Like a Sister

by Janice Daugharty

It is 1956, and thirteeen-year-old Sister must raise her three siblings on her own, as her mother, Marnie, has a new boyfriend who isn't interested in kids.  Taking charge of her life, Sister befriends  a kindly neighbor named Willa, who appears to be everything a mother should be.  But when a respected and powerful man in town notices that Sister is blossoming -- unsupervised -- into quite a young woman, trouble starts to brew.  Willa soon steps in to intervene, and Sister thinks she may have found salvation. But within the pages of Like a Sister, things are never what they seem.


Depicting a vulnerable, heartbreaking, and richly Southern world, Like a Sister allows readers to gaze through the eyes of a young whom they will not soon forget.

Genres: Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Back on Goodreads and back to writing, and hopefully publishing.
I need my fans, old and new, to boost my confidence, as I start over again.
The reason for my long absence can be chalked up to...well, life!
I have a large family and most live on our property, in South Georgia, Cow Creek Farm. No, we don't farm, and no, we no longer have cows. The name is derived from a creek called "Cow" that flows through our property.
OK, enough about me. I want to hear about you--what you're reading, maybe writing. Or just what you are doing nowadays.
Love, Janice

Reviews

[Maryann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very gritty story; well-told. The problem for me is that it left me feeling very sad because the reality is that these types of situations are real.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was recommended to me by a reader of my blog and I'm so glad I tracked down a copy. It's beautifully written, very simple prose, but with some gorgeous descriptive flourishes. Thirteen year old Sister has been deprived of a proper childhood and clings to the relationships she is familiar with, despite the fact that they are destroying her. It's very truthful; sometimes we love people who don't deserve it. I really felt for Sister and cared about her deeply - for an author to conjure from words, a person who lives and breathes for you on the page, is a sign of good writing. Janice Daugharty is obviously a skilled writer and I hope to come across more of her work.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't too fond of the vague imagery at the beginning and the clipped, half thought-out descriptions, but the time and place and circumstances grew on me. Daugharty is a cleverly patient story teller and Sister is as real as it gets.

[Madi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.8

[Jennifer Shortsleeve liles · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story actually deserves a 4, but the writing style is getting only a 2. This could have been a little more detailed and a little less choppy. Great concept.

[Susan O'Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't start this novel unless you are willing to give up hours and hours.. Once you start, you won't be able to put it down until the last word is read.. Then read "pawpaw patch" and "heir to the everlasting." you will be hooked on this author's insights and characters.

[Charity · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sad and beautiful story of a small-town Southern girl overcoming abuse and neglect.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author. It is beautifully written story about a young teenage girl, who takes care of her younger twin brothers and baby sister.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gritty and fascinating. I was hooked on every word, but went away feeling depressed.

[Janeene · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars - better than ok but hard to say I liked it - made me feel like I was reading about a DFS family

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

50 pages in and I had to stop. I just couldn't get into it. The writing was confusing me. I gave up!

[Pjbookhoarder · Rating 4 out of 5]

13 year old girl, coming of age story, neglect, poverty, transient,