Waiting to Disappear

I picked this up as a bargain for my 12-year-old, then finished it myself that day. While some characters fall into stock categories (looks and popularity-obsessed pretty girl, scruffy tomboy, burdened-but-valiant poor girl), they are well-drawn enough to come fully to life and even present a few surprises. The adults are similarly nuanced, flawed but appealing. The special beauty of the story is its realistic and sympathetic handling of the mother's mental illness: the roots of it, the paths to healing, the reactions of family, especially the 13-year-old main character's. Little touches, too, keep this far from formula, such as the father of the poor girl, who in other books would turn out to be an abuser, but here proves to be neither noble nor savage. A tiny quibble: in 1960, no one wore white lipstick (try mid-to-late 60s) or used Dippity-Do (invented in 1965)--nitpicking, I know, but annoying--and there are a couple of other anachronistic details. Here and there, plot twists feel a bit facile. Overall, though, the strengths more than compensate for the few, minor weakensses. An honest, gentle, moving and uplifting book, with a big heart and a family of individuals you grow to love and are sorry to leave.

Every once in a while a book comes along that your have to take the time to recommend to other readers, and this is one of them. The book is set in 1960 in a small southern town, and isn't about social issues, but rather about a trumatic experience in a young girl's life as she is preparing to enter highschool. The above editorial review covers the reasons behind her mother's breakdown, so I wont recap them, but I want to comment on the characters in the story. Buddy - is a rare jewel of a person, who is very open and honest and wise beyond her years. She alternately combines sorrow, confusion and humor without overdoing any and is totally believeable in all aspects. I was captivated by her 22 year old Aunt Sherry, who held the family together in more ways than one. The rest of the family and friends rounded out the story, but Buddy, her mom, and Sherry were what made it one of the best reads I have had in a long time.

I love an author who can handle "angst" humorously. All the characters in Waiting to Disappear are the kind of people who live across the street or who you meet at the grocery store...real, interesting people. Buddy's determination to get her mom home is so palpable and I found myself rooting for her to succeed, even though I knew it wasn't likely. This book doesn't end with everyone living happily ever after, but there's a lot of hope here. I can't wait to read April Fritz's next book!

Hard to believe this is the author's first novel. Well-rounded characters and sensitive plot about a girl coming of age in the 1950's. If you liked When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt, you will love this book!

The characters in this book jumped off the page! Writer April Young Fritz knows and likes teens. Buddy's efforts to help her mother get over the death of her brother are realistic and sympathetic. Even with a serious topic, there is lots of humor in Buddy's escapades. Her friends are great fun, too! I am recommending this book to the teens in the library where I work, and I would buy it as a prize or for gifts. I am looking forward to the next book from this author.