Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters

Starred review from September 6, 2010
Standiford (How to Say Goodbye in Robot) sets up an enticing premise: the Sullivans' über-rich grandmother, Almighty, has written the entire family out of her inheritance because one of the eight-member clan has offended her. Unless the guilty party confesses satisfactorily, her millions will go to charity (and not just any charity: Puppy Ponchos, which "provided rain ponchos for the dogs of people too poor to buy dog raincoats for themselves"). Thus begins a delightful tale in which the three Sullivan sisters pour their hearts, souls, and deepest secrets into letters to Almighty. Written in first person, each letter traverses the same time period, yet the girls' unique voices and perspectives shine through: wholesome Sassy, who thinks she's un-killable; spitfire, nonconformist Jane, who riles everyone up with her dirt-dishing blog, www.myevilfamily.com (a real site); and do-gooder Norrie, who falls in love with the wrong guy. Standiford makes reading about Baltimore high society and the flawed, pampered, but likable Sullivans feel like a wickedly guilty pleasure. By the time Standiford reveals Almighty's real beef, readers will wish that more family members had confessions to make. Ages 13–up.

Starred review from September 1, 2010

Gr 9 Up-The Sullivan sisters have some explaining to do. Their grandmother, known as Almighty, has taken offense at someone's poor judgment. So much so that she has given the entire Sullivan family an ultimatum: each member must write a confession to her or they will all be left penniless. Penniless? The girls know this cannot come to pass. How would they all adjust to life without the wealth and privilege their family has been steeped in for generations? Everyone assumes that it's one of them who has so offended Almighty, so Norrie, Sassy, and Jane reveal everything from love to disdain to murder in their letters to her. But is it enough to save themselves from the wrath of Almighty? Stories of teens with money to burn and all the trappings are popular, but this novel offers something more. The substance of the characters drives the plot. Readers will eagerly flip pages to hear the sins of the Sullivan sisters and love the tale each one spins. This book has a long shelf life ahead of it, and can be easily offered to any teen as an excellent read.-Robbie L. Flowers, Detroit Public Library, MI

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2010
Grades 7-10 On Christmas Day, the scion of the Sullivan family, Almighty, announces one of her grandchildren has offended her. Unless she receives a proper confession by New Years Day, Norrie, Jane, Sassy, their brothers, and their parents will be ripped from Almightys will and left destitute. Oh dear. So begins a cleverly plotted romp divided into three partsthe confession letters of each sister. Bunched together in age18, 16, and 15the girls have much in common, including a cheerful disdain for their parents, a healthy fear of Almighty, and the uneasy knowledge that their life of privilege isnt how the rest of the world lives. The letters themselves are both thoughtful and funny, and if the voices of the three sisters sometimes sound alike, their confessions amply show the reasons Almighty might be angry, as one sister skips out on her cotillion to follow her heart, another blogs about her familys evil road to power, and the third regrets killing Almightys fifth husband. A step above most books about rich girls, their boys, and their toys in both style and substance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)