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Every Little Thing in the World
A teenager. A pregnancy. A familiar story. NOT
When sixteen-year-old Sydney Biggs’s pregnancy test shows the tell tale plus sign, she confides in only her best friend Natalia, and Natalia promptly “borrows” her mother’s car so Sydney can confront the baby’s father. But after the car is reported stolen and police bring the girls home, their parents send them away to wilderness camp as punishment. With six weeks to spend in the wilds of Canada, time is ticking for Sydney, who isn’t sure what she wants to do about the pregnancy. As she befriends her fellow adventuremates and contends with Natalia’s adamant opinions on the choices available, Sydney realizes that making the right choice can mean very different things.
When sixteen-year-old Sydney Biggs’s pregnancy test shows the tell tale plus sign, she confides in only her best friend Natalia, and Natalia promptly “borrows” her mother’s car so Sydney can confront the baby’s father. But after the car is reported stolen and police bring the girls home, their parents send them away to wilderness camp as punishment. With six weeks to spend in the wilds of Canada, time is ticking for Sydney, who isn’t sure what she wants to do about the pregnancy. As she befriends her fellow adventuremates and contends with Natalia’s adamant opinions on the choices available, Sydney realizes that making the right choice can mean very different things.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 23, 2010
30 people are currently reading
1874 people want to read
About the author
Nina de Gramont
11 books895 followersNina de Gramont's latest novel, The Christie Affair, is an international and New York Times best seller, and the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick for February, 2022. Nina is also the author of a collection of short stories, Of Cats and Men, as well as the novels Gossip of the Starlings and The Last September. She has written several YA novels (Every Little Thing in the World, Meet Me at the River, The Boy I Love, and -- under the pen name Marina Gessner -- The Distance From Me to You). Nina teaches creative writing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She lives with her daughter and her husband, the writer David Gessner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
April 20, 2010
Sydney, 16, gets pregnant and is sent away for the summer on a canoeing trip. The whole book is about Syd trying to decide what to do with her baby.
I had hope for this book. I thought Syd would do the right thing. I am deeply disturbed by this book. I feel shaken and fragile.
After she has an abortion the author writes; "We were like babies, safe somehow in the forest. We were the newest creatures on Earth, with nothing to do but move forward into the world, starting fresh."(p.272)I can't get this passage out of my head; it makes me wants to throw up. Here are these teenagers playing like adults and yet she still sees herself as a baby. What about the baby inside of her that could have turned into a girl just like her. The baby is newer than her, who has no power over its self; it should have a chance to start a new. Whatever happened to taking responsibility for your actions?
God has given us a conscious to know when something we are doing is wrong. If so many women have to deal with a pregnancy and the option to abort it, why do it anyway? When it feels so wrong? The bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Found in Psalms). God talks about knowing us before we were even in our mothers’ womb. I don’t see how aborting a baby could ever be justifiable.
I’m going to go throw up now.
I had hope for this book. I thought Syd would do the right thing. I am deeply disturbed by this book. I feel shaken and fragile.
After she has an abortion the author writes; "We were like babies, safe somehow in the forest. We were the newest creatures on Earth, with nothing to do but move forward into the world, starting fresh."(p.272)I can't get this passage out of my head; it makes me wants to throw up. Here are these teenagers playing like adults and yet she still sees herself as a baby. What about the baby inside of her that could have turned into a girl just like her. The baby is newer than her, who has no power over its self; it should have a chance to start a new. Whatever happened to taking responsibility for your actions?
God has given us a conscious to know when something we are doing is wrong. If so many women have to deal with a pregnancy and the option to abort it, why do it anyway? When it feels so wrong? The bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Found in Psalms). God talks about knowing us before we were even in our mothers’ womb. I don’t see how aborting a baby could ever be justifiable.
I’m going to go throw up now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2010
I would like to first say that Nina De Gramont can receive my humble apology whenever she would like.
When I first saw the cover and heard the jacket blip of this book, I instantly made fun of it. All I could think of was, “ANOTHER pregnancy story AND she is going to wilderness camp, OH COME ON!.” I think I can literally count on all my fingers and toes how many times I picked up this book and laughed, however Gramont got the better of me. After reading some of the reviews of Every Little Thing In the World, I decided that I would give it the benefit of the doubt. Talk about getting slapped aside the head. I could not put this book down! Gramont’s writing instantly captured my attention and I was pulled into Sydney’s story.
Although Sydney’s pregnancy was the focal point of the story, it wasn’t the ENTIRE story. It was very authentic of how Gramont intertwined Sydney’s sixteen-year-old thoughts around her life and her pregnancy. I also liked how Gramont had Sydney bouncing back and forth between decisions, especially after learning about a big family secret that her best friend, Natalia, discovered about herself.
Besides creating an authentic main character, Gramont also did a phenomenal job on supporting characters and their relationship with Sydney. I absolutely loved how Sydney and Natalia’s relationship slowly grew apart only to come back together again. I also believed each character was developed to their potential. Tommy, the father of the baby, only makes an appearance once, but I think his character development was perfect for someone who only has a brief relationship with Sydney.
After much ridiculing and scoffing at this book, I can say that I have been firmly put in my place about joking about a book before I have read it.
When I first saw the cover and heard the jacket blip of this book, I instantly made fun of it. All I could think of was, “ANOTHER pregnancy story AND she is going to wilderness camp, OH COME ON!.” I think I can literally count on all my fingers and toes how many times I picked up this book and laughed, however Gramont got the better of me. After reading some of the reviews of Every Little Thing In the World, I decided that I would give it the benefit of the doubt. Talk about getting slapped aside the head. I could not put this book down! Gramont’s writing instantly captured my attention and I was pulled into Sydney’s story.
Although Sydney’s pregnancy was the focal point of the story, it wasn’t the ENTIRE story. It was very authentic of how Gramont intertwined Sydney’s sixteen-year-old thoughts around her life and her pregnancy. I also liked how Gramont had Sydney bouncing back and forth between decisions, especially after learning about a big family secret that her best friend, Natalia, discovered about herself.
Besides creating an authentic main character, Gramont also did a phenomenal job on supporting characters and their relationship with Sydney. I absolutely loved how Sydney and Natalia’s relationship slowly grew apart only to come back together again. I also believed each character was developed to their potential. Tommy, the father of the baby, only makes an appearance once, but I think his character development was perfect for someone who only has a brief relationship with Sydney.
After much ridiculing and scoffing at this book, I can say that I have been firmly put in my place about joking about a book before I have read it.
March 7, 2010
Originally, I wasn't too interested in this book. From the plot description, it looked pretty cliched.
This book is about 16 year old Sydney Biggs. After getting into some trouble, Sydney's parents send her off on a six-week canoeing trip for the summer in the Canadian wilderness. Sydney's best friend, the rich and beautiful Natalia, is also going, but Sydney isn't all too happy about that, because with Natalia there, Sydney must constantly face an awful truth: she is pregnant. Over the course of the summer, Sydney must decide what to do about the baby, whether it means losing her best friend or her future.
