Get Happy discussion

Family secrets and pain is what the main character, Minerva, is dealing with after her sixteenth birthday. Get Happy, written by Mary Amato is a novel that tells the story of a teen who deals with the journey of getting to know her father. Minerva, the main character, is dreadfully in love with the music of a ukulele and is infatuated to learn more about playing the instrument. This novel takes place in many places in the state of Illinois as Minerva molds herself into a level headed young lady.

Minerva is a insecure, and sarcastic teenager that resents her father for not being in her life. She was put under the impression that he abandoned her. All of her life, Minerva’s mother speaks of him badly or doesn’t speak of him at all. Her mother portrays herself a strong single parent doing everything without the help of anyone. When really, Minerva’s father has been trying to get in touch with his daughter for years. When Minerva gets a letter from her father in the mail, along with a present she is angry but she also doesn’t know what to do. Eventually, she takes the steps of getting to know her father and finds out more than she bare. Will Minerva keep a relationship with her father?

Even though she’s going through more than a lot of stress , Finnegan , her best friend, encourages her to get a job at a birthday party company, Finnegan is the complete opposite of Minerva because he is more silly, goofy, and honest. At her new job she meets Hayes , and he shows her the brighter side of life. This story has a bit of romance because he shows her the many ways of how to “Get Happy”. With the help of having her own money, Minerva is able to save her compensations for a ukulele.

I think this book was amazing. If you are interested in family fiction and teenage fiction, this book is perfect for you. I rate this book four stars because the the many exciting moments with her friends and also the conflict she struggles with her parents that makes you relate.