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Returnable Girl
"A powerful rage came over me and before I knew it, I was throwing things around my room. Everything! All of the things that Alison had given me. . . . But that wasn’t enough, and more than that, it wasn’t working. I realized I needed to do something REALLY BIG this time."
Abandoned. That’s how Ronnie Hartman feels after her mother and Kenny, her mom’s good-for-nothing boyfriend, move to Alaska, bringing Ronnie’s two younger brothers with them and leaving her behind. Now thirteen years old, Ronnie has been "returned" from multiple foster homes because of her impulsive lying and stealing. Her latest foster mom, Alison, is Ronnie’s very last chance—if she doesn’t want to end up in some awful residential treatment center.
Meanwhile, Ronnie wants more than anything to fit in with the popular crowd, especially with the beautiful (but stuck-up) Paige. But when Ronnie betrays her only friend, a chubby outcast named Cat, she begins a pattern of deception that can only end in disaster. As Ronnie struggles to define herself, an important letter will present her with the most heart-wrenching decision of her to accept the woman who wants to adopt her, or to return to the mother who once abandoned her.
Abandoned. That’s how Ronnie Hartman feels after her mother and Kenny, her mom’s good-for-nothing boyfriend, move to Alaska, bringing Ronnie’s two younger brothers with them and leaving her behind. Now thirteen years old, Ronnie has been "returned" from multiple foster homes because of her impulsive lying and stealing. Her latest foster mom, Alison, is Ronnie’s very last chance—if she doesn’t want to end up in some awful residential treatment center.
Meanwhile, Ronnie wants more than anything to fit in with the popular crowd, especially with the beautiful (but stuck-up) Paige. But when Ronnie betrays her only friend, a chubby outcast named Cat, she begins a pattern of deception that can only end in disaster. As Ronnie struggles to define herself, an important letter will present her with the most heart-wrenching decision of her to accept the woman who wants to adopt her, or to return to the mother who once abandoned her.
229 pages, Hardcover
First published October 28, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
June 18, 2015
Grade: C
Abandoned by her mother, thirteen-year-old Ronnie has been in over ten foster homes. Now her foster mother, Allison wants to adopt her. Being adopted means giving up hopes of being reunited with her mother and two brothers (who weren't abandoned). She's also dealing with friend drama. Desperate to be popular, Ronnie is unkind to Cat, her only real friend, to please the mean girls.
Pamela Lowell works with foster kids as a therapist, and I couldn't help but to wonder if she created Allison, also a therapist, after herself. While Allison wasn't perfect, she was pretty darn close. I'm also a therapist and I've worked with foster kids and I thought Lowell did a pretty good job with Ronnie's character. For a good part of the book, Ronnie was unlivable, destructive and selfish, often cringe worthy. While her behavior was typical and understandable, it made her difficult to embrace. The worst part for me was her treatment if Cat.
Told in epistolary form of journal entries, I never got the feeling I was reading young a teen's diary. The style was more of an adult, not really trying to sound like a teen, but trying to write for a teen. The dialogue also felt written rather than organic.
Lowell included a fair amount of christianity in the book, though she tried to tamper it down with a down to earth youth pastor and having Allison not be a church goer. A lot of my clients would be turned off by this, though some would appreciate this aspect.
Themes: family, foster care, adoption, substance abuse, promiscuity, religion
RETURNABLE GIRL lacked connection and felt "off", but might appeal to a select group of teens, but I don't think it has universal appeal.
Abandoned by her mother, thirteen-year-old Ronnie has been in over ten foster homes. Now her foster mother, Allison wants to adopt her. Being adopted means giving up hopes of being reunited with her mother and two brothers (who weren't abandoned). She's also dealing with friend drama. Desperate to be popular, Ronnie is unkind to Cat, her only real friend, to please the mean girls.
Pamela Lowell works with foster kids as a therapist, and I couldn't help but to wonder if she created Allison, also a therapist, after herself. While Allison wasn't perfect, she was pretty darn close. I'm also a therapist and I've worked with foster kids and I thought Lowell did a pretty good job with Ronnie's character. For a good part of the book, Ronnie was unlivable, destructive and selfish, often cringe worthy. While her behavior was typical and understandable, it made her difficult to embrace. The worst part for me was her treatment if Cat.
Told in epistolary form of journal entries, I never got the feeling I was reading young a teen's diary. The style was more of an adult, not really trying to sound like a teen, but trying to write for a teen. The dialogue also felt written rather than organic.