Surprisingly, I adored this book. The first few chapters were meh, but once Syndey got to camp, I couldn't put the book down. I absolutely loved the complex and lively cast of characters, and the setting was a nice change. It was decently written and pretty realistic. I think de Gramont perfectly captured the troubles of a pregnant teen and brought up some interesting points. I didn't find it predictable and Sydney's decision surprised me.
I really enjoyed this book. I'll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. If I could, I would give it 4.5 stars.
This book is about 16 year old Sydney Biggs. After getting into some trouble, Sydney's parents send her off on a six-week canoeing trip for the summer in the Canadian wilderness. Sydney's best friend, the rich and beautiful Natalia, is also going, but Sydney isn't all too happy about that, because with Natalia there, Sydney must constantly face an awful truth: she is pregnant. Over the course of the summer, Sydney must decide what to do about the baby, whether it means losing her best friend or her future.
Surprisingly, I adored this book. The first few chapters were meh, but once Syndey got to camp, I couldn't put the book down. I absolutely loved the complex and lively cast of characters, and the setting was a nice change. It was decently written and pretty realistic. I think de Gramont perfectly captured the troubles of a pregnant teen and brought up some interesting points. I didn't find it predictable and Sydney's decision surprised me.
I really enjoyed this book. I'll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. If I could, I would give it 4.5 stars.
July 18, 2010
Ok, I loved this book and I’m not just saying that because it was sent to me. No, it was just so completely raw and real; I can completely see this happening in real life. But at the same time I hated it with a passion because of some of the things that happen. Really, this book pissed me off to no end.
First, I’m completely pro-choice – it’s your body, do with it as you will – and I would never even think of counselling someone on this since I’ve never experienced it, which is why Natalia annoyed me so much, but I am completely against getting drunk while knowingly pregnant. Still, that’s where part of the realness comes into play as well, I suppose.
Second was the idiocy that Natalia portrayed at times. I mean, come on, wanting to take care of your best friend’s baby and raise it with your boyfriend who your parents hate? At 16? What the hell? It’s idiocy like that that ran rampant through my high school; luckily no one acted on it… I don’t think. Then there was her trying to influence Sidney on the big decision. I wanted her to just but out and stay out. However, without her character the book would have been vastly different, I will admit that. She had a strong hand in how amazing the entire story turned out to be.
de Gramont’s writing is absolutely amazing in the way that she depicts this entire story, she takes the “oh no, girl gets knocked up and doesn’t know what to do” to an entirely new and amazing level that had me reading this book in one sitting while waiting for Big Brother to load on YouTube. It’s her fantastic way of writing the insight into Sidney’s character that was able to bring about such strong responses from me as I was reading. This is something that I think shows the skill of a truly phenomenal writer.
I was pulled into the realness of how Sidney was coping with her pregnancy and how there was a certain flavour of denial thrown in along with complete disregard for the entity that was growing inside of her. I was pulled into Sidney’s head and how her thought patterns sometimes turned slightly morbid, but at the same time I could picture this happening and it just felt so true and real.
If you’re easily offended or are pro-life, this book probably isn’t for you. From this Goodreads page, the more negative reviews have come from fairly devout Christians, so if you’re loving the JC, you might want to pass this one by. However, if you’re able to see a situation from different viewpoints, then go for it. This is honestly one of the most fantastic books that I’ve read in a while from the writing right down to the storyline. I’m giving it a 9/10. It would be higher, but I just can’t get the image of Sidney drinking out of my head.
First, I’m completely pro-choice – it’s your body, do with it as you will – and I would never even think of counselling someone on this since I’ve never experienced it, which is why Natalia annoyed me so much, but I am completely against getting drunk while knowingly pregnant. Still, that’s where part of the realness comes into play as well, I suppose.
Second was the idiocy that Natalia portrayed at times. I mean, come on, wanting to take care of your best friend’s baby and raise it with your boyfriend who your parents hate? At 16? What the hell? It’s idiocy like that that ran rampant through my high school; luckily no one acted on it… I don’t think. Then there was her trying to influence Sidney on the big decision. I wanted her to just but out and stay out. However, without her character the book would have been vastly different, I will admit that. She had a strong hand in how amazing the entire story turned out to be.
de Gramont’s writing is absolutely amazing in the way that she depicts this entire story, she takes the “oh no, girl gets knocked up and doesn’t know what to do” to an entirely new and amazing level that had me reading this book in one sitting while waiting for Big Brother to load on YouTube. It’s her fantastic way of writing the insight into Sidney’s character that was able to bring about such strong responses from me as I was reading. This is something that I think shows the skill of a truly phenomenal writer.
I was pulled into the realness of how Sidney was coping with her pregnancy and how there was a certain flavour of denial thrown in along with complete disregard for the entity that was growing inside of her. I was pulled into Sidney’s head and how her thought patterns sometimes turned slightly morbid, but at the same time I could picture this happening and it just felt so true and real.
If you’re easily offended or are pro-life, this book probably isn’t for you. From this Goodreads page, the more negative reviews have come from fairly devout Christians, so if you’re loving the JC, you might want to pass this one by. However, if you’re able to see a situation from different viewpoints, then go for it. This is honestly one of the most fantastic books that I’ve read in a while from the writing right down to the storyline. I’m giving it a 9/10. It would be higher, but I just can’t get the image of Sidney drinking out of my head.
April 16, 2010
With freshness and immediacy, Nina de Gramont takes us deep within the complex mind of a pregnant teenager in the absolutely incredible EVERY LITTLE THING IN THE WORLD. But this is more than just a book about teen pregnancy: it’s also a lovingly detailed celebration and dissection of all different types of human interactions and relationships.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a YA book that gives such insight into human and teenage nature. Sydney’s voice never feels forced, despite the astonishing range of observations she provides us, many of which are things we could only dream of having learned as a teen. The tensions she experiences in her relationships with the important people in her life are perfectly written and balanced.
In this sense, then, EVERY LITTLE THING IN THE WORLD is so much more than a story about teen pregnancy: as Sydney canoes through the Canadian wilderness, she learns about friendship, lust, unrequited crushes, parents, and what really matters to her. This book doesn’t try to present a moral; rather, it’s an exploration into one teenager’s mind. We may not necessarily agree with everything Sydney does, but after reading this book, we come to appreciate the thought processes that go into people making different decisions.
EVERY LITTLE THING IN THE WORLD is so much more than it appears to be upon first glance. Read this for a beautiful and amazing in-depth look into teenage interaction and decision-making.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a YA book that gives such insight into human and teenage nature. Sydney’s voice never feels forced, despite the astonishing range of observations she provides us, many of which are things we could only dream of having learned as a teen. The tensions she experiences in her relationships with the important people in her life are perfectly written and balanced.
In this sense, then, EVERY LITTLE THING IN THE WORLD is so much more than a story about teen pregnancy: as Sydney canoes through the Canadian wilderness, she learns about friendship, lust, unrequited crushes, parents, and what really matters to her. This book doesn’t try to present a moral; rather, it’s an exploration into one teenager’s mind. We may not necessarily agree with everything Sydney does, but after reading this book, we come to appreciate the thought processes that go into people making different decisions.
