Han Nolan

Reading the back cover that says this is a story about a girl whose father "melts" according to her grandmother, a psychic, I read it assuming/hoping that it was a fantasy, where people really do melt and disappear, only to reappear in some alternate reality. Alas, the book is realistic fiction. And interesting as such, but I was a bit disappointed. Admittedly it deals with dysfunctional families and resulting mental illness and has important messages to share. But no one actually melted.

At one point, Miracle's grandmother talks about book knowledge: "Reading all the time locks up your brain so you're always thinking one way, and that way is never your own way. You understand me, sugar? It keeps you from perceiving and intuiting things. If you want to know something, you don't go look it up in a book. You put your question out there, out into the universe, and then you wait, and sure enough the information comes to you." [p. 43] I disagree.… (more)

Eleanor is stubborn. She makes decisions based on the opposite of what she'd been told to do. She's tired of being told what to do, but she's not sure what she wants. She's only 16, and she'd pregnant.

I only started this book because I am on the Gateway nominee committee. After 20 minutes of reading, I was hooked. Good thing it was a slow day in the library--every spare minute I had, I was reading. Before the end of the day I was more than halfway finished. Fortunately, I also teach reading and got to finish it this morning. I did cry, but didn't feel manipulated in to crying. After listening to me talk about it, there is now a long reserve list for it!… (more)