Adeline Street [Paperback]

Carol Lynch Williams (Author)

Book Description

Eleven-year-old Leah ultimately comes to terms  with her younger sister's  death.

A warm, funny, family story that deals with  overcoming grief and finding inner  strength.

To 11-year-old Leah Orton, Adeline  Street was the best place on earth to live. But  since her sister Kelly's death, the old neighborhood  only reminds her of better times. Recent additions  to Adeline Street, like the new church and its  stern preacher, seem like intrusions. So do many of  Leah's confusing new emotions, like her changed  feelings for her best friend, Tom, and her sudden  understanding of her friend Vickie's frightening  secret. Yet as Leah reaches out, she is surprised to  find comfort and some good laughs in unexpected  places.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Williams picks up where she left off at the end of Kelly and Me, when 11-year-old Leah Orton is left to cope with the sudden death of her younger sister, Kelly, victim of an aneurysm. A highly observant narrator, Leah relates her grief about this tragedy, relating, for example, the family debate about celebrating the first Christmas after Kelly's death. "I just don't think we're being fair here. Fair to Kelly," Leah tells her grandfather, who helps her realize that Christmas-and everything else-"is just gonna keep on coming." Leah is attractively strong-willed: preparing for Christmas, she picks out the perfect gift for Kelly-then gives it to a fellow shopper who has been insulted by a nasty cashier; she challenges Preacher Johnson when he mouths pieties about suffering and the will of God; she stands up to a close friend's abusive mother. She mourns her sister fiercely, and the heat of her emotions transmits directly to the reader. Throughout, unexpected moments unsettle the narrative in realistic ways, so that the affirmative ending to this novel not just believable but uplifting. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-7. Picking up where Kelly and Me (1993) left off, this sequel features loosely linked monthly episodes that focus on the Orton family during the year following the death of youngest daughter, Kelly. Narrated by 12-year-old Leah, the early vignettes express anger, loneliness, and guilt at being left alive. Later, as she begins to accept her sister's death, Leah regains the ability to enjoy her own life and becomes involved with friends. Peopled with quirky, yet memorable characters, the story has its lighter moments and a distinct Southern flavor. Although Leah's grandfather has considerably curtailed his activities since the first book, Uncle Wing takes over the grandparent's role, providing several outrageous and hilarious scenes. A warm family story that should appeal to middle-grade readers. Kay Weisman --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Yearling (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440412064
• ISBN-13: 978-0440412069
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,995,092 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for those who read "Kelly & Me"., August 17, 2008

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Just Frazzled (From the Shop Around The Corner) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Adeline Street (Hardcover)

A good follow up book for "Kelly & Me".. It's the sequel.. If you haven't read Kelly & Me, then you don't want to know about this book.. But it was a good book and did it's job.. The front cover should pull you into being interested in what it is about..