EVERY LITTLE THING IN THE WORLD is so much more than it appears to be upon first glance. Read this for a beautiful and amazing in-depth look into teenage interaction and decision-making.
October 6, 2011
terrible. this book took me weeks to slog through. i kept waiting for something, ANYTHING, redeeming to to happen to any of these selfish, naive, ridiculous, irresponsible characters. there was no "lightbulb" moment for any of them. nothing learned. the ongoing battle of whether sydney should or should not get an abortion was preposterous. she lists all the stupid things that she had done as a 16 year old that she knew better than to do but failed to acknowledge that because she is a child, making adult decisions. one thing is for sure, sex "education" informs children of what their bodies are capable of, but it certainly doesn't prepare them to act and think when they are making adult decisions, like having sex. clearly, the theme of this book is that they were all children trying to figure out who each one of them was, but they paraded under the guise of adults with no supervision making ridiculously bad decisions with very little discussion of consequences. the parallel of sydney's impending abortion and mick's secret of murder of someone as both self-defense is a load of crap. somehow at the end, post-abortion, sydney is supposed to feel refreshed and renewed and whole again. whatever your reproductive rights opinion may be, rewarding poor decisions and celebrating terrible behavior as courageous is disgusting. this book got thrown across the room.
July 8, 2015
I ordered this to fulfill the Young Adult Book Club's 17th quarterly challenge, although teen pregnancy books are seldom my thing. But I had a pretty good feeling about this story. I shouldn't have had it - that gut feeling. The main character, her best friend, all the boys AND her parents are completely unlikable in my opinion. 83 pages and some skimming through the rest provided no joy or satisfaction at all. That said I need to stress that my rating does not have anything to do with the outcome of/decision about the unwanted pregnancy dilemma.
June 11, 2011
*SPOILERS*
MIXED REVIEWS ON THIS ONE...
This overall, was a good book. But in a way, I couldn't stand it. Sydney, in the beginning, drove me INSANE.
I'm not someone who believes in abortion, although I used to think it wasn't a big deal. Quite frankly, I didn't care. But not now. Now there's just something about when I think of it, it feels totally and completely wrong. Dont have sex, if your not ready for a baby.
Sydney seemed so self-centered, and I wanted to throw the book at the wall half the time. It was all about her. She couldn't have the baby, because she didn't want to have to worry and deal with the oncoming struggling of it. Really, there was no real reason as to why she SHOULDN'T of at least had the baby, and then given him/her up for adoption. She wasn't living in a bad home, she wasn't poor, she had nothing obvious like so. She seemed so cruel, and cynical about the whole pregnancy aspect, and at times, she found herself thinking "If I did....(fill in the blank of various times when Sydney thought of different ways to kill her baby while pregnant for split seconds of time)the problem would be gone...."
Another thing that hugely annoyed me, was the fact that she didn't tell anyone but her best friend Natalia. Like, seriously? How irresponsible. Oh no, well, technically she already was in the first place. She didn't end up telling her mom that she was pregnant had wanted the abortion until the moment she was in the hospital during a rescue of the camp.
Not only all this, Sydney was back and forth as to whether she should keep the baby, and while doing so, she barely ate. Since she was at a wilderness camp, although her portions were already pretty scarce, she wouldn't even eat (around the end of the book), and was totally doing things that would harm the baby.
But here's the thing.
By the end, I actually started to have a little respect for Sydney.
Once she had had the abortion, although I still believed it to be wrong, she seemed to really, really truly mature by that point. She seemed more aware of herself, the world around her, and the decisions she had to make, and as to why. By the end of the book, I started to like her. She found out a lot about herself as well.
So guys, definitely worth the read either way.
I just WAS NOT a fan of the whole "ABORTION IS OKAY" aspect.
I understand that it is a women's choice, and a women's choice alone, but it's just something I wouldn't myself choose to do.
This book is a good mix-up, and it IS nice to see a different view on the outlook on preganancy, such as this, being abortion.
MIXED REVIEWS ON THIS ONE...
This overall, was a good book. But in a way, I couldn't stand it. Sydney, in the beginning, drove me INSANE.
I'm not someone who believes in abortion, although I used to think it wasn't a big deal. Quite frankly, I didn't care. But not now. Now there's just something about when I think of it, it feels totally and completely wrong. Dont have sex, if your not ready for a baby.
Sydney seemed so self-centered, and I wanted to throw the book at the wall half the time. It was all about her. She couldn't have the baby, because she didn't want to have to worry and deal with the oncoming struggling of it. Really, there was no real reason as to why she SHOULDN'T of at least had the baby, and then given him/her up for adoption. She wasn't living in a bad home, she wasn't poor, she had nothing obvious like so. She seemed so cruel, and cynical about the whole pregnancy aspect, and at times, she found herself thinking "If I did....(fill in the blank of various times when Sydney thought of different ways to kill her baby while pregnant for split seconds of time)the problem would be gone...."
Another thing that hugely annoyed me, was the fact that she didn't tell anyone but her best friend Natalia. Like, seriously? How irresponsible. Oh no, well, technically she already was in the first place. She didn't end up telling her mom that she was pregnant had wanted the abortion until the moment she was in the hospital during a rescue of the camp.
Not only all this, Sydney was back and forth as to whether she should keep the baby, and while doing so, she barely ate. Since she was at a wilderness camp, although her portions were already pretty scarce, she wouldn't even eat (around the end of the book), and was totally doing things that would harm the baby.
But here's the thing.
By the end, I actually started to have a little respect for Sydney.
Once she had had the abortion, although I still believed it to be wrong, she seemed to really, really truly mature by that point. She seemed more aware of herself, the world around her, and the decisions she had to make, and as to why. By the end of the book, I started to like her. She found out a lot about herself as well.
So guys, definitely worth the read either way.
I just WAS NOT a fan of the whole "ABORTION IS OKAY" aspect.
I understand that it is a women's choice, and a women's choice alone, but it's just something I wouldn't myself choose to do.
This book is a good mix-up, and it IS nice to see a different view on the outlook on preganancy, such as this, being abortion.
July 3, 2010
I didn't know it when I started it but this book was 'Young Adult'. Once I finished it I couldn't believe it was for 14 years and up. I know I am an old woman and a prude but really - 14 year old girls need to read about sex, pregancy, sex, sex, drugs, abortions and more sex? And did it all have to be made to look attractive and inviting? Whatever happened to Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie? OK - so now you all know I am an old woman and a prude!
May 18, 2012
Every single character in this book was unlikable except the dog and maybe the stepmother. I may have physically punched it after reading the ending.
