Citation: Welch, Diane Welch,Liz Welch Amanda Welch Dan The Kids Are All Right Crown Publishing Group2009 Genre: Memoir, Coming of Age, Edgy/Realistic,Alex Award winner
Annotation:
Told in the alternating voices of 4 siblings this memoir is a riveting account of how life can quickly unravel but still be put back together again.
Justification for nomination:
The Welch children lived a fairly normal life in the suburbs of New York until the mysterious death of their handsome father started the downward spiral of their lives. Following closely after their father's death was the cancer diagnosis of their soap opera star mother. She tries to keep things in control, but is unable to get a handle on things. Add to that the cloud of bankruptcy d that is looming and the Welch children's lives began to slide
When their mother finally succumbs to the cancer 3 years later, Amanda was 19 and legally on her own, but the three younger children; Liz 16, Dan 14 and Diana 8 were in need of guardians. They are farmed out to different family friends.
Amanda headed for college in New York and continued her spire into drugs. Liz lived with a family she babysat for until graduation from High School when she took a job as a nanny in Norway to get away from the partying. Dan went from guardian to Boarding School and back again getting in trouble and more involved with drugs. Diana was given to a very strict and conservative family who wanted her to forget about her past life. As a means of doing so, Diana was subjected to physiological abuse from her guardians.
This is a story of survival and the unbreakable bond these four siblings share. A true look at the real harshness of life and how even when you lose yourself it is always possible to come out on the other side.
A great crossover book for teens as well as adults. This book is about teens and what can happen when there is no adult in control. Instead of being a depressing book about death and loss, it is a book of sibling love and redemption.
No comments:
Post a Comment