Lowell included a fair amount of christianity in the book, though she tried to tamper it down with a down to earth youth pastor and having Allison not be a church goer. A lot of my clients would be turned off by this, though some would appreciate this aspect.
Themes: family, foster care, adoption, substance abuse, promiscuity, religion
RETURNABLE GIRL lacked connection and felt "off", but might appeal to a select group of teens, but I don't think it has universal appeal.
September 16, 2018
While I enjoyed the book, it was extreme and the events were unrealistic. Roonie is in eighth grade. The complexity of the dilemmas and the maturity of the situations is shocking and not at all for that age level. The bullying, occasional violence, alcohol, and mature topics brought up are more like 11th or 12th grade. Some of the scenes were uncomfortable even for me. Other than the unrealistic maturity and conflict, I did enjoy the book! I think that the key to loving this book is to not overthink it. I would re-read this book, and I actually do recommend it, but be prepared for the extremity. Read more of my review at http://pagesforthoughts.blogspot.com/...
June 14, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this book. The story was very touching. It’s about a girl whose mom was a drug attic and left her with her little brothers and new husband. She was very hurt and started being very bad. She would steal all the time and lie. She wouldn’t just steal from a store, but she stole money out of people’s purses and things out of their houses and what not. I guess that’s how she dealt with the pain of her mom leaving her. Since nobody wanted to deal with her, she was always being sent to different foster homes, which hurts her even more. One lady actually saw her potential and in the end, got her to change and actually adopted her. This book has a positive impact on its audience in a sense that it teaches that not everyone is the same, negative situations shouldn’t being you down, and good actions equal good rewards. It will have a lasting value to anyone who reads it.
This book teaches that not everyone is the same. The girl treated every foster parent that took her in badly because she knew they were going to give her away. She actually just stopped caring because she was so hurt for so long. Even though her new foster mom that she knew during the course of the book was different, she treated her bad because she thought that “she was going to leave [her] just like all the other foster moms did.” She continued to lie and steal because she “knew what to expect.” Luckily, the newest foster mom actually cared but the girl didn’t realize till the end of the story.
This book also teaches not to let negative situations bring you down. She let the past dictate how she acted in the future. Because she was so hurt at the fact that her mom left her, she channeled the negative energy into being bad and disrespecting the people who actually wanted to care for her. The people at the agency didn’t even want to deal with her and always gave funny looks and asked “are you sure” when the lady wanted to get the papers for adoption. If she actually decided to be good and respectful, she probably wouldn’t have been tossed around to different foster homes. If that was the case, this wouldn’t be a book though. When you let negative things affect you, you only get negative results.
Another thing this book teaches is that if you do good things, you’ll get a good reward. Even though she spent the whole story being bad, she finally decided to change in the end. Her newest foster mom actually cared for her but the girl couldn’t tell because she was so used to people treating her bad. In the end she started to realize that the foster mother actually cared. As a result she stopped stealing, and started telling the truth, even if the truth was hard to admit. Finally she got to hear the words “I want to adopt you.” She was very excited and the story ended happily.
All girls should read this book. It’s very touching and teaches good life lessons. Just because one person won’t accept you, doesn’t mean another one can’t. I really enjoyed this book and I know a lot of other people will too.
This book teaches that not everyone is the same. The girl treated every foster parent that took her in badly because she knew they were going to give her away. She actually just stopped caring because she was so hurt for so long. Even though her new foster mom that she knew during the course of the book was different, she treated her bad because she thought that “she was going to leave [her] just like all the other foster moms did.” She continued to lie and steal because she “knew what to expect.” Luckily, the newest foster mom actually cared but the girl didn’t realize till the end of the story.
This book also teaches not to let negative situations bring you down. She let the past dictate how she acted in the future. Because she was so hurt at the fact that her mom left her, she channeled the negative energy into being bad and disrespecting the people who actually wanted to care for her. The people at the agency didn’t even want to deal with her and always gave funny looks and asked “are you sure” when the lady wanted to get the papers for adoption. If she actually decided to be good and respectful, she probably wouldn’t have been tossed around to different foster homes. If that was the case, this wouldn’t be a book though. When you let negative things affect you, you only get negative results.
Another thing this book teaches is that if you do good things, you’ll get a good reward. Even though she spent the whole story being bad, she finally decided to change in the end. Her newest foster mom actually cared for her but the girl couldn’t tell because she was so used to people treating her bad. In the end she started to realize that the foster mother actually cared. As a result she stopped stealing, and started telling the truth, even if the truth was hard to admit. Finally she got to hear the words “I want to adopt you.” She was very excited and the story ended happily.
