(ARC Review) Miles From Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams

MILES FROM ORDINARY
Author: Carol Lynch Williams
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin; First Edition edition (March 15, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312555121
ISBN-13: 978-0312555122

SUMMARY:

Thirteen-year-old Lacey wakes to a beautiful summer morning excited to begin her new job at the library, just as her mother is supposed to start work at the grocery store. Lacey hopes that her mother’s ghosts have finally been laid to rest; after all, she seems so much better these days, and they really do need the money. But as the hours tick by and memories come flooding back, a day full of hope spins terrifyingly out of control….

“No one can get inside the head and heart of a 13-year-old girl better than Carol Lynch Williams, and I mean no one,” said James S. Jacobs, Professor of Children’s Literature at Brigham Young University, of her breakout novel, The Chosen One. Now this award-winning YA author brings us an equally gripping story of a girl who loves her mother, but must face the truth of what life with that mother means for both of them.


MY THOUGHTS:

After reading the summary on this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  What was Lacey’s Mother recovering from and what is Lacey worried about?  Yet, as I read the book, I didn’t worry about the reason so much and just enjoyed the writing that the author was telling.

Lacey is worried about starting her first day as a volunteer at the library.  Her mother is also starting her first day of work at the local grocery store as a checker.  As you read the book, you can feel the intensity of worry and anticipation from both of the characters.  You actually feel the pain that both characters are going through because of the beautiful way the author wrote the book.

At first I was a little confused about Granddaddy.  I wasn’t sure if he was a figment of the imagination or if he was a ghost that was haunting them.  What is great about the writing is even if you are wondering these things, you don’t really try to work them out in your head.  You just simply accept what is written and keep going through the angst, drama, hope and love.

If you are looking for a book that will capture your interest, even without you realizing it,  then this is the book.  A great look into the world of mental illness and the effects that it can have on a family.  Beautiful writing that will capture you from the first page up until the end.

MY RATING: