Say the Word

Complex, realistic, surprising. Shawna and all the supporting characters feel so real to me. The ending left me in conflicted tears.

[...] Bloomsbury U.S.A. Childrens' Books, New York, New York, 2009 Jeanine Garsee deftly captures the chaotic emotional state of young adulthood in a fast-paced, well plotted novel which deeply and respectfully explores the multi-level compromises and betrayals that are a part of growing up. Old enough to understand that parents are fallible, but young enough to want and need the approval of her rigid, possessive, busy father, 17 year old Shawna is adept at projecting a competent "good girl" image, no matter how she may feel inside. When her estranged mother Penny dies, Shawna is beset with complicated questions about identity, sexuality, friendship, parental expectations, internalization of parental expectations, and the elements that make people "family". After Shawna's parents' divorce years earlier, Penny left for New York to follow her heart, both romantically, establishing a family of her own with her lover Fran, and by pursuing a career in art. Penny's unexpected death reveals that Fran and her two sons, with whom Shawna has a strained - at best - relationship, knew Shawna's mother far better than she did. Yet when her father tries to strip Fran of everything she had with Penny, Shawna feels compelled to object - and rebel. At the same time, she's dealing with the fallout of her mother's death at school, her longing for the wrong boy, and the disintegration of her relationship with her best friend. The resolution of these issues, some at a high cost to Shawna, ironically free her to be the best person she can - the goal she's been pursuing all along. The matter of fact portrayal of life and personal relationships with gay family and friends move this novel into a second level of young adult literature, in the context of an enchanting (but never romanticized) young woman's coming of age. [...]

Rating: 4.6/5 Age R: 15+ Release Date: March 17, 2009 Thoughts: Shawna is a seventeen year old girl, but not your average one. Her mother walked out on her and her father to live with her lover. Now Shawna is stuck with her successful doctor father who is a major control freak. But he's her dad, she has to do what he says. If he says "You can't date that boy" then she doesn't. If he says "Shut up" she shuts up. That's just the way it is. Her father resents her for not being the son he always wanted. She's basically just a burden. Shawna finds herself spending time with Fran and her two sons, Arye and Shmule. Her father hates Fran because to him she took his wife away so for that reason he wants Shawna as far away from those people as possible. Unfortunately, Shawna can't seem to stay away and that's not her only problem. They guy she has a huge crush on might actually like her which springs up quite a few issues and then there's her best friend. Will she leave her too? Just like her mom and ex-best friend? Oh wow, what a great read. I fell in love with this book. It's one of those books I'm definitely going to re-read. Honestly, the story is not super amazing but the writing and all those topics touched in the book made me love it. After reading it I was left with this feeling. I don't know how to explain it. It's just so great and satisfying. Once you read it, I hope you feel it too. :D Like I said, this is re-reading material. I am going to deeply miss these characters. Shawna has so many problems in her life it's insane. You really feel bad for the poor girl and you just want her to be happy. Sometimes though, you'll get mad at her for making stupid decisions and for not standing up for herself. In that, I thought she was pretty weak, but then I get to thinking, how would you act under the circumstances? It's pretty tough, her life. I did not like it when she said mean, inconsiderate things sometimes. I understand her mother left her and that's why she resents gay people to some extent but gosh! She could be very harsh. She thankfully learned her lesson by the end of the book. Shawna was also an extremely self centered person. It's not like she's the only one that has it tough you know? But that's what she thought. Again, thankfully she learns her lesson. I really liked going through this crazy journey alongside Shawna. Sure, sometimes I was like "WTFruit is wrong with you?" because of one of the characters but it still didn't make me hate this book. I also had an issue with the main romance in the story. It kind of seem like it came out of nowhere. I ended up liking it though so sue me. Writing: Gosh the writing is friggin' amazing! I cannot stress how f-ing amazing it is. I LOVE it. That and the VERY unique story (not even the character names are your average names) makes for a really, really great read. Ending: I hated the ending. I still HIGHLY recommend this book. It's really good. Trust me. Go read it. Now. :) Quote/s: "I take a

Shawna Gallagher has the perfect life, well she tries to anyways. Then she gets a call from Fran. The women that her mother left her for, ten years ago. It turns out that Shawna's mom has had a stroke and is dying. She takes the first possible flight from Cleveland to New York to see the women that abandoned her, when she was seven. By the others choices and the past, Shawna has to find the difference between being perfect and making the overall right choice. I really liked Garsee's first novel, Before, After and Somebody in Between. So when I heard about Say the Word coming out, I had to read it. I loved Shawna, she was so real and had so much to deal with. I liked her relationship with LeeLee and how when they fought. Also how realistically, they became friends again. I also loved that Say the Word was more about family and friendship, then love. Dr. Gallagher also became one of my least favorite characters ever, and I felt sorry for Shawna having to deal with him. I highly suggest this book, Garsee is definitely an author to watch.

SAY THE WORD JEANNINE GARSEE YA Contemporary Bloomsbury Rating: 4.5 Enchantments Seventeen-year-old Shawna Gallagher is the perfect daughter and student. She follows her father's every rule. Then one day a phone call from her mother's partner, shatters her perfect world. Shawna doesn't know how to separate the anger of her mother's abandonment to live with her lesbian partner Fran and the grief of her mother's sudden death. Then her father's controlling and decisions hurt everyone, including the family of Fran. Shawna is not sure how to react especially when she wonders how Fran's sons fit into the picture. Sometimes being perfect isn't the same as doing what's right. I really enjoyed this tale. At first I was angry on what happened to Fran and her sons after the death of her partner. How can the laws not help gay partners? Shawna's grief was very realistic as was her peers tormenting her on catching gayness from her mother. I loved watching Shawna's growth throughout the book. Garsee does a wonderful job showing a teen conflicted with a difficult situation and how she draws strength from within. This is a must read book especially on showing how a not typical family survives difficult times. Jeannine Garsee is the author of BEFORE, AFTER, AND SOMEBODY IN BETWEEN. She works as a psychiatric nurse in an inner-city hospital and lives with her family in a southwest suburb of Cleveland. Find out more on her website www.jeanninegarsee.com Kim Enchanting Reviews April 09