Sign Language By Amy Ackley

Sign Language by Amy Ackley

published by Viking Juvenile
pages- 336
release date- August 18, 2011
Genre- Realistic Fiction
(shelfari) (amazon) (goodreads)
rating 5

from goodreads-
Twelve-year-old Abby North's first hint that something is really wrong with her dad is how long it's taking him to recover from what she thought was routine surgery. Soon, the thing she calls "It" has a real name: cancer. Before, her biggest concerns were her annoying brother, the crush unaware of her existence, and her changing feelings for her best friend, Spence, the boy across the street. Now, her mother cries in the shower, her father is exhausted, and nothing is normal anymore.

I wasn't sure what to expect going into Sign Language, I'm not really one for those gritty "real world" novels, but sign language was definitely not what I expected it to be. Grief is a hard subject to talk about and it certainly must be a tough one to write about. Everyone grieves in a different way, and it amazes me that something that almost all people have in common*, can be so vastly different between all people. In Sign Language we got Abby's unique view in the years before and after her fathers death.

I liked the time span that the book took place in (about 4 years), life is not something that you can rush through. Ackley did an amazing job of changing Abby as she grew up, but still keeping her true to her character. Its an amazing realistic fiction story, and stayed 'realistic' the entire time, without anything to rushed or emphasized. It was beautifully written, and the characters were some of the most identifiable I've read. After a long span of adventure and paranormals, sign language was a breath of fresh air.

I also liked how there were other things going on, not just the whole cancer thing, it was enough to keep the book not completely depressing, and again true to life.

I absolutely completely whole heartedly adored Spencer. His wonderful positive personality, despite the hardships and loneliness that he had growing up. He was the perfect friend to Abby, and I wish I had someone like that in my life.

I think that Sign Language is a book that everyone will identify with, nomatter there personal experiences, and it was -just in general- a great read. Praise to Amy Ackley for her magnificant debut and I look forward to her books of the future!

keep calm and carry on,

Dana

*once, as a poll in my sophomore year health class, my teacher had asked everyone in the class to raise their hand if they had lost someone that they loved dearly, not necessarily a family member, and not a family member that you had no attachments to, but someone you loved. about 60% of the people I'm my class raised their hands.

Review: The summer I learned to fly by Dana Reinhardt

The Summer I learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt
Published by Wendy lamb Books
216 pages
genera- Realistic Fiction
(shelfari) (goodreads)  (amazon)
Rating- 4

It's the summer before eighth grade and Drew Robin Solo has been filling her days with work at her mothers cheese shop, playing with her pet rat, Humboldt fog, and analysing a book of lists that her father wrote before he died. Other then that, and talking to nick, the beautiful 19 year old surfer boy who works at the shop with drew, there's not much to do. That is until she meets a strange boy named Emmett Crane, one night in the ally behind the cheese shop. Hes mysterious and different and loves rats, and strangely He likes her too. It begins to be the first real friendship Drew's ever had. perfect timing too, for while Drew's life is beginning to spiral into strange and different directions, Emmet is the one person she feels comfortable with, if only he would be honest to her in return and tell her the truth about himself.

The summer I learned to fly was so sweet and innocent I fell in love with it right away! Reinhardt's voice was light and cute, but there were still the undertones of deep subjects. Humboldt fog reminded me a lot of my late rat Oliver. I thought he went perfectly with the story, of course the irony of her owning a rat and a cheese shop, but also Drew just seems like a rat person you know? lol. Emmett was awesome, I think I'll name one of my future children Emmett in honor of him. (and all the other awesome Emmett's out there!)

There were many parts where I laughed. One part where I cried. I felt incredibly happy on one page, and morose on the next. Reinhardt is superior at bringing things all over the board then having them hit their exact mark. I'm not sure how classics are made, but I would not be surprised if some day my kid has to read this for school. The summer I learned to fly seems somehow ageless, and young at the same time. It reminds me a bit of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, both personal favorites of mine, and although I usually find "coming of age" stories annoying. This is one that I would read again

Recommended?: Hell yes.

Happy day, (Enjoy your last weekend school free!)
Dana