All girls should read this book. It’s very touching and teaches good life lessons. Just because one person won’t accept you, doesn’t mean another one can’t. I really enjoyed this book and I know a lot of other people will too.
May 10, 2016
I was kinda surprised when I ended up enjoying this book as I did. I initially picked it up because I wanted an easy read with final exams coming up, but I was pleasantly surprised with the content. Ronnie has been in 9 foster homes (if you don't include her aunt and uncle) and she turns to Alison, a therapist who works with foster children. Although Ronnie had a lot of behavioral issues, they seem to subside pretty well through out the book. It may not be my absolute favorite epistolary novel, although I would recommend reading this book.
June 20, 2016
Beautifully sad
The author did an excellent job of describing the reasons behind some of the troubling behaviors of foster children. A must read for someone considering becoming a foster parent. This will give a non textbook explanation of a child's thought processes and reasoning. Not your usual flowery happily ever after.
The author did an excellent job of describing the reasons behind some of the troubling behaviors of foster children. A must read for someone considering becoming a foster parent. This will give a non textbook explanation of a child's thought processes and reasoning. Not your usual flowery happily ever after.
August 7, 2019
What a wonderful foster child story! The tone for Ronnie's age was nailed just right, she quickly shed her hostile and bratty stage, I loved her foster mom (and the side romance going on there, aw), and there was even a dog!
April 23, 2008
The cover is stupid. I hate the cover for damning the book, which was okay. I stayed outside the action the whole time, and never cared about the girl. But it may be easy for some to relate better.
August 27, 2017
Lowell's book seems to be a fairly accurate representation of the life of a thirteen year old who is living in the foster care system. If the story is a little less raw than I suspect it could be, I think the fact that this is a YA book aimed at middle and lower year high schoolers makes that an acceptable downfall. Written as a diary, the protagonist Veronica's voice is very real, her perceptions of the people and world around her seem psychologically age-appropriate, if at times maddening. The tied up in a package story telling will be comforting to middle-grade readers who will have trouble with a lot of the darker elements to this story. 3.5 stars.
October 28, 2019
Best book since War and Peace. Truly have never felt this before. The dynamic character development and appeal to pathos really stunned my inner Ronnie. This character is fun-loving, energetic, and devilish at times. She always keeps me on my toes. My friends and I rave about this coming of age story at all the book club meetings. Trust me on this. A glass of rose, a bubble bath and Olive Garden takeout makes the "Returnable Girl experience" one that I look forward to at the end of every day at work. Will pass this down to my children and their children. Will warn you that reader discretion is advised during the grinding scene and gun fight. (no spoilers)
August 27, 2017
Honestly, I fucking hated the main character AND the main character's mother. I COULD NOT STAND THEM, SO I TOOK A SEAT! the book itself was actually really good. 3/5.
February 10, 2019
surprisingly good for a "message" novel.
December 29, 2021
Unsure why so many of the reviews are saying the material is too “adult” for a 13 or 14 year old, since many of these issues are things they’ll deal with in their daily lives.
May 2, 2022
This was a good easy book to read and it was very relatable in some parts.
November 29, 2013
Veronica, or "Ronnie" as she is often called is a foster child who was abandoned by her mother who left on a lark to Alaska and managed to take her two younger brothers but left her with her aged uncle and his young girlfriend. She eventually found herself in the foster system bouncing from placement to placement so often that she never bothered to unpack her trash sack that she initially packed her stuff in.
As a last chance placement she is placed in the care of Alison, a therapist. She is friends with Cat- a girl who doesn't quite fit in. Ronnie yearns to be accepted by the popular crowd. She ends up turning against her friend Cat to edge her way into the in crowd. Her mom finally comes back on the scene just when Alison has decided to make Ronnie's placement permanent.
This story, told from Ronnie's point of view is a really good story that covers many pertinent issues that teenagers are faced with everyday: peer pressure, bullying, violence, abuse. It's handled quite well and the story is quite engaging and fast to read. All of the characters- while stereotypical- are based well in their stereotypes so they hold truth of character and could be found in any junior high school in the country which would make this book relate-able to teens of that age. Veronica, or "Ronnie" as she is often called is a foster child who was abandoned by her mother who left on a lark to Alaska and managed to take her two younger brothers but left her with her aged uncle and his young girlfriend. She eventually found herself in the foster system bouncing from placement to placement so often that she never bothered to unpack her trash sack that she initially packed her stuff in.