June 9, 2011
The book was extreamly weird and i dont think i recomend it for anyone. There isnt really a point to it except some girl gets caught at a keg party with her best friend who is from sweden i think and then she finds out shes pregnant and her parents are divorced and her dad is a hippy that has the same ideas as sr amina with fast food and stuff so the main girl moves with her weird hippy dad then he sends her away so she tells her best friend that shes being sent away to canada for a kanoo trip then her best friend convinces her parents to instead of sending her to sweden to send her to the kanoo outdoor camp for a month but before her best friend leaves she finds out her parents are really her grandparents and her sister is really her mother. in the meentine they go to the camp where there is no electricity and not much authority and one of the counslers cant keep her shirt on and the main charicter is still pregnant and she hooks up with some guy and shes known as a weirdo at the camp to and some stuff happends that i forgot because it got boring but at one point the main charicter and the best friend get into an argument because the main girl wants to have an abortion and the best friend said no. oh ya and in the beining of the book the best friend has a boy friend that her parents/grandparents dont approve of because hes always on crack or some drug and hes not jewish so thats another reason that they sent her away to either the sweden or the camp so then durring when shes on the camping trip with the main chick there is some rebel dude that the best friend falls in love with so then they become a cuple and its really weird. blah blah happends and back to where the best friend and the main girl get into an argument and they stop talking and the main girl sleeps with some other guy while shes pregnant and shes really weird and blah blah. at one point the group is eating tuna or something and the main girl is the only one who doesnt eat from it and they are in the middle of nowhere on a river and they are far from everyone so when the main girl doesnt eat from the tuna eferyone else eats from it and they get really sick and had to get their stomaches pumped and the main girl wwho is pregnant was the one to get to the main camp and get everyone else to the hospital blah blah. so when they get to the hospital the main girl calls her mom and tells her mom shes pregnant and then she gets an abortion and thats it. weird
October 25, 2009
I know this may sound strange, but I love reading books that contain teen pregnancy. Some people say this topic is overdone and partially clichéd, but in my opinion each story presented the author takes the topic and turns it into a story that's all its own. Further more, this is exactly what happens with Every Little Thing In The World.
Every Little Thing in the World is an emotional, enlightening, and fast paced tale of one girl's choice between what's right and wrong when it comes to her pregnancy and her.
Sydney was a character that was easy to like from the beginning because while she had a big problem that none of you teens out there will hopefully have to face during your high school years, she also had others that were easy to relate to. Also, you could feel her frustration on which choice to make- have it or abort it?- and the different opinions that came from her friends on the situation, leaving you to constantly cheer for to come out doing what she wanted to do in the end. And while I do feel that she could have handled some of the situations differently, I still admire her for doing what was right for her in the end, not leaving others to influence her decision. Natalia, Syd’s best friend, was a character that just surprised me ( usually not in a good way) throughout and while I'm dying to say more on this, I don't want to give too much about the story away. I did like the secondary characters, though, because I enjoyed how Nina had them each come from a different and diverse background that made them stand out in their own unique way.
As said briefly above, the plot was just plain addicting, leaving me to finish this book in less then two days which is pretty good considering the loads of homework that usually dictate most of my time. I enjoyed how most of the story took place in Canada's wilderness and how I always felt like I was right there with the characters because of Nina's great descriptions that were never too little or too overdone. With saying that, Nina's writing was also pretty great and I'm excited to see what other stories she brings to us over the next few years.
In all, Every Little Thing in the World is a definite must read even with the few flaws it does have!
Grade: A+
Every Little Thing in the World is an emotional, enlightening, and fast paced tale of one girl's choice between what's right and wrong when it comes to her pregnancy and her.
Sydney was a character that was easy to like from the beginning because while she had a big problem that none of you teens out there will hopefully have to face during your high school years, she also had others that were easy to relate to. Also, you could feel her frustration on which choice to make- have it or abort it?- and the different opinions that came from her friends on the situation, leaving you to constantly cheer for to come out doing what she wanted to do in the end. And while I do feel that she could have handled some of the situations differently, I still admire her for doing what was right for her in the end, not leaving others to influence her decision. Natalia, Syd’s best friend, was a character that just surprised me ( usually not in a good way) throughout and while I'm dying to say more on this, I don't want to give too much about the story away. I did like the secondary characters, though, because I enjoyed how Nina had them each come from a different and diverse background that made them stand out in their own unique way.
As said briefly above, the plot was just plain addicting, leaving me to finish this book in less then two days which is pretty good considering the loads of homework that usually dictate most of my time. I enjoyed how most of the story took place in Canada's wilderness and how I always felt like I was right there with the characters because of Nina's great descriptions that were never too little or too overdone. With saying that, Nina's writing was also pretty great and I'm excited to see what other stories she brings to us over the next few years.
In all, Every Little Thing in the World is a definite must read even with the few flaws it does have!
Grade: A+
January 22, 2011
Finally, a young adult book that *doesn't* vilify abortion! Thank you, Nina de Gramont. And, to be honest, this one single factor easily could've been the thing that made me love this book. But thankfully the book had a *lot* going for it. Nina de Gramont is quite a good storyteller and even though there were plenty of moments where I felt very frustrated with Sydney, the narrator, in the end I did think that she epitomized a what life can be like for somewhat sheltered, middle class teenage girls. And I like what de Gramont did with this character. I liked how Sydney grew a lot from beginning to end of the book but none of it was cheesy or rushed. It all seemed to happen very organically and she became a stronger person.
The writing was great. The descriptions of the Canadian summer made me wish I was there now. She made the canoe trip sound so cool and refreshing. I liked the two characters, Sydney and Natalia, because they were similar but they also acted as character foils and, in the end, I liked that they accepted each other's friendship even though they were both changed people.
I really liked a lot of this. I loved the overall big themes and without revealing too much I just want to say that this is definitely worth checking out. And, thank you, Nina de Gramont, for writing a YA book with an "abortion-is-okay-too" message. We need more of those.
The writing was great. The descriptions of the Canadian summer made me wish I was there now. She made the canoe trip sound so cool and refreshing. I liked the two characters, Sydney and Natalia, because they were similar but they also acted as character foils and, in the end, I liked that they accepted each other's friendship even though they were both changed people.
I really liked a lot of this. I loved the overall big themes and without revealing too much I just want to say that this is definitely worth checking out. And, thank you, Nina de Gramont, for writing a YA book with an "abortion-is-okay-too" message. We need more of those.
May 23, 2010
Uh oh, poor 16-year-old Sydney got herself knocked up...What is she going to do??? Why, dodge making a decision by going on a summer wilderness expedition, of course! Yes, this is another teen pregnancy dilemma novel with plenty of corniness, but I enjoyed the Canadian summer canoe adventure. There was even a bit of compelling substance and imagery here and there tucked between the various cliches and stereotypes, so as far as chick-lit goes, this ain't so bad. I'm sure there are plenty of young gals out there that would eat this story up during the summer, day-dreaming about paddling down a pristine lake with friends and fretting over hunky dudes, with a nice helping of teen problem novel on the side.
July 20, 2021
My favorite book that I have ever ever read.
August 27, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed and was engaged in the story of 16-year old Sydney, and her life negotiating her friendship with her best friend Natalia, her well-meaning dad, her tired mom, her relationships with the boys in her life including the one who got her pregnant, and what she did when she found out about the pregnancy. The voice and point of view were authentic to a 16 year old’s.
