Hand Me Down

February 6, 2012
Thorne’s debut is a dramatic game of musical chairs wherein teenage sisters Elizabeth and Jamie Reid struggle to find their respective places in the world after their divorced parents’ delinquencies—Dad’s a drunk and Mom is remarried to a sexually predacious ex-con—force them to take life into their own hands. Liz initially goes to live with Aunt Tammy, though Uncle Sam isn’t fond of the new houseguest, and Liz misses her sister. Jamie moves in with Dad and proves true the adage about the apple and the tree when she starts skipping school and hanging around liquor stores. Both girls eventually wind up in the conservative Christian home of Aunt Deborah, where Jamie finds comfort and stability, but Liz is left yearning for Aunt Tammy. An explosive encounter finally forces the broken family to face the sad reality of their situation, though not everyone is ready to reform. Thorne writes convincingly from an adolescent’s perspective, admitting to having mined her own experiences. The family is believably and sadly dysfunctional, and readers will empathize with each character through their highs and lows. Despite a lackluster ending, this is an intriguing first outing by a talented new writer. Agent: Trena Keating, Keating Literary.

October 1, 2012

When mom moves 14-year-old Liz into her aunt's house, she says it is only temporary--until her new husband gets out of trouble with his parole officer. Liz wants desperately to protect her younger sister from their predator stepfather and be with her mother, but as the months pass she realizes that she may never go home. Liz is increasingly forgotten as she is passed from relative to relative, most of whom find her burdensome. Through it all, she remains strong, never wavering in her knowledge that she is worthy of love. The narrative pulsates with chaotic sorrow as well as with hopeful determination. VERDICT Although this story is not new, listeners will be captivated by Liz's resolve and will enjoy narrator Ali Ahn's rendition of an adolescent gone astray. Recommended to fans of Allison Epoch's The Adults. ["Thorne deals sensitively with a difficult topic, and the novel's adolescent perspective is sure to find popularity with YA audiences," read the review of the Dutton hc, LJ 3/15/12.--Ed.]--Terry Ann Lawler, Phoenix P.L.

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