As a last chance placement she is placed in the care of Alison, a therapist. She is friends with Cat- a girl who doesn't quite fit in. Ronnie yearns to be accepted by the popular crowd. She ends up turning against her friend Cat to edge her way into the in crowd. Her mom finally comes back on the scene just when Alison has decided to make Ronnie's placement permanent.
This story, told from Ronnie's point of view is a really good story that covers many pertinent issues that teenagers are faced with everyday: peer pressure, bullying, violence, abuse. It's handled quite well and the story is quite engaging and fast to read. All of the characters- while stereotypical- are based well in their stereotypes so they hold truth of character and could be found in any junior high school in the country which would make this book relate-able to teens of that age. Veronica, or "Ronnie" as she is often called is a foster child who was abandoned by her mother who left on a lark to Alaska and managed to take her two younger brothers but left her with her aged uncle and his young girlfriend. She eventually found herself in the foster system bouncing from placement to placement so often that she never bothered to unpack her trash sack that she initially packed her stuff in.
As a last chance placement she is placed in the care of Alison, a therapist. She is friends with Cat- a girl who doesn't quite fit in. Ronnie yearns to be accepted by the popular crowd. She ends up turning against her friend Cat to edge her way into the in crowd. Her mom finally comes back on the scene just when Alison has decided to make Ronnie's placement permanent.
This story, told from Ronnie's point of view is a really good story that covers many pertinent issues that teenagers are faced with everyday: peer pressure, bullying, violence, abuse. All of the characters- while stereotypical- are based well in their stereotypes so they hold truth of character and could be found in any junior high school in the country which would make this book relate-able to teens of that age. It's handled quite well and the story is quite engaging and fast to read. While it's slightly predictable in nature- I still think that this is a good read.
As a last chance placement she is placed in the care of Alison, a therapist. She is friends with Cat- a girl who doesn't quite fit in. Ronnie yearns to be accepted by the popular crowd. She ends up turning against her friend Cat to edge her way into the in crowd. Her mom finally comes back on the scene just when Alison has decided to make Ronnie's placement permanent.
This story, told from Ronnie's point of view is a really good story that covers many pertinent issues that teenagers are faced with everyday: peer pressure, bullying, violence, abuse. It's handled quite well and the story is quite engaging and fast to read. All of the characters- while stereotypical- are based well in their stereotypes so they hold truth of character and could be found in any junior high school in the country which would make this book relate-able to teens of that age. Veronica, or "Ronnie" as she is often called is a foster child who was abandoned by her mother who left on a lark to Alaska and managed to take her two younger brothers but left her with her aged uncle and his young girlfriend. She eventually found herself in the foster system bouncing from placement to placement so often that she never bothered to unpack her trash sack that she initially packed her stuff in.
As a last chance placement she is placed in the care of Alison, a therapist. She is friends with Cat- a girl who doesn't quite fit in. Ronnie yearns to be accepted by the popular crowd. She ends up turning against her friend Cat to edge her way into the in crowd. Her mom finally comes back on the scene just when Alison has decided to make Ronnie's placement permanent.
This story, told from Ronnie's point of view is a really good story that covers many pertinent issues that teenagers are faced with everyday: peer pressure, bullying, violence, abuse. It's handled quite well and the story is quite engaging and fast to read. All of the characters- while stereotypical- are based well in their stereotypes so they hold truth of character and could be found in any junior high school in the country which would make this book relate-able to teens of that age. Veronica, or "Ronnie" as she is often called is a foster child who was abandoned by her mother who left on a lark to Alaska and managed to take her two younger brothers but left her with her aged uncle and his young girlfriend. She eventually found herself in the foster system bouncing from placement to placement so often that she never bothered to unpack her trash sack that she initially packed her stuff in.
As a last chance placement she is placed in the care of Alison, a therapist. She is friends with Cat- a girl who doesn't quite fit in. Ronnie yearns to be accepted by the popular crowd. She ends up turning against her friend Cat to edge her way into the in crowd. Her mom finally comes back on the scene just when Alison has decided to make Ronnie's placement permanent.
This story, told from Ronnie's point of view is a really good story that covers many pertinent issues that teenagers are faced with everyday: peer pressure, bullying, violence, abuse. All of the characters- while stereotypical- are based well in their stereotypes so they hold truth of character and could be found in any junior high school in the country which would make this book relate-able to teens of that age. It's handled quite well and the story is quite engaging and fast to read. While it's slightly predictable in nature- I still think that this is a good read.