April 23, 2023
Imagine randomly falling in love with this book and looking up the author to binge read everything she ever wrote only to discover she not only lives in your town but she teaches at the university. My god those lucky students.
June 30, 2017
This is not a book about the outdoors. DO NOT read this book if you want to read fiction about the outdoors, or if you want to read books about adventurous women, or women behaving sensibly in the wilderness. If you are sending your daughter to camp and want to get her pumped for it, this is NOT the book for you.
Early on, Sid says she liked canoeing until she discovered beer and boys. She should be told that you can fit beers and boys into a canoe, and still have room for the rest of your camping supplies. But the big problems start a few chapters in when Sid and Cody take a canoe out on the lake at night. They row around the lake in their canoe and almost lose an oar. (After this, they probably hit the ball around with their baseball mallets, and then go to the bowling alley to knock over some bowling logs.) The next day, their camp counselors introduce themselves and then Sid and the rest of the campers have twenty-four hours of unsupervised time. No gear checks, no paddling tutorials, no packing food, going over emergency procedures, nothing. The next day, the campers get into the canoes and only two people know how to stern. The female counselor becomes frustrated and screams, "Boys in the back, girls in the front!," because bad-ass outdoorsy female camp counselors assume that 16-year-old boys who've never paddled in their lives are better at canoeing than 16-year-old girls who've never paddled in their lives and that's plausible somehow. A camper drops her pack in the water and the counselor grumbles and pulls out the sleeping bag to dry, because who's ever hear of wet bags? Or industrial garbage bags? Who could possibly anticipate that things might get wet on a canoe trip? There's talk of learning the J-stroke, as though that were the only stroke in canoeing. Somehow, all the food brought on the trip is canned. Not dehydrated, canned. The female counselor refuses to cook, so all the food is either heated in the cans or eaten cold. The male counselor speaks to no one. Sid's group paddles around one lake for a month, but portages repeatedly. They presumably portage with a full cooler. When they portage, Sid and her best friend carry the canoe together like rank amateurs who don't know what yoke pads are for. No one ever wears a PFD. Sid almost drowns because her camp counselors encourage her to slide down a stream leading to a waterfall without a PFD. The kids go cliff diving without PFDs. They leave their food out as though bears and raccoons aren't of this world. The girls store their used tampons in paper bags. The campers get drunk in full view of the counselors. The campers hook up in full view of the counselors. The campers brush their teeth into the lake. They wash dishes in the lake. The lake is always calm, "rowing" is always easy. The lake is big enough to paddle for two solid weeks, yet there are no waves. There is no wind. It never rains.
If you ever find yourself at a camp like this, run! You are in danger. Run, and tell the American Camping Association, your local government agency in charge of food safety, and the child welfare office.
Also, Sid is selfish, Natalia is even more selfish, Mick and Brendan are caricatures, Melanie doesn't get enough attention, and Cody is too perfect. Weirdly, this book was pretty good before and after camp, but the book is 80% camp.
Early on, Sid says she liked canoeing until she discovered beer and boys. She should be told that you can fit beers and boys into a canoe, and still have room for the rest of your camping supplies. But the big problems start a few chapters in when Sid and Cody take a canoe out on the lake at night. They row around the lake in their canoe and almost lose an oar. (After this, they probably hit the ball around with their baseball mallets, and then go to the bowling alley to knock over some bowling logs.) The next day, their camp counselors introduce themselves and then Sid and the rest of the campers have twenty-four hours of unsupervised time. No gear checks, no paddling tutorials, no packing food, going over emergency procedures, nothing. The next day, the campers get into the canoes and only two people know how to stern. The female counselor becomes frustrated and screams, "Boys in the back, girls in the front!," because bad-ass outdoorsy female camp counselors assume that 16-year-old boys who've never paddled in their lives are better at canoeing than 16-year-old girls who've never paddled in their lives and that's plausible somehow. A camper drops her pack in the water and the counselor grumbles and pulls out the sleeping bag to dry, because who's ever hear of wet bags? Or industrial garbage bags? Who could possibly anticipate that things might get wet on a canoe trip? There's talk of learning the J-stroke, as though that were the only stroke in canoeing. Somehow, all the food brought on the trip is canned. Not dehydrated, canned. The female counselor refuses to cook, so all the food is either heated in the cans or eaten cold. The male counselor speaks to no one. Sid's group paddles around one lake for a month, but portages repeatedly. They presumably portage with a full cooler. When they portage, Sid and her best friend carry the canoe together like rank amateurs who don't know what yoke pads are for. No one ever wears a PFD. Sid almost drowns because her camp counselors encourage her to slide down a stream leading to a waterfall without a PFD. The kids go cliff diving without PFDs. They leave their food out as though bears and raccoons aren't of this world. The girls store their used tampons in paper bags. The campers get drunk in full view of the counselors. The campers hook up in full view of the counselors. The campers brush their teeth into the lake. They wash dishes in the lake. The lake is always calm, "rowing" is always easy. The lake is big enough to paddle for two solid weeks, yet there are no waves. There is no wind. It never rains.
If you ever find yourself at a camp like this, run! You are in danger. Run, and tell the American Camping Association, your local government agency in charge of food safety, and the child welfare office.
Also, Sid is selfish, Natalia is even more selfish, Mick and Brendan are caricatures, Melanie doesn't get enough attention, and Cody is too perfect. Weirdly, this book was pretty good before and after camp, but the book is 80% camp.
October 1, 2015
*Warning: spoilers*
This book for me was a very easy read, and that’s saying something considering I haven’t read a book from cover to cover in a long time. The narrator exuded a realness that added to her likeability, I appreciated how at times she had more flaws than strengths. The guilty thoughts that Sydney had towards her baby made the self-righteous part of me protest, such as when she jumped off a cliff, “I realised at just the right moment that if I flattened my body – let myself fall belly first – it might solve all my problems.” But it made me realise that everyone has guilty wishes, and that doesn’t make us bad people. Brendan’s character was highly amusing, as right from his first appearance it was clear that he was gay. De Gramont kept hinting to this development, “Brendan and Silas were the only guys who seemed completely unaffected by Jane’s toplessness.” This only confirmed to me that the story was not about exposing secrets and suspense, but was more about how the characters interacted. I also got a good kick out of waiting for the author to just come right out with it – come on, come on, whoop, there it is. Brendan’s movie star status very obviously pointed to the problem with stereotypes, and how first impressions don’t take into account the whole person. Sometimes being perceived as an image for so long makes us believe we have to be that person as well, shown by the character Mick. His ‘thug on the streets’ persona dominated his actions at times, but in raw moments he would reveal his softer side, “Mick would keep becoming his better self, growing into his potential more and more with every day that passed.”
