Briana's Gift 
asked by alexis on November 18, 2006 12:59 PM
Thirteen-year-old Casey's mother always said that Casey's sixteen-year-old sister marched to the beat of a different drummer. But it isn't until Briana runs away with an older boy that Casey begins to understand what her mother meant. When Briana returns home alone and pregnant, Casey and her mother try to help Briana come to terms with her options.
It was already complicated to think about Briana's choices and then things change suddenly again. When Briana is in a serious accident, Casey's mother sees things one way. Although Casey understands her mother's reaction, she feels she must try to convince her mother to make a different decision. Casey needs to grow up fast and do what she can to maintain Briana's legacy. Will she be able to make her mother understand that there is only one way to accept Briana's gift?
It was already complicated to think about Briana's choices and then things change suddenly again. When Briana is in a serious accident, Casey's mother sees things one way. Although Casey understands her mother's reaction, she feels she must try to convince her mother to make a different decision. Casey needs to grow up fast and do what she can to maintain Briana's legacy. Will she be able to make her mother understand that there is only one way to accept Briana's gift?
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Thirteen-year-old Susanna (Sissy to her family) hasn't had much luck with the month of December. When she was six, her dad died in a horrible accident at work. At eight, her mother was diagnosed with a debilitating arthritis. And most recently, her spirited older sister, Briana, decides to run off to Los Angeles with her boyfriend. So this year's December is a depressing one as well. Briana sends postcards at first, but all too soon, there's no word at all. Sissy depends on her best friends, Melody and Stu, to help her through the lonely days of missing her sister, and practicing her flute helps pass the time as well. Somehow, life goes on.
Then, just before school starts the following year, Briana shows up at the front door asking to come home. But she's not alone --- she's pregnant. Briana's boyfriend is long gone, and she's better off without him; she absolutely refuses to find him for child support. Briana is determined to make a good life for her baby, and soon gets a cashier job at Wal-mart, saving up for everything her baby will need.
Sissy's so ecstatic with her sister home, and she's really looking forward to becoming an aunt. Her relationship with Briana has grown some as well. Instead of tagging around after Briana, admiring her from her little sister status, they are more like friends, pouring over baby books and following the baby's progress together. Sissy even volunteers to redecorate the new nursery, painting the walls lilac with green trim, and she loves to play her flute for the unborn baby.
But without warning, Briana falls deathly ill, and Sissy and her mom are faced with some impossible decisions. To make life more complicated and confusing, Sissy's friendships with Melody and Stu are changing; Melody seems distant, and Sissy finds she's seeing Stu in a different way, in a "guy-type" way. She wishes their friendship could return to normal, but deep down, she knows it will never be the same. This year's December approaches with even more sadness and despair than ever...and with one of the greatest gifts ever offered.
Author Ms. Lurlene McDaniel has written quite a few novels for young people including THE ANGELS IN PINK trilogy and LETTING GO OF LISA. As with her other stories, BRIANA'S GIFT centers around serious life changing events that really hit the heart hard. Ms. McDaniel's characters are as life-like as her plots, and her storylines keep the pages turning. Another winner from this talented author!
--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of Finding My Light and The Black Pond
---Courtesy of Teenreads.com
Then, just before school starts the following year, Briana shows up at the front door asking to come home. But she's not alone --- she's pregnant. Briana's boyfriend is long gone, and she's better off without him; she absolutely refuses to find him for child support. Briana is determined to make a good life for her baby, and soon gets a cashier job at Wal-mart, saving up for everything her baby will need.
Sissy's so ecstatic with her sister home, and she's really looking forward to becoming an aunt. Her relationship with Briana has grown some as well. Instead of tagging around after Briana, admiring her from her little sister status, they are more like friends, pouring over baby books and following the baby's progress together. Sissy even volunteers to redecorate the new nursery, painting the walls lilac with green trim, and she loves to play her flute for the unborn baby.
But without warning, Briana falls deathly ill, and Sissy and her mom are faced with some impossible decisions. To make life more complicated and confusing, Sissy's friendships with Melody and Stu are changing; Melody seems distant, and Sissy finds she's seeing Stu in a different way, in a "guy-type" way. She wishes their friendship could return to normal, but deep down, she knows it will never be the same. This year's December approaches with even more sadness and despair than ever...and with one of the greatest gifts ever offered.
Author Ms. Lurlene McDaniel has written quite a few novels for young people including THE ANGELS IN PINK trilogy and LETTING GO OF LISA. As with her other stories, BRIANA'S GIFT centers around serious life changing events that really hit the heart hard. Ms. McDaniel's characters are as life-like as her plots, and her storylines keep the pages turning. Another winner from this talented author!
--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of Finding My Light and The Black Pond
---Courtesy of Teenreads.com
reviewed by vern on November 29, 2006 2:13 PM