January 13, 2008
I wanted to start this review by looking up the definition of the word Mother. There were multiple definitions, but the one that I liked best was "maternal tenderness or affection". Sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like if I had never had my children. I know that there are many people out there who would do anything to be able to have and/or raise a child, and others who try but somehow fail - this is one of those stories.
Meet Veronica Hartman. At 13 she has been in and out of 9 foster homes, 10 if you count the time she stayed with her Aunt and Uncle - that's where she went after her mother packed up her two brothers and fled for Alaska telling Ronnie "I need you to listen. We can't take you with us. There's not enough room." Shaken down to her very core, Ronnie has been trying everything in order to get reunited with her family. Riddled with behavioral problems from lying to stealing to anger issues, her case worker has turned to Alison as a last resort. Alison is a therapist and is willing to take Ronnie in and give her one last chance to prove that she can change her ways.
Although Ronnie and Alison have a rocky beginning, before long Ronnie seems to be making improvements not only in her behavior, but in her socialization skills as well. She is part of the "in" crowd at school - even though to get there she had to betray the only true friend she had made, someone who accepted her for herself, rather than try to mold her into someone they wanted her to be. And, even though her mother has suffered from drug and alcohol abuse in the past, it seems as if she may have finally gotten her life back on track and will be ready to have Ronnie come and stay with her. The only question is, is it too late?
Reading this book made me think of what it was like growing up. The teenage years are not a pleasant experience for anyone, at least that is what I believe. I can't imagine the additional struggles that are faced by children that are part of the "system". I loved the way the author delved into each character, and even though some of them seemed pretty rotten, she still let you see that there was good in each of them. I think this is very important - people normally don't do bad things on purpose, but are sometimes victims themselves. We should all try to remember that, before we judge others too quickly.
This is a great read for anyone, not just young adults. Thanks for allowing us the opportunity!
Questions for the author:
Do you have any children?
Yes, I have two teen boys. I love writing and working with girls because I grew up in a very "girl" oriented family with two sisters, no brothers, and only one male cousin--and 10 female cousins!
Now that I am the only "girl" in my house (even our dog is a male) I tell my family that I write about and work with girls to get my "girl fix"!
I see that you are a therapist. Have you ever taken in a foster child or did you rely on your experience to help define your characters?
I've never taken in a foster child. But I have worked with many wonderful foster kids and families and this experience allows me to feel very confident about character motivations and story lines. Some of the people I work with have these very incredible things happen to them--good and bad--but I think just listening to voices of teens every week helps to keep my character voices "real".
Meet Veronica Hartman. At 13 she has been in and out of 9 foster homes, 10 if you count the time she stayed with her Aunt and Uncle - that's where she went after her mother packed up her two brothers and fled for Alaska telling Ronnie "I need you to listen. We can't take you with us. There's not enough room." Shaken down to her very core, Ronnie has been trying everything in order to get reunited with her family. Riddled with behavioral problems from lying to stealing to anger issues, her case worker has turned to Alison as a last resort. Alison is a therapist and is willing to take Ronnie in and give her one last chance to prove that she can change her ways.
Although Ronnie and Alison have a rocky beginning, before long Ronnie seems to be making improvements not only in her behavior, but in her socialization skills as well. She is part of the "in" crowd at school - even though to get there she had to betray the only true friend she had made, someone who accepted her for herself, rather than try to mold her into someone they wanted her to be. And, even though her mother has suffered from drug and alcohol abuse in the past, it seems as if she may have finally gotten her life back on track and will be ready to have Ronnie come and stay with her. The only question is, is it too late?
Reading this book made me think of what it was like growing up. The teenage years are not a pleasant experience for anyone, at least that is what I believe. I can't imagine the additional struggles that are faced by children that are part of the "system". I loved the way the author delved into each character, and even though some of them seemed pretty rotten, she still let you see that there was good in each of them. I think this is very important - people normally don't do bad things on purpose, but are sometimes victims themselves. We should all try to remember that, before we judge others too quickly.
This is a great read for anyone, not just young adults. Thanks for allowing us the opportunity!
Questions for the author:
Do you have any children?
Yes, I have two teen boys. I love writing and working with girls because I grew up in a very "girl" oriented family with two sisters, no brothers, and only one male cousin--and 10 female cousins!
Now that I am the only "girl" in my house (even our dog is a male) I tell my family that I write about and work with girls to get my "girl fix"!
I see that you are a therapist. Have you ever taken in a foster child or did you rely on your experience to help define your characters?