At first, Sydney used the camping trip as a way to forget that she was pregnant, which was ironic considering she didn’t want to end up like the teenage cases that dumped their babies the moment they’ve given birth. Her denial certainly annoyed me, but in the end she admitted she didn’t want to sacrifice her life to kids just yet. De Gramont tells us that we shouldn’t be expected to harden up and become the hero, fearless and strong all the time. Sydney’s choice to abort the foetus didn’t give me the ‘happily ever after’ feeling, and I like how de Gramont implies there never would have been one, either. Even though I don’t agree with the main character’s arrangement, the novel certainly highlighted how no decision is the ‘right decision’. Sydney’s brief happiness after the abortion greatly contrasted with the melancholic and sobering affect it had on me, and after finishing the book I felt that she still had many tribulations ahead in her life. It seems to me that her biggest insecurity was that if she had given birth to the baby, she would have cared for it so much that she would have barely any energy left, “I knew – strangely, unwillingly – that if I had the baby I would love it more than I’d ever loved anything in my entire life. It was terrifying.” I like how we are shown that as we mature, we become more aware of the possibilities foregone, and Sydney has only seen a glimpse of these possibilities. Every little thing counts, every decision changes our path, and we just have to keep moving forward.
This book for me was a very easy read, and that’s saying something considering I haven’t read a book from cover to cover in a long time. The narrator exuded a realness that added to her likeability, I appreciated how at times she had more flaws than strengths. The guilty thoughts that Sydney had towards her baby made the self-righteous part of me protest, such as when she jumped off a cliff, “I realised at just the right moment that if I flattened my body – let myself fall belly first – it might solve all my problems.” But it made me realise that everyone has guilty wishes, and that doesn’t make us bad people. Brendan’s character was highly amusing, as right from his first appearance it was clear that he was gay. De Gramont kept hinting to this development, “Brendan and Silas were the only guys who seemed completely unaffected by Jane’s toplessness.” This only confirmed to me that the story was not about exposing secrets and suspense, but was more about how the characters interacted. I also got a good kick out of waiting for the author to just come right out with it – come on, come on, whoop, there it is. Brendan’s movie star status very obviously pointed to the problem with stereotypes, and how first impressions don’t take into account the whole person. Sometimes being perceived as an image for so long makes us believe we have to be that person as well, shown by the character Mick. His ‘thug on the streets’ persona dominated his actions at times, but in raw moments he would reveal his softer side, “Mick would keep becoming his better self, growing into his potential more and more with every day that passed.”
At first, Sydney used the camping trip as a way to forget that she was pregnant, which was ironic considering she didn’t want to end up like the teenage cases that dumped their babies the moment they’ve given birth. Her denial certainly annoyed me, but in the end she admitted she didn’t want to sacrifice her life to kids just yet. De Gramont tells us that we shouldn’t be expected to harden up and become the hero, fearless and strong all the time. Sydney’s choice to abort the foetus didn’t give me the ‘happily ever after’ feeling, and I like how de Gramont implies there never would have been one, either. Even though I don’t agree with the main character’s arrangement, the novel certainly highlighted how no decision is the ‘right decision’. Sydney’s brief happiness after the abortion greatly contrasted with the melancholic and sobering affect it had on me, and after finishing the book I felt that she still had many tribulations ahead in her life. It seems to me that her biggest insecurity was that if she had given birth to the baby, she would have cared for it so much that she would have barely any energy left, “I knew – strangely, unwillingly – that if I had the baby I would love it more than I’d ever loved anything in my entire life. It was terrifying.” I like how we are shown that as we mature, we become more aware of the possibilities foregone, and Sydney has only seen a glimpse of these possibilities. Every little thing counts, every decision changes our path, and we just have to keep moving forward.
July 30, 2015
What a terribly sad and depressing book. What does it say about our society when a teenage girl is more shocked by hearing a violent criminal called the n word than at the thought of murdering her own baby? Also, I really didn't buy the characters' shock and horror at hearing this word. What modern teenagers haven't heard that word screamed at them countless times during rap "songs"? Are we really to believe that hearing it from the mouth of a wigger is more shocking than all the times it has been blared out of car radios? Pathetic. As the book progresses, there seems to be hope that she'll do the right thing, but the ending is just so Marxist and sick. I fear for a society that values comfort and convenience over the future and sees abortion as a do-over. Very, very dark and sad in every sense of the word.
When you read a book, you want to see the protagonist grow and change. You want her to mature and learn. Instead, what we have here is a spoiled brat stay a spoiled brat. She learns nothing. Not from her best friend, whose situation should have made her think. Certainly not from her mother who acts like an adult brat. Granted, I am not the target audience for this book. I am 40 and a mother of 3. I know enough adult women who deeply regret the abortions they had as teens/college age. While the protagonist may feel relief now, as she gets older, she will realize she still has a secret she will have to tell her future husband. She will look at her future children and picture the missing one. She will see a documentary on Planned Parenthood harvesting organs from fetuses to sell and realize that yes, it was a baby. Then, just as the woman in the Roe v. Wade case has come forward, she will know that she was lied to. There is no happy ending here. Just a lifetime of sorrow to discover. It has nothing to do with religion. The relief is fleeting and it's a lie. This knowledge will come with age.
When you read a book, you want to see the protagonist grow and change. You want her to mature and learn. Instead, what we have here is a spoiled brat stay a spoiled brat. She learns nothing. Not from her best friend, whose situation should have made her think. Certainly not from her mother who acts like an adult brat. Granted, I am not the target audience for this book. I am 40 and a mother of 3. I know enough adult women who deeply regret the abortions they had as teens/college age. While the protagonist may feel relief now, as she gets older, she will realize she still has a secret she will have to tell her future husband. She will look at her future children and picture the missing one. She will see a documentary on Planned Parenthood harvesting organs from fetuses to sell and realize that yes, it was a baby. Then, just as the woman in the Roe v. Wade case has come forward, she will know that she was lied to. There is no happy ending here. Just a lifetime of sorrow to discover. It has nothing to do with religion. The relief is fleeting and it's a lie. This knowledge will come with age.
April 20, 2011
For me 2 stars is for a book that I read all of but didn't particularly enjoy.
Every Little Thing in the World tells the story of 16-year-old Sydney's deteriorating relationship with her divorced relationship and accidental pregnancy. Her parents, frustrated with her brushes with the law and lack of responsibility, ship her off to spend a month canoeing in Canadian lakes.
Sydney obsesses over what to do about her pregnancy and her relationship with her best friend, Natalia. The main characters are fully developed and their problems are described realistically and completely. I didn't like the book because it was so focused on these problems and the plot seemed more like a background for Sydney's consideration of her pregnancy and relationships.
***MAJOR SPOILER*** I actually wanted to find out if Sydney had an abortion or not and the reviews I read didn't specifically state what she decided to do. So I had to listen to the whole book to find out. She does have an abortion and does ultimately tell her mom about it. I'm glad that this book discusses what happens when a girl/woman decides to go through with having an abortion. So often, the issue is avoided ala Party of Five with Julia's miscarriage, or by having the character find the right adoption plan.
There were other little things that I didn't like very much either. I suspect that some of these issues are more because I am well past my teen years. This is definitely appropriate for a public library collection; school libraries may want to exercise caution.
The audio version wasn't fantastic. The narrator's voices for the male characters sounded digitally altered. I couldn't decide if I thought the reader was trying to infuse emotion into her reading; she often sounded annoyed or sad or bored.
