diary as writing letters to her dead mother was an excellent way to show what she was going through.

[Selah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such. A. Good. Book.
Man, I love this book so much! Exceedingly well written (far more so than almost all books with similar plotlines).

[Jennybug · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I think this would be a good book about grieving for a young child.

Pg 91 "What you do then is move over some and make room, the way we always do when new people come into our lives. Same as we move the other way, filling in the spaces when someone goes out of our lives. But I suspect you know all about that by now."

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a touching story about a young girl who was sent to live with a complete stranger (one of her mother's friends from college) after her mother died. It's about Livvy grieving for her mother and learning to live a totally different life. I would recommend it for 8-12 year olds.

[Cece Nunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about a suddenly orphaned girl who goes to live with someone who wasn't as close to her mom as you'd think but turns out to be a good choice. Could have been cheesy but isn't.

[Elizabeth Gibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livvy is a preteen who has just lost her mother. Her world changes completely when she moves in with her mother's friend Jessie.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

True rating: 4.5 stars.

A minor classic that is not quite like any other children's book I've read. Realistic in its dealings with grief and very touching.

[Esraa Khaled · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Turnabout Shop