I've never taken in a foster child. But I have worked with many wonderful foster kids and families and this experience allows me to feel very confident about character motivations and story lines. Some of the people I work with have these very incredible things happen to them--good and bad--but I think just listening to voices of teens every week helps to keep my character voices "real".
August 14, 2016
Summary:
Written as a series of journal pages, Ronnie describes being left by her mother with only some clothes. It seems that her mother, her mom's boyfriend, and her two brothers have moved to Alaska without her. This forces Ronnie into foster care. She's angry (understandable), so she lashes out. She's just trying to get all of these feelings out of her, but this ends up meaning that she is "returned" by several foster families. She's on her last shot. Her newest foster parent, Alison, is a therapist. Alison is Ronnie's last hope. If Alison returns her, then Ronnie will go to a treatment facility. While at Alison's house, she is starting to get a little bit better. She wants to be accepted by the popular crowd, and loses her only friend in the process. Also, she receives a letter from her biological mother and has to deal with the decision of staying with Alison or going to the mother that left her.
My thoughts:
I really liked Ronnie. There was something about her character that really pulled me in right from the beginning. Part of this was going into the story knowing a bit about the summary beforehand. Sometimes that ruins things for me, but this gave me some background to begin with. Since the story begins with Ronnie already with Alison, and then giving the reader the history, I felt like I was ahead of the game with knowing what happened to Ronnie. I went into the story already feeling sympathy for her. I wasn't happy with some of the choices that she made, which made some of the instances in the book tough to read (mostly because I wanted to redirect her), but I feel like she was very realistic. I know so many students that have dropped their best friends for those they thought were more popular. It breaks my heart because I'm always waiting for the fallout. Ronnie also has to deal with the idea of her biological mother. While I can understand the conflict, it is hard for me not to just scream to stay with Alison. Alison is obviously someone that cares for Ronnie deeply and has a profound impact on her, the woman that ran off to Alaska has no business trying to screw that up. However, I'm not Ronnie and don't have to make any of those choices. As you can see, I got into the novel. It's definitely worth reading. I would stick with older students, probably 8th grade and up. There is a good amount of bullying and violence within the novel that you may expect within this type of read.
Written as a series of journal pages, Ronnie describes being left by her mother with only some clothes. It seems that her mother, her mom's boyfriend, and her two brothers have moved to Alaska without her. This forces Ronnie into foster care. She's angry (understandable), so she lashes out. She's just trying to get all of these feelings out of her, but this ends up meaning that she is "returned" by several foster families. She's on her last shot. Her newest foster parent, Alison, is a therapist. Alison is Ronnie's last hope. If Alison returns her, then Ronnie will go to a treatment facility. While at Alison's house, she is starting to get a little bit better. She wants to be accepted by the popular crowd, and loses her only friend in the process. Also, she receives a letter from her biological mother and has to deal with the decision of staying with Alison or going to the mother that left her.
My thoughts:
I really liked Ronnie. There was something about her character that really pulled me in right from the beginning. Part of this was going into the story knowing a bit about the summary beforehand. Sometimes that ruins things for me, but this gave me some background to begin with. Since the story begins with Ronnie already with Alison, and then giving the reader the history, I felt like I was ahead of the game with knowing what happened to Ronnie. I went into the story already feeling sympathy for her. I wasn't happy with some of the choices that she made, which made some of the instances in the book tough to read (mostly because I wanted to redirect her), but I feel like she was very realistic. I know so many students that have dropped their best friends for those they thought were more popular. It breaks my heart because I'm always waiting for the fallout. Ronnie also has to deal with the idea of her biological mother. While I can understand the conflict, it is hard for me not to just scream to stay with Alison. Alison is obviously someone that cares for Ronnie deeply and has a profound impact on her, the woman that ran off to Alaska has no business trying to screw that up. However, I'm not Ronnie and don't have to make any of those choices. As you can see, I got into the novel. It's definitely worth reading. I would stick with older students, probably 8th grade and up. There is a good amount of bullying and violence within the novel that you may expect within this type of read.
July 9, 2014
Hard choices...
RETURNABLE GIRL is a novel written in epistolary form, as 13 year-old Veronica "Ronnie" tells us her story in journal entries. It always gives me a vicarious thrill to read books like these. It's like I'm sneaking a look at someone's diary.
This book is written in a knowledgeable voice about growing up as a foster child, shuffled from home to home, always wanting a permanent home. I really felt that the author has personal knowledge of this type of living environment (which as I later read the acknowledgements, it shows the author is a family therapist. Makes sense.)