Every Little Thing in the World tells the story of 16-year-old Sydney's deteriorating relationship with her divorced relationship and accidental pregnancy. Her parents, frustrated with her brushes with the law and lack of responsibility, ship her off to spend a month canoeing in Canadian lakes.
Sydney obsesses over what to do about her pregnancy and her relationship with her best friend, Natalia. The main characters are fully developed and their problems are described realistically and completely. I didn't like the book because it was so focused on these problems and the plot seemed more like a background for Sydney's consideration of her pregnancy and relationships.
***MAJOR SPOILER*** I actually wanted to find out if Sydney had an abortion or not and the reviews I read didn't specifically state what she decided to do. So I had to listen to the whole book to find out. She does have an abortion and does ultimately tell her mom about it. I'm glad that this book discusses what happens when a girl/woman decides to go through with having an abortion. So often, the issue is avoided ala Party of Five with Julia's miscarriage, or by having the character find the right adoption plan.
There were other little things that I didn't like very much either. I suspect that some of these issues are more because I am well past my teen years. This is definitely appropriate for a public library collection; school libraries may want to exercise caution.
The audio version wasn't fantastic. The narrator's voices for the male characters sounded digitally altered. I couldn't decide if I thought the reader was trying to infuse emotion into her reading; she often sounded annoyed or sad or bored.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2010
Sydney has a problem. She's pregnant.
Being pregnant at sixteen years is definitely not ideal, but what can Sydney do? She knows she will not marry the baby's father because that is unrealistic and it will not work out. Keeping it quiet from her parents, she is unsure what to do in this situation. Her father sends her up north to Canada so she can join a canoeing camp that will help her learn something new and be away from the technological world today.
Surrounded by Canadian wilderness, Sydney interacts with new people and learn new things from the practical to the personal.
Every Little Thing in the World is now one of my favourite releases of 2010! It gave me a break from the usual novels that go around the cliche plots and added a flavourful variety into the YA section of the bookstore.
Sydney is a commonsensical girl who does not delude herself in any way and does not mope over the fact that she is pregnant. Instead of being depressed, she takes the opportunity of the camp to enjoy her life differently. I love how the author have such indivualistic characters surrounding Sydney. Flaws are pointed out as well as the greater aspects for each character. The interaction between Sydney and everyone else is fantastic, like a well-balanced meal that is nutritious and delicious at the same time. She is able to learn more about herself and her best friend, Natalia, with the time they are in Canada. Readers will see a strong character development and will enjoy the fact that the novel is very relatable in many aspects.
After reading this novel, I urge to go on a canoe camp too. It sounds exhausting but fun at the same time! Creative, realistic, and rapturing, Every Little Thing in the World is a must-read!
Being pregnant at sixteen years is definitely not ideal, but what can Sydney do? She knows she will not marry the baby's father because that is unrealistic and it will not work out. Keeping it quiet from her parents, she is unsure what to do in this situation. Her father sends her up north to Canada so she can join a canoeing camp that will help her learn something new and be away from the technological world today.
Surrounded by Canadian wilderness, Sydney interacts with new people and learn new things from the practical to the personal.
Every Little Thing in the World is now one of my favourite releases of 2010! It gave me a break from the usual novels that go around the cliche plots and added a flavourful variety into the YA section of the bookstore.
Sydney is a commonsensical girl who does not delude herself in any way and does not mope over the fact that she is pregnant. Instead of being depressed, she takes the opportunity of the camp to enjoy her life differently. I love how the author have such indivualistic characters surrounding Sydney. Flaws are pointed out as well as the greater aspects for each character. The interaction between Sydney and everyone else is fantastic, like a well-balanced meal that is nutritious and delicious at the same time. She is able to learn more about herself and her best friend, Natalia, with the time they are in Canada. Readers will see a strong character development and will enjoy the fact that the novel is very relatable in many aspects.
After reading this novel, I urge to go on a canoe camp too. It sounds exhausting but fun at the same time! Creative, realistic, and rapturing, Every Little Thing in the World is a must-read!
Read
August 2, 2011"Every Little Thing In The World" was very difficult to read. Although Sydney is described as a "good kid," she is anything but a good role model for teens like myself. She and her friends have no qualms about drinking, partying, and "borrowing cars," but maybe that's the point. This made it laborious for my to sympathize with her concerns.
The actual writing of the book is very good. Nina de Gramont has a wonderful grasp of the English language and stylistically parts of the book are very beautiful. I'd like to give her another try. Sydney is a well-developed character--one who I don't agree with--but strong nevertheless. By the end of the book I believe that she has had her fill of the "fun" life. (It was fun after all that caused her all the grief she dealt with.) The end of the book really was the best part. There were many more philosophical thoughts and evaluations of life that weren't present in live-for-the-moment times earlier.
My greatest concern for those reading this is that it makes underage drinking and other questionable behaviors seem normal. My greatest praise for the book is that it emphasizes the importance of having a good relationship with your parents. The reconciliation was not only believable, but thoughtfully written.
While I'll never condone abortion, I'll also never harass those who have one. As in Sydney's case, it would have been better to avoid the causation altogether. This gets a low rating from me, but it is not due to the quality of writing.
The actual writing of the book is very good. Nina de Gramont has a wonderful grasp of the English language and stylistically parts of the book are very beautiful. I'd like to give her another try. Sydney is a well-developed character--one who I don't agree with--but strong nevertheless. By the end of the book I believe that she has had her fill of the "fun" life. (It was fun after all that caused her all the grief she dealt with.) The end of the book really was the best part. There were many more philosophical thoughts and evaluations of life that weren't present in live-for-the-moment times earlier.
My greatest concern for those reading this is that it makes underage drinking and other questionable behaviors seem normal. My greatest praise for the book is that it emphasizes the importance of having a good relationship with your parents. The reconciliation was not only believable, but thoughtfully written.
While I'll never condone abortion, I'll also never harass those who have one. As in Sydney's case, it would have been better to avoid the causation altogether. This gets a low rating from me, but it is not due to the quality of writing.
November 11, 2012
Reviewed by Breanna F. for TeensReadToo.com
Sydney Biggs is sixteen and somewhat of a rebel. After she and her best friend, Natalia, sneak out to a party one night, her mother ships her off to her father for the summer so that he can deal with her. Her father then tells Sydney that he is sending her off to a wilderness camp for a month.
The only problem is that Sydney is pregnant, and she needs to decide whether she wants an abortion or not within a very short period of time.
She plans to not think about her pregnancy at all during the month that she is away, but then Natalia shows up on the trip with her and is a constant reminder of Sydney's situation. In the end, what will Sydney choose to do?
This was a fantastic read. As soon as I heard about EVERY LITTLE THING IN THE WORLD I wanted to get it right away, and when I got my hands on a copy it definitely did not disappoint. I felt so bad for Sydney during the entire book. She was constantly trying to figure out what the right thing to do was, and it didn't help that her best friend was always pushing her opinions on her.
All of the characters in the story were great and I liked the ending. This is a wonderful story about a huge decision that a young girl has to make.
