Title: LushAuthor: Natasha Friend
Publish Date: November 2006
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Pages: 192pp
IBSN: 043985346X
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range: 13 and up
Price: $16.99
Amazon: $8.99
Annotation: Samantha is thirteen years old and navigating her way through junior high while keeping her alcoholic father a secret.
Summary: Thirteen-year-old Samantha is carrying a big emotional secret: her father is an alcoholic. She wants to reach out to someone, yet she doesn’t want anyone to know her secret. Desperate for help, Sam decides to write a letter to unknown person she finds finds at the public library she frequents. When her father’s drinking gets worse, Sam finds herself in a bad situation and nearly gets taken advantage of. She discovers her mysterious pen pal from the public library and ends up coming clean to her friends, who support her.
Evaluation: A compelling read that details the emotional struggle of a girl dealing with her father's drinking problem. I think this is an excellent book for anyone going through a similar problem as well as friends of anyone going through a similar problem as it provides some insight and awareness on the pain alcoholism causes. Additionally, the story moves quickly, which makes this a good read for reluctant readers.
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness:
- Growing up with an alcoholic parent.
- Embarrassed for people to know your home life.
- Being desperate for help.
- Getting bullied.
- Ignoring a problem, even when it doesn't go away.
Reason this book was chosen: I originally grabbed this book because of the delicate subject matter of growing up with an alcoholic parent. In addition to the subject matter, I came across several reviews, all of which had good things to say and many of them insisting people to read. The book is very short, only 192 pages and moves quickly, while incorporating many crucial issues.
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Author Website: Click HERE
Awards:
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers, 2007
International Reading Association Young Adult Choices, 2008