The writing is clear, concise. The characters are well-defined and easy to visualize.
It was easy to emphasize with Ronnie, deserted by her mother and shuffled off to many relatives and foster homes over three years. Now she finds herself living with Alison and she's having to make many difficult choices - about friends, school, living arrangements.
The book is shown as a Young Adult book for Grades 8 on up. Do be warned there is some language and sexual situations that I would consider more appropriate for older teens.
Otherwise, I consider this to be an excellent book about foster children and some of the challenges they go through.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
RETURNABLE GIRL is a novel written in epistolary form, as 13 year-old Veronica "Ronnie" tells us her story in journal entries. It always gives me a vicarious thrill to read books like these. It's like I'm sneaking a look at someone's diary.
This book is written in a knowledgeable voice about growing up as a foster child, shuffled from home to home, always wanting a permanent home. I really felt that the author has personal knowledge of this type of living environment (which as I later read the acknowledgements, it shows the author is a family therapist. Makes sense.)
The writing is clear, concise. The characters are well-defined and easy to visualize.
It was easy to emphasize with Ronnie, deserted by her mother and shuffled off to many relatives and foster homes over three years. Now she finds herself living with Alison and she's having to make many difficult choices - about friends, school, living arrangements.
The book is shown as a Young Adult book for Grades 8 on up. Do be warned there is some language and sexual situations that I would consider more appropriate for older teens.
Otherwise, I consider this to be an excellent book about foster children and some of the challenges they go through.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 21, 2008
I picked this book up in the library with no expectations, but it was wonderful. Pamela Lowell did a wonderful job with Returnable Girl which was her first novel. I am planning on purchasing this book to be able to have it on my bookshelves for my classroom. I would recommenf this book to any student especially those who host foster children or have themselves been foster children. The characters in this novel were so realistic. The reader will definitely be able to feel true emotions because the stories were based off of true events that Lowell witnessed in her profession working with foster students. Depending on the class, I would consider requireing this text. More than likely, every student is one way or another involved with a person whose life has been affected by foster care. This is a wonderful book and I highly recoommend it. What I love about this book is not every characater has a happy ending. It is very realistic.
May 1, 2011
this is another great book! A young teenage girl who gets bounced around in the system is a foster child. She talks about her everyday life experiences she battles with, like being a junior high student that has all of her belongings in a black garbage bag and thats how she lives. To afraid to unpack because she never knows when she is leaving again. This story is very sad but it is great for people to read that have never been exposed to this type of trauma. I picked this book because I was a foster child up until I was eighteen years old. All the emotions, feelings and disconnected relationships Ronnie went through I can definately relate to. This is a great book to introduce to junior high. I would teach this book to my class. I gave this book five stars. I enjoyed it thoroughly!
July 10, 2007
Ronnie Hartman feels abandoned when her mother leaves her behind. She and her boyfriend move to Alaska with Ronnie's brothers, with Ronnie left to foster care. She's "returned" from home after home...until she meets Alison.
Alison, a therapist, has not given up on Ronnie, no matter how often she steals and lies. In fact, she wants to adopt Ronnie...but how would that fit in with Ronnie's dream of moving to Alaska to be with her mother?
At the same time, Ronnie is trying to fit in with the popular crowd, and sacrificing her friendship with Cat in order to make it to the top of the social ladder. But will it be worth it?
I read this book in one sitting, and I enjoyed it a lot. The author is also a social worker, and has a feel for the character and circumstances she is facing.
Alison, a therapist, has not given up on Ronnie, no matter how often she steals and lies. In fact, she wants to adopt Ronnie...but how would that fit in with Ronnie's dream of moving to Alaska to be with her mother?
At the same time, Ronnie is trying to fit in with the popular crowd, and sacrificing her friendship with Cat in order to make it to the top of the social ladder. But will it be worth it?
I read this book in one sitting, and I enjoyed it a lot. The author is also a social worker, and has a feel for the character and circumstances she is facing.
September 16, 2009
When I opened up to the first page of Returnable Girl, I was captivated by the very first sentence... The whole time that I was reading the book, I could not put it down for anything. I am the type of person who is in love with true stories. And even though this book isn't based on a true story, it is still based on real-life stuff. The book is filled with ups and downs of life from a 13 year-old girl's point of view. Not only does she have to face the harh reality of being a middle school kid who isn't very popular, but she ALSO has to worry about her being in foster care. I won't give away the good parts but trust me, if you have any taste in great novels, then read this book and be amazed.Enjoy.