Sydney Biggs is sixteen and somewhat of a rebel. After she and her best friend, Natalia, sneak out to a party one night, her mother ships her off to her father for the summer so that he can deal with her. Her father then tells Sydney that he is sending her off to a wilderness camp for a month.
The only problem is that Sydney is pregnant, and she needs to decide whether she wants an abortion or not within a very short period of time.
She plans to not think about her pregnancy at all during the month that she is away, but then Natalia shows up on the trip with her and is a constant reminder of Sydney's situation. In the end, what will Sydney choose to do?
This was a fantastic read. As soon as I heard about EVERY LITTLE THING IN THE WORLD I wanted to get it right away, and when I got my hands on a copy it definitely did not disappoint. I felt so bad for Sydney during the entire book. She was constantly trying to figure out what the right thing to do was, and it didn't help that her best friend was always pushing her opinions on her.
All of the characters in the story were great and I liked the ending. This is a wonderful story about a huge decision that a young girl has to make.
October 27, 2010
Sydney is 16 and pregnant. She gets in trouble with her mom the night she decides to tell the father of the baby (she's not close to him & she never does tell him - my first issue). Sydney's mom is frustrated with her & sends her to her dad without Sydney telling her about the pregnancy. Dad sends her on a wilderness adventure so that hopefully she will get focused. Sydney doesn't tell him either. The only person who she tells is her best friend Natalia, who shortly after the book begins finds out her much older sister is actually her biological mother & the people she knows as her parents are actually her grandparents. Sydney insists all through the book that she wants an abortion, but she doesn't really do anything about it.
The book is ultimately about owning your own life and recognizing that your choices have consequences and then facing them rather than just coasting along.
I don't think that Sydney is a good role model or understand all her choices & her worldview. I also don't agree with the ultimate choice she made, but I can't deny that ths is a compelling read, and worth the time I spent on it.
The book is ultimately about owning your own life and recognizing that your choices have consequences and then facing them rather than just coasting along.
I don't think that Sydney is a good role model or understand all her choices & her worldview. I also don't agree with the ultimate choice she made, but I can't deny that ths is a compelling read, and worth the time I spent on it.
August 17, 2010
This was a really pointless story in my opinion. I just don't understand why read something that has no resolution whatsoever. I dont know if I'm making any sense, but when I read, I expect to be moved or entertained or scared or have an epiphany moment when everything clicks into place or... something. I felt none of those things here. I don't even know if the book was supposed to be about something or about nothing at all. I'm so confused.
I enjoyed it quite all right and I was never bored enough not to finish it. The characters were very well done and it was very atmospheric for a realistic book, which I really liked. The writing was good and the plot was fairly steady, yet it's a book that I will barely remember in the future. I love the cover though but it doesn't portray the theme of the book, nor does the summary, for that matter.
Overall, an empty summer read that you can enjoy if you're bored and don't expect anything at all.
I would love to hear different opinions from those who've read this!
I enjoyed it quite all right and I was never bored enough not to finish it. The characters were very well done and it was very atmospheric for a realistic book, which I really liked. The writing was good and the plot was fairly steady, yet it's a book that I will barely remember in the future. I love the cover though but it doesn't portray the theme of the book, nor does the summary, for that matter.
Overall, an empty summer read that you can enjoy if you're bored and don't expect anything at all.
I would love to hear different opinions from those who've read this!
April 7, 2015
As someone raised strongly pro-life, this book was an interesting, and at times disturbingly relatable, read for me as it deals with the dilemma of a pregnant sixteen year old girl who was not raised with any similar strong influences as she is confronted for the first time with what God might think of abortion, what choices she has, and how whatever choice she makes will effect the rest of her life - all under the time constraint of twelve weeks before it becomes too late to legally have an abortion. The story is wrapped around an awesome wilderness adventure that had me wanting to physically join in and also get to know the other 3 dimensional characters in the story.
January 14, 2014
Warning: This review contains cursing and facts from the book that may be perceived as spoilers.
Fuck this book.
It's about a slutty party girl masquerading as a good girl who apparently would rather raw-dog a random than get on birth control or, you know, not screw the douchebag.
And, seriously, must she fuck everyone she comes in contact with? And since when is it okay for you to demonize your best friend for not being morally capable of condoning or helping you get an abortion? Syd screws random guys without protection, but Nat is the morally reprehensible one? Ha. Okay.
In the end, this horrible main character makes the decision to get an abortion. Strangely, the abortion didn't cause the typical emotional/hormonal side effects, but left the character feeling refreshed and happy instead.
I think this line, from right after her abortion, sums up my loathing of this book fairly well: "We were like babies, safe somehow in the forest."
Disgusting.
Fuck this book.
It's about a slutty party girl masquerading as a good girl who apparently would rather raw-dog a random than get on birth control or, you know, not screw the douchebag.
And, seriously, must she fuck everyone she comes in contact with? And since when is it okay for you to demonize your best friend for not being morally capable of condoning or helping you get an abortion? Syd screws random guys without protection, but Nat is the morally reprehensible one? Ha. Okay.
In the end, this horrible main character makes the decision to get an abortion. Strangely, the abortion didn't cause the typical emotional/hormonal side effects, but left the character feeling refreshed and happy instead.
I think this line, from right after her abortion, sums up my loathing of this book fairly well: "We were like babies, safe somehow in the forest."
Disgusting.
April 19, 2010
I thought this was a really great book. I really liked the characters in this book. Although they were pretty typical--the pretty boy celebrity, the hot best friend, the badass, and even the main character who was the pretty average girl, they all had another side to them that went beyond their stereotypes.
As for the plot of the book, I did not know what to expect for Sydney's decision. There were times when she thought she would keep it, and there were times when she thought she would abort it. A part of me thought that she may not even be pregnant at all, but then where would any of the learning be?
Overall a really great book with a nice ending. I especially loved the characters and how they all had a personality to them, which is what usually lacks in other novels, and the setting in the Canadian wilderness. It made me want to go camping up north.
As for the plot of the book, I did not know what to expect for Sydney's decision. There were times when she thought she would keep it, and there were times when she thought she would abort it. A part of me thought that she may not even be pregnant at all, but then where would any of the learning be?
Overall a really great book with a nice ending. I especially loved the characters and how they all had a personality to them, which is what usually lacks in other novels, and the setting in the Canadian wilderness. It made me want to go camping up north.
December 23, 2015
Every Little Thing in the World by Nina de Gramont was an amazing and well written book that I thoroughly enjoyed. This book was about a rebellious teen who learns many life lessons throughout the book. The main character Sydney is pregnant and is not ready for the responsibilities to come. She overcomes many personal conflicts and she learns that she must live in the present not in the fear of tomorrow. Sydney also learns that she must take action in the situations she faced. I really enjoyed this book because it was fast paced and easy to follow. Once I started reading this book I could not put it down because of how interesting it was. Although, I was very disappointed by the ending of this book I also really liked it because it had the major components of love, heartbreak, bravery, and hard decisions that every good book should contain.
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