June 8, 2012
Ronnie Hartmann's mother remembers the day her mother abandoned her. She was 11. Now at fourteen Ronnie is in her umpteenth foster placement and must make a choice: agree to being adopted or trust her mother's promise that Ronnie will be able to come home someday. After she gets sober. Secures a job. Finds a place where they all can live....
Ronnie's friendship with a social outcast becomes a burden as the in-crowd invites her into the fold.Problem i, the price of admission is to join in the relentless bullying of her former friend. Ronnie finds herself torn. She knows what its like to be abused and to need a friend ad she knows what she ought to do.
Ronnie yearns to be accepted, to feel normal and to numb out the feeling of being rejected. How high a price will she pay for ir?
Ronnie's friendship with a social outcast becomes a burden as the in-crowd invites her into the fold.Problem i, the price of admission is to join in the relentless bullying of her former friend. Ronnie finds herself torn. She knows what its like to be abused and to need a friend ad she knows what she ought to do.
Ronnie yearns to be accepted, to feel normal and to numb out the feeling of being rejected. How high a price will she pay for ir?
November 21, 2014
This book is sad but good . I think teens should read this look and appreciate what they have because when I read I was grateful for everything I have . This book is about some girl named Ronnie she was a foster child she was always moved from foster home to foster home she gets on to a foster home and she doesn't unpack her stuff because she says she know she not going to be here. For long . She dream that her mom would take her out of foster care but her mom lies to her . She ends up in a good foster home and she even wants to get adopted , but then she finds out her foster mom was hiding letters from her that her mom send her . What you think Ronnie does go back home or stay in the foster home ?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2015
This book had really good parts and really bad parts that jumble together, making me unable to decide if it was a good or bad book. Overall, it was kind of freaky, but it almost made me cry at some parts. The main character, Veronica (A.K.A. Ronnie), matured and grew over the course of the book, turning from a lying, stealing child, into a young woman who could tell the truth, even in an extreme circumstance. There some parts that I found rather distasteful, like Ronnie’s friend, Cat, flashing someone, as well as some other things. But all in all it was a pretty good book—you could actually see the main character maturing and growing into someone better.
November 23, 2008
This story is about a girl that is 13, her mother abandoned her to go to Alaska with her good for nothing boyfriend! Her ma abandoned her when she was 10 in the last 3 years she has be adopted 10 times but nobody wanted her because she stole from them. Right now she has a foster mom that is very nice she has been with her foster mom for 3 months. Then they find another family but it is in her home town (where she got abandoned.) I this book i learned that just because someone that you think is or could be cool but not in till they stop being friends with someone else.
August 15, 2011
Three-and-half stars. A good, realistic look at the life of a foster girl. The book is about a girl whose mother abandons her before a move to Alaska with the rest of the family. Aside from the emotional trauma, no major other events have happened--in fact, the girl with the bigger problems lives with her mother a few houses away. I liked the fact that the main character is a good person--and we can see that from her internal struggles--rather than the one who is "broken". The book ends happily...a refreshing change. The book offers hope.
March 7, 2012
I wanted to like this - the general premise was good and interesting enough to keep me reading. I think my major issue was that it was sort of a soft version of a troubled teenager... The average teenager has a lot of rough edges, so I expect more from the story of a kid that has been through the foster care system and parental neglect. It strikes me that the author - who works in the field - wanted to orchestrate a happy ending for someone like the kids she works with. That's a nice idea too, but it didn't ring true.
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August 27, 2024What I thought of this book was that it was very interesting and kept me always wanting to read more. One thing that I liked about this book was that the girl is trying to make her life better before she moves to where her mom lives, and something that I didn't like about the book is that the lady that the main character is living with doesn't want her to leave to go live with her mom cause of the way her mom treated her when she was a little kid.
January 4, 2010
I thought that Ronny's life is very tragic. I don't think she should have depended on her mother to come back in her life. Although she did come and see her, she went back to Alaska. Kat is very promiscuous and she is a bad influence on Ronny's life(like she needs more of those). I thought Ronny should be more easy on her foster mother. she was trying her best to support Ronny.
January 18, 2010
This will resonate with a certain group. Ronnie's mother literally abandons her when she leaves with her violent boyfriend and Ronnie's younger brothers, "Just no space in the truck darling."
Ronnie works at being pretty darn unlovable in a series of homes until she finds unconditional love with Alison, who really has to prove how resilient she can be.
Ronnie works at being pretty darn unlovable in a series of homes until she finds unconditional love with Alison, who really has to prove how resilient she can be.
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